MVDC Marine: from Customer Needs to Technical Requirements, Product Gaps, Potential Solutions

Low Voltage Direct Current (LVDC) shipboard power system has been a commercially available system product for marine vessels. Medium Voltage Direct Current (MVDC) is desirable for larger and higher capacity vessels. However, cost-effective system solutions for MVDC marine application are much more challenging than LVDC because of higher technical challenges and more product gaps in MVDC component and system technologies. Multiple MVAC and MVDC system options can be implemented. This paper presents technical requirements on MVDC system solutions driven by customer needs. Technical challenges and product gaps are addressed on selected MVDC system options and designs. The great potentials of 10kV and 5kV MVDC system solutions as short-term or near future solutions were discussed.