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Renewed Interest in Diesel-Electric Marine Propulsion

Compared to direct diesel drives, diesel electric propulsion systems are technically and operationally
superior in almost all applications. This superiority is a major reason to the steadily growing interest
in diesel-electric main drives in marine engineering applications.

Electrical propulsion system offers numerous reasons


why you are ships which can be susceptible to specific
requirements. They are rated as particularly economical,
eco-friendly and reliable, offer considerable comfort in
terms of operation and control, have optimal
maneuvering and positioning properties, low vibration
and noise levels, and additionally encourage the most
effective using space as a result of their reduced noise
levels.
The electrical side of most systems is based on a dc or even an alternating electric current motor,
coupled towards the ship's propeller shaft, using the speed and direction of propeller rotation being
governed by electric control over the motor itself or with the alternation in the energy.
The electrical propulsion arrangement for the ship is often identified as a diesel-electric or turboelectric system. It is characterized only by the form of prime mover without any reference on the
type of electrical propulsion motor. When the prime mover is really a diesel engine, then it's called
Diesel-Electrical Propulsion. The most popular diesel electrical propulsion systems usually are not a
fresh concept. In the past scalping strategies were usually diesel engine driven D.C generators that
supplied capacity to D.C motors. Their applications were generally tied to vessels that required a
degree of low speed maneuvering.
Vessels for example ferries, harbor tugs, and various other applications used diesel electrical
systems for features which were out of stock in mechanical systems during those times like speed
control and maneuverability. To date, electrical propulsion systems happen to be used mainly for
specialized vessels in lieu of for cargo ships in general. These include dredgers, tugs, trawlers,
lighthouse tenders, cable ships, ice breakers, research ships, floating cranes, and vessels to the
offshore industries. Electrical-drive systems have made substantial progress in recent years.
The two systems dominating the market today are Frequency controlled A.C Motors and SCR
controlled D.C Motors.
Frequency controlled A.C Motor drive system were generally cheaper below 500 H.P and SCR
controlled D.C motors systems with the more expensive. The offshore drilling industries favor SCR
controlled DC drives.
Modern SCR and frequency controlled systems have efficiencies approaching 97% in power
conversion. The selection of one on the other is an application issue. The deep draft luxury crusie
ship industry, due for the high hotel-like north Jersey moving services power requirements, is
adopting high-power diesel electrical propulsion systems generally in most of their new builds.

Both technologies use a proven record of efficiencies and reliability. For a household power
propulsion motor, the electric power may be from one or higher DC generators or could possibly be
form an alternator and after that delivered via a rectifier like a DC supply. The power for dc motors
is restricted to about 8 MW, so AC machines are used for high outputs unless an attempt is built to
install DC motors in tandem. The rectification scheme can incorporate speed control plus a means of
reversing.
Power for AC propulsion motor comes obviously by an alternator; the top movers may be a diesel
engine, a gas turbine, or even a boiler and steam turbine installation.
The choice of diesel electrical system as the power source for any propulsion system of an vessel has
nothing to do with hydrodynamic efficiency. The propulsion system of the vessel provides thrust to
go the vessel which is still chosen with the designer based on merits for that vessel's application.
Conventional propellers, controllable pitch propellers, azimuthing Z drives, transverse tunnel
thrusters, and low speed water jet systems could be driven with equal effectiveness with a dieselelectrical system.
Diesel-electrical propulsion becomes viable if the installed KW for propulsion approaches or perhaps
is exceeded by the KW installed for other purposes. The convenience of electric power distribution
assists you to optimally locate the principal power source, i.e. diesel generators, exclusive of
consideration whether or not it is for propulsion, thrusters, or cargo handling purposes. A large
variation in propulsion power requirements, such as long stretches of low speed operation or the
necessity to shift power from main propulsion to thrusters for dynamic positioning purposes, also
can justify diesel electric systems.
Modern turbo-charged diesel engines are efficient more than a relatively narrow operating load and
RPM range. They are certainly not suited to long period of low speed, low load, low RPM, high
torque requirements for reversing large propellers. Modern generator systems with load sharing,
auto-start, and load shedding features have the ability to efficiently utilize installed horsepower of
your diesel electrical system.
Diesel electrical propulsion can overcome these design problems:
When propulsive or station-keeping power requirements can be a small or relatively small
percentage of total power requirements, research vessels with special maneuvering requirements,
and gaming vessels where speed is inconsequential (for example a gaming vessel operating in a
river).
When space and propulsion machinery limitations either exclude the usage of direct diesel or
adversely affect the construction costs due to using direct diesels:
1. Vessels with hull and struts they cannot accommodate diesel engines, access, ventilation, etc.
2. Vessels with potential trim problems, such as stern wheelers, where machinery have to be located
to avoid trim problems.
3. Vessels which need, on account of space limitations, more than one machinery space are at the
mercy of increased construction cost because of duplication of increases in system like: engine
cooling, space ventilation, control facilities, exhaust, etc.
4. Vessels that possess a large variation in power consumption.

The proven fact that the propulsion power may be furnished by a power motor instead of your direct
driven diesel engine doesn't makes equipment aboard the vessel any less familiar towards the
operator.
The usage of the diesel engines is transferred from direct propulsion chance to generate power. This
provides greater flexibility in the application of installed KW, and in some instances, cuts down on
the quantity of diesel engines installed. The ability to generate exactly the power needed to meet the
needs in the duty cycle of vessels utilizing multiple generator sets reduces fuel consumption and
maintenance cost. It also provides redundancy in power capacity.
1. Economic Reasons
Diesel electric propulsion is especially economical for a amount of reasons:

2. Availability
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Diesel electric propulsion systems demonstrate high availability for reasons offering:
3. Environmental Compatibility
Diesel electrical propulsion systems protect the surroundings because the pollution emissions of
diesel engines is reduced by operating the engine at the optimal speed and load ranges.
4. Operating Convenience
Diesel electrical propulsion is extremely convenient for your users, because in the following:
5. Flexibility
Images

Wikimedia commons - Diesel Electric Propulsion.


References
Man Diesel Turbo - Diesel Electrical Propulsion
Dieselduck - Ship propulsion Layout

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