Experimental validation of load disturbances on a multiphase marine propulsion drive model

With the increasing use of integrated full-electric propulsion systems in ships, some questions have been raised over the potential for interactions between electromechanical components and the need for integrated simulation tools. This paper focuses on the experimental validation of the propulsion drive models, as part of an integrated simulation of the power system. Load emulation of a hull-mounted propeller in variable sea conditions is complex. Hence a frequency domain approach has been used, in which a small- signal variable-frequency load disturbance was applied to a multiphase induction motor drive over a range of speed and load conditions using a dynamometer load. Experimental results have been compared with simulation predictions for different numbers of phases, giving confidence that the model will correctly represent the propulsion motor drive system when coupled to measured propeller performance characteristics.