1. What are the effects of inclination on marine electrical equipment?

Main propulsion and all auxiliary machinery essential to the ship

shall, as fitted in the ship, be designed to operate when the ship is upright
and when inclined at any angle of list up to and including 15° either way
under static conditions and 22.5° under dynamic conditions (rolling)
either way and when simultaneously inclined dynamically (pitching) 7.5°
by bow or stem. The Administration may permit deviation from these
angles, taking into consideration the type, size and service conditions of
the ship'.
The emergency generator and its prime mover and any emergency
accumulator battery shall be so designed and arranged as to ensure that
they will function at full rated power when the ship is upright and when
inclined at any angle of list up to 22.5° or when inclined up to 10° either
in the fore or aft direction or is in any combination of angles within those
limits.
One of the main factors concerned with these inclinations is that of
lubrication and another is that of the functioning of the contactors,
switchgear and relays having unsymmetrical or unbalanced magnet
systems, where the magnetic pull (to operate them) increases with
inclination. Any apparatus containing oil, such as transformers or
switches and solenoids will also be affected.
2. Briefly explain the four conditions that could prevail and how they
relate to the operation of electrical equipment on board a ship.
1) Normal Operational Condition
2) Conditions of Habitability
3) Emergency Condition
4) Dead Ship Condition

1) Normal Operational Condition

It is the condition under which the ship as a whole is in working
order and functioning normally. It also includes machinery, services,
means and aids ensuring propulsion, the ability to steer, safe navigation,
fire and flooding safety, internal and external communication signals,
means of escape, and emergency boat winches.
2) Conditions of Habitability
The services that are needed to provide minimum living conditions
aboard a ship and which form part of the normal electrical services
(SOLAS Regulation 11-1/41.1.2) include services such as cooking,
heating, domestic refrigeration, mechanical ventilation, sanitary and
fresh water are adequately provided.
3) Emergency Condition
It is a condition under which any services needed for normal
operational and habitable conditions are not in working order due to
failure of the main source of electrical power.
4) Dead Ship Condition
It is the condition under which the main propulsion plant, boilers
and auxiliaries are not in operation due to the absence of power.
3. What are the primary essential services onboard ship?
Primary Essential Services are those which need to be in
continuous operation for maintaining propulsion and steering. Some of
them are as follows:)
1. Steering gears.
2. Pumps for controllable pitch propellers.
3. Ventilation necessary to maintain propulsion.
4. Electric generators and associated power sources supplying
primary essential equipment.
5. Hydraulic pumps supplying primary essential equipment.
6. Viscosity control equipment for heavy fuel oil.
7. Control, monitoring and safety devices/systems of equipment for
primary essential services.
8. Fire detection and alarm system.

4. What are the secondary essential services onboard ship?

These are important users that need not be in continuous operation;
however they are necessary to maintain propulsion and steering,
including a minimum level of safety for dangerous cargoes to be carried.
Some of them are as follows:
1. Windlass.
2. Fuel oil transfer pumps and fuel oil treatment equipment.
3. Lubrication oil transfer pumps and lubrication oil treatment
equipment:
4. Pre-heaters for heavy fuel oil.
5. Starting air and control air compressors.
6. Bilge, ballast and heeling pumps.
7. Fire pumps and other fire extinguishing medium pumps.
8. Ventilating fans for engine and boiler rooms.
5. What are the effects of temperature on electrical equipment onboard
ship ?
Extremes of temperature will affect the performance and the
effective life of any electrical apparatus. Devices which depend on
electromagnetic operation by shunt coils will find that the resistance of
the coil increases with temperature and so with less current, the field
strength 'H' is reduced.Thus contactors and relays may fail to operate
correctly if overheated.)
The total temperature is governed by the ambient air temperature
and the heating effect of the electric current in the windings.
The total temperature, which will affect the life of the insulation
and the performance of equipment, will be the highest at the maximum
ambient temperature.

