Motors for Ship Propulsion

Abstract

Abstract-Electric propulsion of ships has experienced steady expansion for several decades. Since the early 20 th century, icebreakers have employed the flexibility and easy control of DC motors to provide for ship operations that split ice with back and forth motion of the ship. More recently, cruise ships have employed diesel-electric propulsion systems to take advantage of the flexibility of diesel, as opposed to steam engines, and because the electric plant can also be used for hotel loads. Research vessels, ferries, tankers, and special purpose vessels have also taken advantage of increased flexibility and fuel efficiency with electric propulsion. Today, the US Navy is building an 'all electric' destroyer to be named 'Zumwalt', that employs two induction motors for propulsion. There are several different classes of motors that might be considered for use in ship propulsion, ranging from DC (commutator) motors through conventional induction and synchronous motors to permanent magnet synchronous machines, doubly fed machines and superconducting AC and Acyclic Homopolar machines. This review paper describes features of some of the major classes of motor that might be used in ship propulsion.

Excitation System Technologies for Wound-Field Synchronous Machines: Survey of Solutions and Evolving Trends

“…The associate editor coordinating the review of this manuscript and approving it for publication was Xiaodong Sun. applications in the multi-MW range [5], [6], especially in the oil-and-gas industry [7]- [9] and for large shipboard propulsion [10]. Although these machines represent a consolidated and mature technology, much attention is currently given to their design [11], analysis [12], modelling [13], as well as to their field excitation technologies [14].…”

High-Power Machines and Starter-Generator Topologies for More Electric Aircraft: A Technology Outlook

“…Brushless WFSMs are extensively used as the generator technology in conventional aviation [21]. Moreover, it is the classical solution for high-power inverter-fed electric drive systems [109]. Nowadays, WFSM is a robust solution with a high level of trustworthiness and simple maintenance.…”

Nonlinear optimal control for ship propulsion with the use of an induction motor and a drivetrain

“…Control of the propulsion of electric ships is a non-trivial problem due to the nonlinearities that characterize the associated state-space model and due to the system's functioning under variable conditions [1]- [2]. Aiming at generating high torque, several types of electric motors have been considered, among which induction motors and multi-phase synchronous motors are frequently met [3]- [4].…”