Study of parallel AC and DC electrical distribution in the all-electric ship

Medium-voltage DC electrical distribution is envisioned as a possible system for the warship of the future, bringing numerous advantages including a very power-dense architecture. This system takes the AC power produced by generators, immediately rectifies all power to DC and distributes it throughout the ship, requiring inversion back to AC for all AC loads. The question then arises whether it makes sense instead to route two parallel buses: an AC bus for all 60 Hz. AC loads and a DC bus to service all other loads. We model these two theoretical distribution systems in a notional destroyer using a preliminary design tool under development in our laboratory and find that the two-bus system is more efficient and lighter.