This study proposes an advanced coordinated control strategy for a hybrid medium-voltage DC (MVDC) shipboard power system that integrates solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and variable-speed diesel generators (VSDGs). The study aims to achieve superior fuel consumption reduction and enhanced power quality in marine environments. An SOFC dynamic model is developed to accurately capture electrochemical behavior and to evaluate efficiency under varying load factors. For the VSDG, a fuel consumption model incorporating variable rotational speed is derived, enabling the selection of an optimal operating speed that minimizes specific fuel consumption while maintaining system stability. The proposed strategy employs fuel-optimal integrated control to dispatch and regulate power sharing between SOFCs and VSDGs dynamically under varying load conditions using an upper-level controller. Simulation studies demonstrate that the proposed method ensures SOFC operation within high-efficiency utilization regions, adjusts VSDG speed to maximize fuel economy, and achieves stable load sharing through cooperative control. The results demonstrate significant fuel savings, with reductions of 75.3% under low-load conditions and 26.3% under high-load conditions compared with the non-coordinated baseline, contributing to the advancement of sustainable and reliable maritime electrification.
Aziz et al. (Sun,) studied this question.