A Predictive Energy Management System for a Hybrid Diesel-Electric Marine Propulsion Plant

An energy management control scheme using Non-linear Model Predictive Control (NMPC) is proposed for the optimal power-spit problem of a hybrid diesel-electric marine propulsion plant. The NMPC controller directly regulates the torque setpoints of the diesel engine and the electric motor/generator ensuring that certain constraints concerning the engine overloading are applied. The modeling for the controller design was based on experimental data gathered from the hybrid plant and on first principles for the diesel engine behavior and battery charging. The controller was experimentally tested in real-time operation. Results showed that the controller rejected successfully load disturbances and followed the rotational speed reference of the powertrain as well as the desirable state of charge in battery, in respect to the constraints of the system.