Market-based control of electric ship power systems

A market-based control approach is presented for the control of power flow within an electric ship. The proposed control method consists of an artificial market in which various actors (a consumer and firms) behave according to microeconomic principles. Each piece of equipment within the engineering plant will behave as a firm, attempting to maximize its profit. The commanding officer will behave as a consumer, attempting to maximize his or her utility. By proper market design, the control system allocates resources within the system efficiently to meet the objectives of the commanding officer. This control strategy does not inherently depend on the mode of operation. If objectives change (e.g., cruising vs. battle), the market reacts, prices shift, and resources are allocated to new purposes. If the structure of the system changes (e.g., due to a change in plant lineup or due to battle damage), the prices will change to reflect the new conditions, and the market will attempt to meet the objectives in the most efficient manner under the new configuration. In this way, a unified control strategy can be applied to achieve various objectives, such as fuel efficiency, continuity of service, and survivability.