Fuel optimization under quality of service constraints for shipboard hybrid electric drive

This paper presents an approach to optimize fuel costs of a hybrid electric ship propulsion system under different mission considerations. The static optimization problem is to commit and dispatch the generation sources such that fuel cost is minimized, while meeting load demands and complying with dynamic Quality of Service (QOS) constraints. A simulation platform capable of representing a continuous time differential algebraic model of the power system and discrete switching events has been developed. A generation commitment list is prepared for each mission requirement and commitments satisfying QOS constraints are determined by simulation. The feasible commitments are economically dispatched based on quadratic fuel cost curves, and the commitment with the lowest cost per unit time is selected as optimal for that mission. Comparative cost benefits of an optimal commitment over a non-optimal commitment are enumerated.