6. List the various supplies commonly available onboard a ship.

Modem merchant vessels usually use alternating current systems
classified as three-phase three-wire insulated neutral systems, or three-
phase four-wire systems. However, direct current systems can also be
found.
Large passenger ships have three or four large generators rated t
2MW or more to supply the extensive hotel services on board.
A cargo ship may have two or more main generators typically
rated from 350 kW to a few megawatts, which are sufficient to supply
the engine room auxiliaries while at sea, and the winches or cranes for
handling cargo while in port. The limited load required during an
emergency demands that the emergency generators be rated from about
10kW for a small coaster to about 700kW or more for a cargo vessel.
 Electrical power onboard a ship is commonly generated at 44OV,
60Hz (sometimes 380V, 50Hz). These values have been adopted
because they are standard shore supplies in the American and European
continents. Ships with a very large electrical power demand may be
designed to operate at 3.3kV and even 6.6kV or higher (up to a
maximum of 15kV). Normally high-voltage (HV) generators supply
power to propulsion systems, bow thrusters, air conditioning
compressors, and similar heavy duty equipment.
The British Standard and International Electrotechnical
Commission definition of low voltage is that voltage which is between
SOV. a.c. and 1000V a.c. (the IEC defines this to harmonise British and
European standards). Lighting and other domestic supplies usually
operate at 110, 115V or 220V a.c. (single-phase). Transformers are used
to reduce the generated voltage to this safer voltage level. Where
portable equipment is to be used in dangerous, hot and damp locations, it
is advisable to operate at 55V or even 25V, supplied again by a step-
down transformer. Occasionally, transformers are also used to step up
voltages, to say, 3.3kV for a large bow thruster motor from a 440V
switchboard supply. Batteries for various services operate at 12V or 24V
but sometimes, higher voltages are used.
7. What do you understand by load analysis?
Load Analysis
Load analysis of the ship's electrical systems is a complex exercise
and covers all operating conditions of the vessel, such as conditions in
normal sea-going, cargo handling, harbour manoeuvring, and emergency
operations.
Often the tentative area of operation is also decided; this also
determines the vessel's size. The vessel will also be required to comply
with the stipulated safety norms and requirements of a Classification
Society and other regulatory bodies. The power rating of the generators
is determined by the power demand of the electrical load. Principle
design documents for the ship's auxiliary services should include a load
list, load analysis and short-circuit current analysis. In consultation with
the client, all electrical services on the vessel are identified.
Approximate horsepower or kilowatt ratings are obtained for
motors. Lighting loads are estimated from the ship's general arrangements
and electronic aids are obtained from similar vessels, and then a complete
load list compiled. The electrical load analysis uses the load list in order
to estimate the expected power demand of the electrical system under
specific operating conditions of the ship. Typical operating conditions
would be with the ship, 'in transit', 'at anchor', 'manoeuvring', etc. For
special vessels, other operating conditions would be appropriate such as
'towing' for a tug, 'drilling' for a drill ship.
Load analysis also helps to calculate the expected power demand
by multiplying each service power by a demand' factor.
Also, by applying the demand factor to each load ( kW and KVAr)
and summing all loads for specific operating conditions, the expected
kilowatts, kilovolt-amps and power factor can be computed.
 By comparing the expected load for the different operating
conditions of the ship, the umber and rating of the main generators can
be assessed.
Preliminary short-circuit current calculations can be completed
once the load analysis and umber and rating of generators have been
determined. The principle purpose of short-circuit current calculation is
to ascertain the short-circuit rating of the systems' protective devices.
Several types of short-circuit current calculations are applied under
different circumstances at various stages of the design process. The
major contributors to short-circuit current are the generators and motors.
The 'second stage' short-circuit current analysis is completed when
the electrical system's conceptual one-line diagram is finished.
When complete system information is available, a 'third-stage'
short-circuit analysis is completed.
8. Briefly explain what you understand by a power management system.
A vessel may have a number of generating sets, a split bus bar and
a variable load. Since the advent of UMS classification, automatic
control has become common to ensure continuity of service and an
efficient management of both generating and load equipment.
The main switchboard is fitted with a power management system.
This system has various functions to ensure the continuous supply of the
ship's electrical systems. The system also automatically controls the
diesel generators for efficient operation. Thus a modern PMS must not
only ensure safety but also control fuel consumption and emissions.
Power management systems (PMS) have in the past been relay-
based, but a programmable electronic system (PES) using a
programmable logic controller (PLC) is now more commonly used. This
can also be integrated into a distributed control system (DCS) for
supplying information to the bridge. Automatic synchronising and load
sharing is provided for the ship's generator sets.

9. Why should ship's electrical diagrams be studied ? List the various

types of diagrams that depict the working of electrical equipment on
board ship.
Diagrams are used to accurately portray the electrical system.
Today, as electrical systems become more complex, the electrical
community has adopted specific standards to allow a more universal
comprehension of the electrical circuits they describe.
There are various types of diagrams, which attempt to show how
an electrical circuit operates. Symbols are used to represent components
/ items of equipment.
It is important that you study these diagrams to be able to read and
understand them completely, and to use them as an aid in locating
electrical faults.
10. State the significance of the emergency services.
To ensure that electrical supplies are available to emergency and
safety systems, in the event of a main power failure, an emergency
generator and associated emergency switchboard will be located above
the main deck in a separate space, completely isolated from the main
machinery spaces. Emergency services would be supplied from the
emergency switchboard using distributed panels for navigation, safety
and emergency lighting services. These distribution panels are also
generally arranged to be above the bulkhead deck.
Where lighting is concerned, it is important to ensure that a fire or
flooding in one area will not cause the loss of lighting supply in other
areas or along escape routes and the circuitry must be designed in
compliance with the ships general arrangements.
11. Write short notes on each type of electrical diagram?
Basic or Line Diagram
A line diagram is constructed to show the basic operation of the
electrical control circuit and explain the process, in a logical order, of
the electrical sequence of events. This diagram. does not show the actual
wiring present in the system and may even eliminate actual connections
not necessary for the understanding of the circuit's operation.
Block Diagram
A block diagram shows in simplified form, the main inter-
relationships of the elements in a system, and how the system works or
may be operated. Such diagrams are often used to depict control systems
and other complex relationships. These diagrams state the function of
each block but usually give no information of the components therein, or
how the blocks are interconnected.
System Diagram
A system diagram shows the main features of a system and its
bounds, without necessarily showing cause-to-effect. Its main use is to
illustrate the ways of operating the system. Detail is omitted in order to
make the diagram as clear as possible, and so easily understood.
Circuit Diagram
A circuit diagram shows in full, the functioning of a circuit. All
essential parts and connections are depicted by means of symbols
arranged to show the operation as clearly as possible but without regard
to the physical layout of the various items, their parts or connections.
Wiring Diagram
A wiring diagram shows the detailed wiring and connections
between components or items of equipment and in some cases the
routing of these connections. It also shows the approximate position of
the components in the actual equipment.