Improved ship power system - generation, distribution, and fault control for electric propulsion and ship service

Future ship power systems require improved methods to achieve the objectives of flexible/reconfigurable power delivery, robust fault management and improved power quality for loads. A DC integrated fight through power (IFTP) system achieves this increased survivability goal through the use of in-line power conversion, where all of the ship service power is delivered to the zonal loads through staged power conversion. A new AC IFTP system is proposed in this paper, which results from the application of the industrial power-conditioning approach to shipboard power systems. The system architecture is presented and survivability modes are analyzed. Two power conditioning devices are vital to the effective operation of the AC IFTP and these are discussed and simulated in detail. After preliminary analysis, the power conditioning centric AC IFTP system promises reduced size and weight as the converter ratings are reduced. Further analysis is required to quantify these tradeoffs between survivability and weight for the AC IFTP system so that actual weight loss can be identified.