Overvoltage protection on a DC marine electrical system

This paper analyses the behaviour of a highly capacitive DC marine network under fault conditions and demonstrates how overvoltages can be caused by the redistribution of stored energy following the clearance of a fault. Energy flows of this type can be hard to predict, making it particularly difficult to sufficiently protect the network from such overvoltages. Through simulation of a representative zonal DC marine network, this paper analyses the causes and severity of overvoltages which can occur following a fault and identifies where these overvoltages are likely to occur. The simulations demonstrate how the effects of a fault on the network can propagate, potentially causing damage to previously healthy parts of the network. Finally, the paper discusses the impact of these findings on the operation of network protection.