Composite system analysis of advanced shipboard electrical power distribution systems

Abstract

Survivability improvement techniques such as equipment separation, redundancy, and arrangement form an integral part of the ship design strategy. The development of tools which can perform assessments of survivability features along with the feasibility, benefits, and costs of such features is required. The ability to evaluate systems in the early or conceptual stages of design is most important to provide the highest potential pay off. A methodology is proposed to perform survivability analyses of composite naval shipboard electrical power distribution systems. The methodology allows the system designer to quantify survivability of various system arrangements, architectures, and control rules. The methodology is coded as an additional capability to an existing system reliability and availability analysis program. The additional analysis sections provide new capabilities for the specific investigation of electric distribution system design alternatives. A method to quantify incremental acquisition and combat effectiveness costs of providing improved survivability is provided. Reliability and availability analysis capabilities are presented. A conceptual naval shipboard electrical power distribution systems is analyzed to demonstrate the techniques employed. For the purposes of this thesis, the data input is specific for electrical distribution systems, but any distributed, interconnected system whether it is an electrical, mechanical or fluid system could be analyzed with this program.