PSO based on Generator Scheduling for Low Voltage Direct Current Distribution System onboard Ship with Mechanical Propulsion System

Along with advances in power electronics technology at the end of this decade, the application of a low-voltage direct current (L VDC) electric power distribution system began to be redeveloped. It is considered to have advantages in fuel economy, space efficiency due to the absence of transformer components, and lower emissions. To get the benefits of a direct current distribution system in fuel economy is necessary to optimize generator scheduling. One of the optimization methods used is Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), which is inspired by the movement of living things such as birds and fish that adapt to the environment. This study aims to conduct a generator scheduling optimization using the PSO method on a mechanical propulsion-driven vessel. The ship with mechanical propulsion was chosen because it is considered the ship most often operates in Indonesian. The optimization process will be carried out by modeling the characteristics of the generator used on the study object ship with two methods of second interpolation and third interpolation. The results of the calculation of fuel consumption for the LV AC and L VDC systems with conventional load sharing show savings on the LVDC system of 18.8953 kg/h, 81.7884 kg/h, 19.5244 kg/h, 46.5792 kg/h in sailing, maneuvering, cargo handling and at port modes. The simulation results for the LV AC and L VDC systems with load sharing using the PSO method show fuel consumption savings on the L VDC system of 18.8953 kg/h, 81.7884 kg/h, 19.5244 kg/h, 59.98 57 kg/h in sailing, maneuvering, cargo handling and at ports modes. The simulation results for the L VDC system with conventional load sharing and PSO only show savings in the at port mode of 13.41 kg/h. However, the simulation results for the LVAC system with conventional load sharing and PSO are similar.