Generator Operation Strategy for Naval Vessels with MVDC Distribution in Combat Situations
Conference, 2025 IEEE Electric Ship Technologies Symposium (ESTS)
Author
Seongmin Moon, Jaeyeon Park, Dongjoon Kim, Shenghui Cui
Abstract
Naval vessels with an ac power systems typically operate two generators in parallel during navigation, following the N+1 redundancy policy, regardless of the load conditions. In combat scenarios, an additional generator is kept running at no load condition to ensure power availability in case of a failure of the operating generators. However, the optimal operating point of an internal combustion engine is approximately 85% of its rated capacity, and continuous low-load operation can lead to engine performance degradation, increased maintenance requirements, and reduced fuel efficiency. To address the operational and main-tenance challenges in generator management, this paper proposes a generator start-up strategy utilizing active front-end technology connected to the medium-voltage dc (MVDC) distribution. The proposed approach is expected to improve generator efficiency, mitigate engine wear, and reduce maintenance demands