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Load Analysis

This document discusses how to analyze electrical loads on a ship to determine power requirements and generator sizing. It describes calculating load factors and utility factors for equipment to determine power needs under different operating conditions like sailing, harbor, and maneuvering. The total loads are then used to select the number and rating of generators while ensuring no single generator is overloaded.

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3K views14 pages

Load Analysis

This document discusses how to analyze electrical loads on a ship to determine power requirements and generator sizing. It describes calculating load factors and utility factors for equipment to determine power needs under different operating conditions like sailing, harbor, and maneuvering. The total loads are then used to select the number and rating of generators while ensuring no single generator is overloaded.

Uploaded by

jishnusaji
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LOAD ANALYSIS(Electric)

LOAD ANALYSIS(Electric)
This analysis is started during concept/preliminary
design at a high level.
The load analysis is structured to determine the
aggregate power requirements of all the electric
power-consuming equipment and devices under the
various ship operating conditions, such as, at anchor,
in-port, manoeuvring at sea and battle, ie, purpose of
establishing the maximum and minimum power
requirements.
Hence we can reach generating plant rating.
Steps include probable peak loads under various
operating conditions of ship.

Various electrical loads in merchant ships


generally fall in the following groups:
(1) propulsion machinery,
(2) auxiliary machinery,
(3) cargo-handling machinery,
(4) deck machinery,
(5) HVAC equipment,
(6) control electronics,
(7) communication electronics,
(8) shop load, and
(9) hotel loads.
Each individual load in these groups may draw
different kW power during different phases of the
ship operation.

Points to remember
Aggregate generating capacity will always be
greater than the peak load determined by the
load analysis.
The probability of installing additional
electrical loads at some future time should
also be considered when determining the
aggregate generating capacity.

Number and rating


After determination of peak load, the next
step is the selection of the most desirable
number and individual rating of the
generating sets.
For peak loads upto about 2200kw, two
generators are usually provided each capable
of carrying the total sea load.
loads more than 2200kw, 3 or more.

Not all loads are turned on at all times


that is not all loads will be in operation in every
condition. For example,
In harbour, the propulsion loads will be absent,
whereas the hotel loads will be present.
In case of Dynamic Positioning Operations, both
hotel loads and propulsion units will be in
operation. So in this case, the load on the diesel
generators will be maximum.
This time diversity in their power demand is
taken into account by assigning a load factor to
each load equipment based on the heritage data
on a similar ship built and operated earlier.

The load factor (LF)also known by other names


such as demand factor, diversity factor, utility
factor, or duty factoris defined as the average
power over a period of time as a fraction of the
peak (or rated) power of the equipment.
Thus, the load factor indicates to what extent a
specific load contributes to the total load on the
generator, which aggregately powers all the
connected loads.
LF = 1.0 for continuously on load, LF < 1.0 for
intermittent load, and LF = 0 for stand-by
equipments.

So, we will basically need to calculate the total


power requirement before deciding upon the
number of diesel generators required to meet
all the conditions
First, in order to calculate the total power
requirement, designers prepare a Load Chart
which lists out all the electrical loads on the
ship. And the load chart is prepared, taking
into consideration three operating conditions
in general:

Sailing, Harbour and Maneuvering.


In the load chart, the power requirements of
each electrical load on the ship is calculated by
multiplying the Maximum Rated Power of the
component with two factors:
Load Factor: It is the ratio of the operating power
to the maximum power rating of the component.
Utility Factor: It is a factor which determines the
extent of operation of the particular component
in a particular condition

Once the load chart is prepared, the total


power requirement for each of the three
conditions (Sailing, Harbour and
Maneuvering) are calculated by adding up the
power requirement for each component for
each of the conditions (follow figure 4). Once
this is clear, we will now refer to Figure 4 to
understand how the total number of diesel
generators is decided.

