OVERVIEW

The aim of the teaching unit is to introduce students to the basic problems related to the operation of the electric generation and propulsion on ships, to guide in understanding the technologies and electrical problems due to the complexity of the ship. Contents will also take into consideration STCW Section A-III/6 Mandatory minimum requirements for certification of electro-technical officers.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the teaching unit is to introduce students to the basic problems related to the operation of the electric propulsion on ships, to guide in understanding the technologies and electrical problems due to the complexity of the ship. The correct sizing and energy balance of the power system and basic configuration in compliance with the current normative and standards.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the teaching unit is to introduce students to the basic problems related to the operation of the electric generation and propulsion on ships, to guide in understanding the technologies and electrical problems due to the complexity of the ship.

At the end of the teaching unit the student will have acquired theoretical knowledge on the electric propulsion and power generation and skills handling practices (in compliance with current safety standards) of basic controller by performing simple ones and the application of analytical techniques for their determination.
Specifically, the student will be able to know the main caracheristic of power generation and electric propulsion and relative controllers.

PREREQUISITES

The knowledge of electrotechnics, automation and basic power systems is acquired and constitutes the necessary foundations for understanding the course topics and taking the tests
exam. It is recommended to follow exams of:

• 101133 electrotechnics
• 101131 Shipboard power systems
• 101126 Automation and control for marine applications

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching unit is held with lessons and exercise for an overall amount of 60 hours. Different exercises and laboratory on shipboard power system is foreseen.

The teaching material provided during lectures will be available on AulaWeb.

The laboratory will be held by the teaching teachers, eventually assisted by laboratory tutors. At the beginning of each activity of laboratory a brief theoretical introduction is foreseen in order to provide the basic principles that will be used. In the practical part, the students, divided into groups of two or three and with the support of the teachers and tutors, must apply the experimental protocol provided and the methods described. At the end of each activity, they will have to present a short report with the results obtained from the experimental activity. The organization and the dates of performance laboratory activities will be communicated directly by the teachers at the beginning of the lessons.

Working students and students with certified SLD (Specific Learning Disorders), disability or other special educational needs are advised to contact the teacher at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching and examination arrangements so to take into account individual learning patterns, while respecting the teaching objectives.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The teaching unit program provides for the presentation and discussion of the following topics:

• Primary electrical sources and load balance
• Electric generation and propulsion systems:  definition, problems and specificity of power system control
• Converters and components for power electronics: electronic components. Type of power converters. Working principles and outline their control techniques.
• Propulsion drive: type of propulsion engines. Description and issues. Motor start techniques.
• Distribution systems: possible system solutions for ships with electric propulsion. Analysis of line diagrams and problems of different design concepts.
• Electrochemical storage: definition, characteristics and system sizing based on electrochemical storage. Hybrid solutions : preliminary design
• Run electric propulsion systems: central management of electric production, planning aspects of the management of diesel genset.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

All slides used during the lectures and other teaching materials will be available on aulaweb. In general, notes taken during the lessons and the material on aulaweb are sufficient for the preparation of the exam.

The books listed below are suggested as supporting texts, but students can still use other texts by University-level, provided they are editions published recently.

• Patel, “Shipboard Propulsion, Power Electronics, and Ocean Energy”, 2012

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

FEDERICO SILVESTRO (President)

FABIO D'AGOSTINO (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/corsi/10948/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Orale exam of 40 minutes.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Details on how to prepare for the exam and the degree of depth of each topic will be given during lectures.
Open problems and questions will allow evaluate the ability to apply knowledge in practical situations that can occur in the laboratory, also with reference safety measures and good laboratory practices. The student must be able to connect and integrate the knowledge learned during the laboratory activities with those provided during the lectures.

The oral exam will focus mainly on the topics covered during the lectures and will aim to assess not only if the student has reached an adequate level of knowledge, but if he has acquired the ability to critically analyze problems that will be placed during the exam.

Exam schedule