Flexible Load Uncertainty Management on Shipboard Microgrids Through Redispatch with Control Effort Reduction

The power systems onboard ships can be classified as shipboard microgrids, which traditionally only included diesel generators and gas turbines. As environmental concerns and more DC loads are used onboard, batteries have made way for a hybrid-electric power system. The loads onboard the ships are classified into two groups, propulsion, and hotel loads, where hotel loads are all loads unrelated to the movement of the ship. These loads are relatively predictable when categorized in this manner. However, the harsh conditions at sea inevitably lead to changes that must be addressed with particular importance on the critical loads. Therefore, a flexible redispatch control method with control effort reduction is proposed. The proposed control considers a baseline profile with a reserve allocated and minimizes the change applied to each unit with adjustable modes based on the ships' requirements.