VFD Challenges for Shipboard Electrical Power System Design

9Ship Smart System Design (S3D) and Digital Twin

The ship smart system design (S3D) is introduced for the ship system design engineers to address the design challenges of VFD motor controller. The S3D concept was introduced by the author in 2003 (See Figure 9.1). The S3D concept is also recommended for existing a VFD and ASD‐populated motor controller based electrical system to establish exact nature of VFD generated electric noise to compare with the calculated noise and then establish a baseline if it is within the regulatory requirements. If the electrical noise (harmonics) level is more than the acceptable level, then undertake Harmonic Management System to bring the harmonics to an acceptable.

The S3D concept evolving over the past two decades has been enabled by the advancement of low‐cost computing, powerful software, and analytical platforms for data mining, machine learning, and data networking technology. Now S3D is embodied in “Industry 4.0‐Digital twin” as being deployed for simulated, and proven ship system design, development starting from concept phase to ship delivery, operation, maintenance, and training.

A “Industry 4.0‐Digital twin” is a digital representation of an object or system (e.g. a ship, an engine, individual equipment control function, or centralized control system). It can contain various digital models, data repositories, and processes related to the real object. Data can be stored in several representations, including a dynamic simulation model, ...