Application of distributed optical control technology in ship power systems

Abstract

The article considers the point sensor technology for onshore power systems, which has a significant potential in providing new and effective solutions for monitoring and protecting marine electrical systems. These technologies can reduce the risk levels associated with marine electrical systems by providing comprehensive monitoring and protection functions that benefit from the distributed nature of the metering system. There has been described a system that consists of a data collecting device with optical fiber to collect multiple readings from a distributed passive array of sensors connected along a fiber length up to 100 km (applicable for any marine systems). There have been illustrated the variants of distributed monitoring and protection system in marine electrical systems. It has been stated that in the advanced marine systems there are used all-electric propulsion systems that distribute electricity between the ship s propulsion plants and other consumers. The power distribution has been proved necessary to rise efficiency, controllability, flexibility and cost of the system. Application of the new DC systems with zoned architecture, the emergence of batteries and other forms of power storage, and studying the superconducting cables and machines add to the importance of having knowledge of system operability and timely and safe response to failures and damages of the system.