Power System Supervision Software for Reconfiguration and Damage Mitigation

The objective of this project is to design, implement and evaluate Next Generation Integrated Power System supervision algorithms that will support reconfiguration and damage mitigation by exploiting recent advances in hybrid systems control theory. The integrated electric power system is a cornerstone of the future naval combat ships. The future surface combatant family, including the DDG 1000 destroyer and the CG(X) cruisers, is planned to have integrated power systems. This new fleet of all-electric warships has power and automation requirements different from the combatants of the past. Analysis of the behavior of the power system requires consideration of the differential-algebraic equations that describe its continuous dynamics along with discrete switching actions that characterize protection system operation, load shedding and network reconfiguration. Thus, the management problem must be formulated in a hybrid systems framework in order to truly have a complete system description. The controllers that we propose will supervise the integrated power system to reconfigure a ship’s power network following the occurrence of disruptive events and will provide other supervisory capabilities during battle conditions. The supervisory controller will be a high level tool that is capable of integrating inputs from prognostic/diagnostic systems, local protection systems, and lower level controllers. The project will produce associated design software that will include tools for real-time implementation and integration into shipboard power system control architectures. In our Phase I work, the validity of the approach was demonstrated in prototype software using appropriate benchmark scenarios based on the notional integrated power system that is derived from the DDG-1000 Zumwalt, the lead ship of the DD(X) guided missile destroyers. However, we emphasize the wide applicability of the supervisory control architecture and the design software to a range of defense, commercial and academic end users. The Phase II effort will be particularly attractive for the next generation of all-electric Navy ships. The software will be modular and easily extensible to accommodate the requirements of supervision and reconfiguration of such power systems.