Agile Power Management Systems - A Rule-Based Control Strategy Using Real-Time Simulation for Hybrid Marine Power Plants

With fuel consumption of marine vessels accounting for an increasing portion of global fuel usage, improving the energy efficiency of vessels is essential for saving fuel and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Hybrid-electric propulsion technologies offer a solution by interfacing multiple power sources, including batteries, with sophisticated energy management systems. An Agile Power Management System for marine vessels is presented by a Babcock led consortium with the University of Warwick (WMG) and Potenza Technology Ltd. The aim of this Innovate-UK funded project is to take advances in automotive energy management techniques and develop a modular marine power management system, addressing the latest guidance and legislation for marine applications. The system employs novel power management algorithms developed using Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) modelling techniques. Capable of interfacing energy storage with multiple power sources and loads, the algorithms seek to maximise overall efficiency by improving prime-mover operational envelopes, hence reducing emissions and fuel consumption.