High voltage on ships

General Power Systems

Majority of merchant ships have a 3phase
3 wire, 440 V insulated neutral earth
power systems
This power system falls in the
category of
LVand meets the power demands of
medium capacity motors up to 200 kW

 When large loads are connected to the

LV
system the magnitude of current flow
becomes too large resulting in
overheating
due to high iron and copper losses
P = VI Cos
Copper loss =IR [kW]

Losses in Electrical Systems

Copper Losses in electrical cables
and machine windings.
Hysteresis Loss in magnetic cores.
Eddy current loss in conductors and
cores.
All these losses are current
dependent and rise to very high
levels in LV machines for large power
ratings

Benefits of H V Power
Systems
Ships with large electrical loads now operate at high
voltage of 3.3-6.6 kV
Such high voltage reduces the magnitude of current
and
thus lowers iron/copper/eddy current losses and also
results in a cooler motor operation
Low current flow reduces conductors size and hence
lowers cost of electrical equipment
Power transmission more efficient with low loss
A 6 MW motor load at 440 V and 0.8 pf will require
SB fault level to be of 90 kA and cable full load
current of 3300 A
Same power system at 6.6 kV, needs SB fault level
of only 9 kA and cable full load current of 220 A

 Flexibility of power system layout

Prime Mover-Generator units can be
located
at convenient location away from the
propellers
Propulsion motor can be located at the
astern below the water surface
This results in shorter shaft and
reduced vibration

 Load Diversity
A set of prime movers can meet the demand of
propulsion as well as ships electrical load
Prime movers can be operated at economical
speed at all times
Propulsion load can be regulated to meet
emergency
electrical load without adversely affecting the ships
passage time
Ease of Control
With advancement in power electronics fine speed
regulation of ac motors has become common
practice

Typical Marine HV Systems

3.3 kV6.6 kV11 kV
Principal Components of HV System
By generating electrical power at 6.6 kV
instead of 440 V, distribution and switching
power about 6 MW becomes easy
-Main Generators
HV Switch Board
HV Cables
HV Transformers
HV Motors (2-12 MW)

Typical HV Equipment
Rating
Main SB= 6.6 11 kV, Bus Cap =1250A
Cargo SB = 6.6 kV, Bus Cap =1250 A
Ballast Pp Motor = 6.6 kV, 330 2000 kW
HD Copm = 6.6 kV, 770 kW, 3560 rpm
Bow Thrusters = 6.6 kV, 3 MW,
Transformer = 3400 kVA, 6600/450 V
Reefer Transformer = 6600/450 V,

Typical HV Power System

HV/LVPower Supply system

Propulsion Plant Layout

HV Propulsion Power
System

Concept of Electrical
Propulsion

Typical EL Propulsion

HV Voltage Shipboard
System
A) Bus bars:
Made from high conductivity copper having
sufficient cross section such thatmax temp rise is
45K
All bare areas arecoated, plated with tin to protect
against corrosion
Color markers provided to distinguish between
phases

B) Phase Arrangement (view from front panel):

Phase R (Red):
Left
Top
Front
Phase Y (yellow )
Phase T (Blue)
Right
Bottom
Rear

 C) Earthing:
For earthling the switchboard to the vessels hull,
earthling bars and terminals are provided through out
cubicles.
All incoming and outgoing circuits are provided with
switch of earthing and short circuiting for maintenance
purpose.

D) Characteristic
Rated voltage :
Service Voltage:
Rated Frequency:
Rated insulation :
Protection Degree :
Busbar Current:

7.2kV
6.6kV
60 Hz
20 kV RMS (one minute)
IP32
1250 A

H V ship board system

1 Unit of 6.6 kV Diesel Generator (3450
kW)
2 Units of 6.6 kV Turbo Generator (3450
kW)
1 Unit of 440 V Emergency Generator
(550 kW)
Battery Supply
1 bank of 24V dc ships battery
1 bank of 24 V dc Radio Battery- GMDSS
Console

Consumers
Consumers ranging from:
6.6 kV- Cargo Pumps, Ballast pumps, HD
Compressors
440V- Most of machineries in E/R such as
Main Sea Water Circ.
Pump, Central Fresh Water Cooling Pump,
etc
220V- Power outlets, lighting, navigation
equipments, etc
110 V dc- Control circuit for MSB
24 V dc- Navigation Equipments

SWITCHBOARDS
ARRANGEMENT
Consists of:
High voltage main switchboard
High voltage cargo switchboard
Low voltage main switchboard
Low voltage cargo switchboard
Emergency switchboard
Group starter & Individual Panels

PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR DG

& TG
Protection being provided for the DG and TG to avoid
any unsafe
occurrences.
Basically the protection is done by a protection device
known as
HIMAP and provided at MSB.
Type of Protection
Under Voltage- setting at 60% / 2 seconds (3960 KV)
Over Voltage- setting at 110% / 5 seconds (7260 KV)
Reverse Power- setting at -10% / 10 seconds (-345 KW)
InstantaneousSTD setting at 250% (942A)
Instantaneous setting at 1000% (3770A)
Long Time Delay setting at 110% (415A)
Earth Fault

OVERCURRENT SETTING FOR BUS TIE, CSB

AND
TRANSFORMER
STD
LTD
BUS TIE
200%, 0.7S
100%,
30S
CSB
250%, 0.57S
100%,
30S
HV Trans.
300% ,0.57s
105% ,
60s

MOTOR PROTECTION
Protection provided
Over current
Earth fault
Phase fail
Motor Protection provided by
independent relay
Low current
High current
Arc fault

