Past, Present, and Future Challenges of the Marine Vessel’s Electrical Power System

TLDR

Marine vessel electrical power systems have evolved from 1880 light bulbs to fully electric 2015 vessels, offering benefits but also introducing challenges that necessitate revisiting standards for power quality, safety, integrity, and stability. The paper aims to guide readers through the historical evolution, current challenges, and future research needs of marine vessel electrical power systems, emphasizing the need to update standards. The authors analyze the evolution of marine vessel electrical power systems and examine how power electronics, battery storage, and DC power conversion affect energy efficiency, power quality, and emissions.

Abstract

The evolution of the use of electricity in marine vessels is presented and discussed in this paper in an historical perspective. The historical account starts with its first commercial use in the form of light bulbs on the SS Columbia in 1880 for illumination, going forward through use in hybrid propulsion systems with steam turbines and diesel engines and then transitioning to the present with the first fully electric marine vessel based entirely on the use of batteries in 2015. Electricity use is discussed not only in the light of its many benefits but also of the challenges introduced after the emergence of the marine vessel electrical power system. The impact of new conversion technologies like power electronics, battery energy storage, and the dc power system on overall energy efficiency, power quality, and emission level is discussed thoroughly. This paper guides the reader through this development, the present and future challenges by calling attention to the future research needs, and the need to revisit standards that relate to power quality, safety, integrity, and stability of the marine vessel power system, which are strongly impacted by the way electricity is used in the marine vessel.