ABS Rules for Integrated Power Systems (IPS)

This paper will provide an overview of the american bureau of shipping (ABS) rules and for integrated power systems (IPS). The paper will include a review and comparison of the key requirements from the ABS steel vessel rules (for commercial ships) and the ABS naval vessel rules (for military ships) for integrated electric propulsion systems. The paper will explain how to apply the ABS propulsion redundancy notations (R1, R2, R1-S, R2-S) and dynamic positioning system (DPS) notations (DPS-0, DPS-1, DPS-2, and DPS-3) to vessels with integrated electric propulsion systems. Various military and commercial electric propulsion and integrated power system architectures will be examined and contrasted, and the merits and rationale behind the different approaches will be explained. The paper will also provide a brief summary of other standards for electric propulsion systems such as IEEE Standard 45 (2002), IEEE Recommended Practice for Electrical Installations on Shipboard, Clause 31. Electric propulsion and maneuvering system and IPS power electronics conversion equipment standards such as the new IEEE Standard P-1662 - guide for the design and application of power electronics in electrical power systems on ships and the IEC publication 60146 series, semiconductor converters - general requirements and line commutated converters. This paper will provide guidance on the development of rules and proposed changes to the ABS steel vessel rules and naval vessel rules. The paper will emphasize that ABS is always looking for feedback from industry on ways to improve the clarity of the rules, capture new technology and lessons learned from shipbuilding programs. ABS has extensive experience with electric propulsion going back as far as the T-2 tankers of World War II fame to modern day electric propulsion designs on many military sealift command (MSC), national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA), and U.S. Navy ships. These designs include various MSC and NOAA oceanographic research vessels, the T-AKE dry cargo ships, the new T-AGM 25 missile range instrumentation ship, and the most advanced integrated power system using electric drive on the DDG-1000 ZUMWALT class destroyers.