Comparison of Radial and Zonal DC Distribution System for Hybrid-Powered Trimaran Vessels Power Flow Analysis

Abstract

Two types of power grid structures have been applied to the shipboard, namely the radial and the zonal networks. These two distribution systems have different power characteristics transmitted to the bus panel. The power characteristics affect the power density of each bus at each level. This paper explores the power characteristics of the radial type and the zonal type power grid structures in a DC distribution system. The power flow of both distribution system types has been determined by the Adaptive Newton-Raphson method and simulated based on ship operation conditions using Electrical Power System Analysis Software (ETAP). In determining the power flow for the DC distribution system, one-line diagram modelling is developed in radial type and zonal type. The simulation parameters are adjusted to the operating conditions of the ship, namely sailing, manoeuvring, loading-unloading, and at the port. After that, a power flow simulation has been carried out using ETAP and has showed what had successfully implemented the power flow in the DC distribution system for radial and zonal types. The capacity of Power generation is adequate all through a ship operation. The characteristics of the transmitted power show that the zonal type has a higher efficiency rate than the radial type. The zonal type has a backup bus so that the electrical system's reliability is higher than the radial type. However, the power distributed to the equipment bus from the load bus, both the radial type and the zone type, has the exact power requirements.