Power System Protection of All Electric Marine Systems

Several recent and anticipated future developments in marine electrical system engineering will impact upon power system protection. Large-scale IFEP (integrated full electric propulsion) systems are being increasingly introduced. A consequence of this is that the role, reliability, availability and survivability of the power system have and will become more critical than before. This therefore impacts on the performance required of both main and backup protection systems. The relatively low inertia within the power system, the introduction of hybrid AC/ DC power systems and the proliferation of power-converter interfaces all influence the behaviour of the power system and the design of the protection system must cater for all of these developments. This paper will consider many of these issues and, through the use of examples and simulation exercises, discuss and propose a number of protection-oriented solutions addressing said issues.