An innovative generation control system for improving design and stability of shipboard medium-voltage DC integrated power systems

Ensuring system stability in Medium-Voltage DC (MVDC) Integrated Power Systems (IPS) is a key issue, due to the presence of many shipboard electric users fed by Constant Power Load (CPL) converters. This paper presents an innovative control system aimed at utilizing alternators, connected to the IPS through controlled AC-DC interface converters, to improve MVDC stable voltage control. Such system is designed to control, for each shipboard generator, the AC machine voltage, the prime mover speed and the interface converter, in an integrated way. Technological aspects and control principle scheme of this system will be presented in the paper, with particular reference to the issue of DC-link voltage stability. This system is expected to bring advantages in terms of MVDC IPS integration, stable parallel operation of generators and loads, safe exploitation of alternators capability as a source of stabilizing power.