17th Oct 2023
DG Innovate’s commitment to setting new standards for electric vehicle motor performance and efficiency is no longer limited to land vehicles. The company has now reached an advanced stage in a feasibility study that looks at how its unique motor technologies can be deployed to provide important and even life-saving benefits in the marine propulsion sector.
Underpinning the collaborative marine project is the company’s innovative Pareta® drive system. The novel multiple parallel architecture will define a system-level segmented driveline optimised for marine applications and capable of delivering approximately 3 MW power. Utilising a next-generation marine fuel cell system, the concept will provide zero-emission power for ships, saving approximately 1700 kg of CO2-eq per hour at 3 MW compared with diesel-powered vessels.
The Pareta® system effectively splits the torque-producing elements of the motor into a large number of segments. Each of the segments, of which there are typically 24 in a medium-sized motor, is individually controlled by its own inverter integrated within the motor. This arrangement reduces losses significantly, allows the use of smaller, less expensive power semiconductors in the inverter. It also means that, if required, the motor can be conveniently powered from a lower voltage supply.
Martin Boughtwood, DGI’s Chief Technical Officer, said, “For marine applications, we can readily scale the Pareta® concept to produce machines that will continuously deliver 3 MW of power and a torque of 30,000 Nm with an operating efficiency of up to 99%. This opens the way for clean merchant vessels with much lower operating costs than those powered by conventional engines. The power density of Pareta® motors is also way ahead of ordinary motors. This will allow us to develop exceptionally compact propulsion systems, which is another big advantage in the marine sector where space can be at a premium.”
Possibly the most important benefit of using Pareta® motors for marine propulsion, however, is their unmatched fault tolerance. The segmented architecture of both the motor and the inverter system means that, even if a segment fails completely, the motor will continue to function with only slightly reduced performance. The risk to life and to the vessels themselves associated with engine failure is, therefore, virtually eliminated.
