Control strategy for fuel saving in asynchronous generator driven electric tugboats

Usually electric tugboats are equipped with diesel engine based electric generator for power production, battery for supplying power to auxiliary loads and electric motors for propulsion. This paper proposes control strategies for diesel engine and electric generators used in electric tugboat to improve energy efficiency of the system. Doubly fed induction machine (DFIM), asynchronous in nature, is considered in this research which serves as generator (power production). The speed of diesel engine is controlled in accordance with the power demanded by the tug. Output voltage and frequency of generator during sub-synchronous operation are regulated by controlling its rotor current with the help of power electronic convertors. Comparison of fuel consumption at fixed and variable speeds of operation is performed. From the test results, it is observed that the variable speed operation of diesel generator offers significant reduction in fuel consumption.