The two rules to be followed in deciding upon the number


of generators are:
If more than one generator is operating in any condition,
both the generators should share equal amount of load.
The load on each generator in any of the three conditions
should not be more than 70 percent of the rated power of
the generator. (Or, the maximum rating of each generator
is decided based upon the condition that seventy percent of
the maximum rating is more than the load on the generator
in any of the three conditions)
One additional generator should always be included,
which is for standby purpose. Note that this standby
generator will not share the load in any of the above three
conditions unless any of the working generators are out of
order. So the standby generator is not included in the above
calculation, but it is usually of the same rating as of the
other generators

Common questions

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After determining the peak load, decisions on the number and rating of diesel generators are based on ensuring reliability and load sharing. For loads up to about 2200 kW, typically two generators are used, each capable of carrying total sea load to ensure redundancy. For higher loads, three or more generators are installed. Furthermore, it is ensured that no generator operates beyond 70% of its rated power under any of the three conditions (Sailing, Harbour, Maneuvering). An additional identical standby generator is also included for increased reliability, though it does not share the load under normal conditions .

Peak load considerations are crucial, involving calculating the maximum expected power demand during different operational scenarios. By analyzing these, designers can ensure that the generation system can handle maximum predicted demands. This involves choosing generator numbers and ratings that not only meet peak demand but also allow for operational reliability and safety without any generator exceeding 70% of its rated output during standard operations. Peak loads guide the initial capacity design and are foundational to ensuring operational resilience and efficiency on merchant ships .

Load charts assist by listing all electrical loads and calculating their power requirements under different conditions. These charts, factoring in load and utility factors, provide a comprehensive summary of power needs for various operational states—sailing, harbor, and maneuvering. By adding the power requirements from the load chart, designers can decide the total power generation capacity needed and determine the minimum number of generators required to satisfy peak loads while observing load-sharing rules and standby generator needs .

The utility factor determines the extent of operation of each component under specific operating conditions, such as sailing, harbor, or maneuvering. It helps in refining the power calculations by representing how often each load is used, thus reflecting operational characteristics rather than purely technical capacities. This factor, when multiplied with the maximum rated power and the load factor for each component, ensures that the calculated power requirements closely match the actual operational scenarios, avoiding overestimation of power needs .

The primary conditions influencing load segmentation include the ship's operating modes such as sailing, harbor, and maneuvering, as well as specific functional requirements like propulsion, auxiliary, HVAC, and communication needs. Each of these conditions alters the active load types; for instance, propulsion machinery is crucial during sailing but irrelevant when docked. By segmenting loads according to these operational conditions, a more accurate evaluation of power needs can be performed, optimizing generator use and ensuring efficient power distribution according to specific operational demands .

Including a standby generator of the same rating ensures reliability and continuous operation in case any of the active generators fails or requires maintenance. This backup system allows the ship to maintain operational readiness under all conditions, providing a safety net without placing additional load on the working generators during regular operation. The standby generator is not considered in the standard load-sharing calculations, but its presence enhances operational redundancy and reliability .

The probability of future installation of additional electrical loads encourages a design approach that incorporates some excess capacity in generator design. This foresight ensures the generators can handle future load increases without the need for immediate upgrades, maintaining ship operational efficiency and flexibility in adapting to new technologies or additional operational requirements. This consideration influences both the selection of generator ratings and the total number of generators installed to cover potential load expansions .

Time diversity impacts power requirement calculations by acknowledging that not all electrical loads are active simultaneously. By assigning load factors to equipment based on previous data, engineers accommodate the temporal variations in power demand. For example, propulsion will not be active in harbor, whereas hotel loads will be. This results in a more accurate aggregate power requirement, balancing power efficiency and availability without over-designing the system .

Overestimating the load factor can result in excessive power capacity leading to higher initial costs and larger-than-necessary generator installations. This could also increase fuel consumption and operational costs without corresponding benefits, as the generators operate below optimal efficiency due to underutilization. Additionally, this might lead to increased maintenance costs and space consumption on the ship, which could otherwise be optimized for more cargo or amenities, affecting the economic feasibility and preferential utility of the vessel .

The load factor, defined as the average power consumption over time as a fraction of the peak power, significantly influences total power requirements. It accounts for variations in power demand across different operating conditions. For example, propulsion machinery is absent during harbor operations but present during sailing. By applying a load factor less than 1 for intermittent loads, electrical engineers can estimate more accurate power needs without assuming every load operates at peak capacity simultaneously. This enables a more efficient design of the generating plant to meet actual power requirements without over-designing .

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