Operational availability and performance analysis of the multi-drive multi-motor electric propulsion system of an icebreaker gas tanker for arctic

The paper presents an attempt to estimate the value of the operational availability and performance of a diesel-electric multi-drive multi-motor propulsion system of a specific type of the vehicle, namely, of icebreaker gas tanker for year-round Arctic navigation. Such kind of operations imposes specific requirements and restrictions to the traction electric drive of the ship, much of which relates to the requirements on comprehensive reliability and fault tolerance. Their values largely determine the operational economic efficiency of multi-tonnage gas tankers in specific Arctic ice conditions. A special feature of considered ships energy system is also the strict requirements on availability and fault tolerance not only for the tanker's propulsion system, but also for the uninterrupted supply with electric energy, the cooling, and liquefying system of the transported gas.