HV MSB
The operation could be in manual or auto. However,it is
always to be kept in
auto since control is done from IAS.
All necessary mimics and controls are being provided
inside IAS.
Manual operation is as per normal low voltage
switchboard where indication light, breaker control,
meters. Governor control, etc being provided on the
switchboard.
Generators are being protected by a device known as
HIMAP.All protection settings are being set inside the
HIMAP.
Vacuum Circuit Breakers (VCB) are being used for the
bus tie and generator Panels.
Vacuum combination Contactors are being used for the
ballast and cargo pumps

HV CARGO SWITCHBOARD
Cargo switchboard is equipped with soft
starter for the cargo pumps.
By pass switch is provided in order to start
by direct on line.
Soft starter panels are provided for each
port and starboard cargo switchboard.
Facility to simulate the cargo pumps is
possible. This is done by disconnecting the
breaker and removing the low current relay.
This is done prior to discharge port

POWER GENERATION
Generator particulars: Maker: Nishishiba Electric, Type:
Brushless Excitation System, Voltage: 6600V Output:
3450KW rated Current: 377A Frequency:60Hz, Full Load
Speed: 1800RPM, Rotor Type: Salient Type, Protection:IP55
A dc current is applied to the rotor winding which produces
a rotor magnetic field. The rotor is then turned by prime
mover producing a rotation of magnetic field. This magnetic
field induces a three phase set of voltages within the stator
windings, the dc current is set at 5.6A by maker.
A brushless exciters are used to supply this dc current. A
brushless exciter is a small ac generator with its field circuit
mounted on the stator and its armature circuit mounted on
the rotor shaft.
The three phase output of the exciter generator is rectified
to direct current by rectifier circuit, also mounted on the
shaft and then fed to the main field winding (rotor winding)

 By controlling the small dc field current of the

exciter generator,it is possible to adjust the field
current on the main field or rotor winding.
To make the excitation of generator completely
independent of any external power sources, a
small pilot exciter known as PMG is included in the
system.
The PMG is actually a small ac generator with
permanent magnets mounted on the rotor shaft
and a three phase winding on the stator. It
produces power for the field circuit of the exciter
which in turn
controls the field circuit of the main machine.

PROCEDURE OF MEGGERING
THE CARGO PUMP
The switchboard is designed with many interlock keys.
Therefore, knowing the steps are essential:
A) ensure the cargo pump is in stop condition.
B) Turn the key and disconnect the breaker by using handle.
C) Turn the other key to enable the handle for mechanical
earthing switch to be inserted.
D) Turn the mechanical earthing switch to earth the breaker
E) Take the key and bring it to rear side
F) Turn the key to open the bottom compartment
G) While the compartment is in open condition, turn the key
off and bring back to front panel to disable the mechanical
earthing
H) Confirm that the pump has no residual potential by using
potential detector.
I) The meggering can be done as usual for the pumps

HV Safety
Precautions before work on HV:
Safety wearing must be used before proceeding
to job.
Isolate power
Test HV live-line tester to prove its proper
functioning.
The circuit on which work is to be carried out,
must be tested and proved dead by an HV liveline testing equipment.
The circuit to be earthed down by connecting
with hull.
Issue EPTW.
Minimum two people should work together.

Safety precautions associated with operation of high voltage

system:
Before start of work an Electrical Permit to Work must be issued.
EPTW is prepared and approve by the authorized officer.
The copied permit signed by the responsible person usually has at least
5 sections with the first stating the work to be carried out.
The next section is a risk assessment declaring where isolation and
earthing has been applied and where danger/caution notices have been
displayed then the permit is signed as authorized by the Chief Electrical
Officer or Chief Engineer.
In the third section, the person responsible for the work (as named in
section
one) signs to declare that he/she is satisfied with the safety precautions
and
that the HV circuit has been isolated and earthed.
Section four relates to the suspension or completion of the designated
work.
The last section cancels the permit with a signature from the
authorizing officer.
The EPTW is valid only for 24 hours.

Marine Electrical HV Propulsion

System
Overall power train efficiency with EP is around 87-90%.
Employment of permanent magnets in electric generators
and motors as well as general advances in semiconductor
technology may improve this figure to around 92-95% in
the
near future.
Electrical transmission will consist of three basic energy
conversions:
-From (rotating) mechanical energy into electrical energy:
E- generator
-From electrical energy into (rotating) mechanical energy:
E-motor
-Some form of fixed or controlled electrical conversion in
between: power converter

Structure of a combined
power
plant for ships

Shuttle Tanker Electrical Lay out

FPSO Electrical lay out

HV CIRCUIT BREAKERS
Air Circuit Breakers
Oil Circuit Breakers
Air-ballast Circuit Breakers
Gas (SF6- Sulphur Hexafluoride)
Circuit Breakers
Vacuum Breaker

Future electrical ship

Future HV ships systems at sea may require voltages up
to 13.8 kV to minimize fault levels
It is therefore essential that all Marine Engineering
personnel are trained in safe working practices for these
voltages.
The Electrical officers of the near future must be fully
trained to carry out maintenance and defect rectification
on Medium Voltage (MV) systems.
This will mean a considerable increase in the electrical
content of all training.
Training will also need to be given to non-technical
personnel to ensure everybody is aware of the dangers
of these higher voltages.

Available systems