High Voltage advantages on ship have been discussed in this article, as why it is good practice to use HV systems on ships. But before that we need to know what is high or low in shipping industry.As per the norms in the shipping sector, any voltages above 1000 volts are considered high voltage. Slowly industry is shifting to HV installation and there is obvious reason behind them. Cruise industry uses HV systems as they have electrical propulsion. So what makes us to shift to HV systems from LV? Does HV ships have motor that run HV only? How much HV is generated on ship?
We will cover all these questions as we discuss the advantages of such system. Usually shipping HV installation is the production of 6.6 Kv and then using it. The pumps motor though uses 440v and accommodation uses 220v with 60 Hz frequency. But installations like cranes, thrusters, propulsion, and reefer system will use the 6.6kv system. In cruise line, propulsion electric motors use HV system only.
Until and unless a system has more advantages than the disadvantages, it won’t be used. HV systems have lot of disadvantages, but their advantages are more, hence they are being used on ships these days. The kind of power requirement we have on ship, will decide what system to use. There are ships which uses LV system, and then step up the voltage to use for thrusters. But such ships are small. All in all, it’s wholly depends on the owner and the yard to agree which one to use.
Read about the electrical technical officer details.
High Voltage advantages on ship
- Overall size, weight of the electrical machinery reduces. As we know that powers have the direct relation to current and voltage. If we keep the usage voltage low, then current bearing capacity needs to be increased. This is done by using extra metal or material in the conductors to carry such high current. But if we can increase the voltage, the current can be reduced drastically. Hence less usage of material in making.
- Power losses are lesser as compared to low voltage current flowing is lesser and hence transmission losses are less.
- Considerable savings in space.
- Easy installation due to the reduction in the size.
- Efficiency is much higher than the other LV systems.
Disadvantages of using HV systems
- Installation cost is more as compared to the LV systems.
- Safety standards are much more and extra caution is required
- Insulations required are much more as compared to the LV systems.
- Problems with stepping down using transformers.
- Needs more skilled man power to run the systems.”This was all from this article. Hope you enjoyed reading it.
