Solid-State Technology for Shipboard DC Power Distribution Networks

The use of dc shipboard power distribution networks has been shown to offer several advantages over their ac counterparts. The reduction of the size and number of system components, the increased simplicity of operation and fuel efficiency of the system, and convenient integration of energy storage systems offer significant economical benefits to the ship operator. Solid-state bus-tie switches are widely regarded as being an indispensable component in dc shipboard power distribution networks, for their role as first line of defense against faults. Nevertheless, these devices are not limited exclusively to protection, but can provide additional functionality thanks to their design. This article shows how a solid-state bus-tie switch can be employed for soft-starting an unenergized section of a shipboard power distribution network, eliminating the need for additional components aimed specifically at this task. A technique is suggested and its performance is experimentally verified in a laboratory scaled-down model of a dc shipboard network. The additional functionality is achieved exclusively on a control basis, without modification of the switch topology initially intended purely for system protection.