Marine Electrical System

By
DR. Oladokun Sulaiman Olanrewaju

Objectives
State common parameters of AC electrical
supply onboard
Describe how the power is distributed to
consumers using line diagram (incorporate
shore supply and emergency source of power)
Describe the insulated neutral system and why
it is preferred

Introduction
Auxiliary services ranging from ER pumps and fans,
deck winches & windlasses to general lighting,
catering & AC
Electrical power used to drive most of these
auxiliaries
Electrical power system - designed to provide secured
supplies with adequate built-in protection for both
equipment & operating personnel
General scheme - nearly common to all ships

Switchboard
To distribute generated electricity to where it is
needed
Can be classified as one of following:

Main switchboards
Emergency switchboards
Section boards - supplied directly/via transformers etc
Distribution boards

Metal-clad, dead front switchboards are mandatory

for AC systems

Distribution system
Main board - built in 2 sections which can operate
independently in case one section damaged
One side carries port & fwd motors (group motor
starter) while other section carried stbd & aft motors
Central section used for control the main generators
Switchgear cubicles on generator panel sides used for
essential services, flanked by group motor starter
boards
Separate section will controls 3-phase 220V &
lighting services

Distribution system (cont/)

440V/220V lighting transformers may mounted inside main
swbd cubicle, or free-standing behind it
Main generator supply cables connected directly to their CB
Short copper bars, then connected to three bus bars which
run through switchboard length
Busbars - may seen if rear door are opened, in special
enclosed bus-bar duct
Swbd contain frequency meters, synchroscopes, wattmeters,
voltage and current transformers, ammeter switches, voltage
regulations & means for adjusting prime movers speed

Shore supply
Required during deadship - dry-docking for major overhaul
Log of supply kWh meter taken for costing purposes
Suitable connection box to accept shore supply cable accommodation entrance or emergency generator room
Connection box - suitable terminals including earthing
terminal, dedicated CB, switch & fuses - protect cable linking
to main switchboard
Plate giving details of ships electrical system (voltage and
frequency) & method for connecting must provided
For AC supply, phase sequence indicator is fitted - indicate
correct supply phase sequence - usually lamp

Shore supply (cont/)

It is not normal practice to parallel shore supply with
ships generators
Therefore, ships generators must disconnected
before shore supply resume connection interlocked
provided
Shore supply may also connected directly to
emergency board - back feeds to main switchboard
When phase sequence indicator indicate reverse
sequence, simply interchanging any two leads to
remedy this fault
Incorrect phase sequence cause motors to run in
reverse direction

Emergency power supply

Emergency power supply

Provided, in event of emergency (blackout etc), supply still available for
emergency lighting, alarms, communications, watertight doors & other
essential services - to maintain safety & safe evacuation
Source - generator, batteries or both
Self-contained & independent from other ER power supply
Emergency generator must have ICE as prime mover with own FO
supply tank, starting equipment & switchboard
Must initiated following a total electrical power failure
Emergency batteries - switch in immediately after power failure
Emergency generators - hand cranked, but automatically started by air /
battery possible - ensure immediate run-up
Power rating - determined by size & ship role
Small vessels - few kW sufficient for emergency lighting

 Larger & complicated vessels - may require hundreds of kW for

emergency lighting, chronological restarting & fire fighting supply
Connected to own emergency swbd - located in compartment above
water line
Normal operation - emergency board supplied from main board via
bus-tie
Impossible to synchronise with main generators due to interlocks
newer design permit short period of synchronising
Starting automatically - initiated by relay which monitors normal main
supply
Falling mains frequency / voltage causes start-up relay to operate
generator starting equipment
Arrangement for starting electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic
Regular tests - power loss simulation will triggers start sequence
Detailed regulations - 1972 SOLAS Convention, IEE Regulations for
Electrical and Electronic Equipment of Ships, regulations from
Classification Societies (LR, ABS, DNV etc) and etc

Insulated neutral system

Insulated system - totally electrically

insulated from earth (ships hull)

Earthed neutral system

Earthed system has one pole or

neutral point connected to earth

General
Shipboard systems - insulated from earth (ship's hull)
Shore system - earthed to the ground
HV systems (>1000V) - earthed to ship's hull via
neutral earthing resistor (NER) or high impedance
transformer to limit earth fault current
Priority for shipboard - maintain electrical supply to
essential equipment in event of single earth fault
Priority ashore - immediate isolation earth-faulted
equipment

3 basic circuit faults

An open-circuit fault is due

to a break in the conductor,
as at A, so that current
cannot flow
An earth fault is due to a break
in the insulation, as at B,
allowing the conductor to touch
the hull or an earthed metal
enclosure

A short-circuit fault is due

to a double break in the
insulation, as at C,
allowing both conductors
to be connected so that a
very large current bypasses or "short-circuits"
the load.

The preferred system??

If earth fault occurs on insulated pole of EARTHED
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - equivalent to short
circuit fault
Large earth fault current would immediately blow
the fuse in line conductor
Faulted electrical equipment immediately isolated
from supply & rendered SAFE, but loss of equipment
Could create hazardous situation if equipment was
classed ESSENTIAL

The preferred system??

The preferred system??

If earth fault A occurs on one line of INSULATED
DISTRIBUTOIN SYSTEM - not trip any protective gear &
system resume function normally
Thus, equipment still operates
If earth fault B developed on another line, 2 earth faults
would equivalent to a short-circuit fault & initated protective
gear
An insulated distribution system requires TWO earth faults on
TWO different lines to cause an earth fault current.
An earthed distribution system requires only ONE earth fault
on the LINE conductor to create an earth fault current.
Therefore an insulated system is more effective than an
earthed system - maintain supply continuity to equipment, thus
being adopted for most marine electrical systems

High voltage system

Shipboard HV systems - earthed via resistor
connecting generator neutrals to earth
Earthing resistor with ohmic value - chosen to limit
maximum earth fault current < generator full load
current
Neutral Earthing Resistor (NER) - assembled with
metallic plates in air due to single earth fault will
cause circuit disconnected by its protection device

The preferred system??

Effect of higher voltage

Contribute to sparking condition

Current drawn proportional to terminal voltage
Cause excessive starting current
Motor overheat due to high current
Motor accelerates fast and may overload the
drive

Effect of lower voltage

Motor draw more current to keep same power output

Starting torque V, thus to 72.5%
Take longer period to build up speed
High reactance motor will stalled
Overheating will occur
Motor may stall & burn due to overheating 49x full
load heating
Star delta starter line voltage 58%

Effect of higher frequency

Motor run 20% faster, increase overall speed
Overload, overheated & overstress driven
loads
Power produced (speed)
Supply will reduce stator flux
Affect starting torque
Centrifugal load will rise by 73 %

Effect of lower frequency

Stator flux increases

Magnetizing current will increase
Motor runs slower & hot
Speed reduced to 17%
Overheating will take place
Remedy is to slightly lower the voltage