Towards a standardized framework for collaborative ship powertrain design using the system structure and parameterization standard

Abstract

The maritime sector plays a vital role in global trade and transportation but there is a need for constant innovation within this industry to meet sustainability goals. Optimizing powertrains through full-system simulations during the initial design phase is a key solution. However, the manual selection of suitable component models due to multiple vendors offering similar components leads to inefficiencies. This thesis aims to contribute to the development of a collaborative design framework to automate component selection and simulations, integrating OEMs and system designers for model sharing and powertrain simulation. Standardization is key to this framework's development. This thesis focuses on standardizing component requirements and powertrain simulation model descriptions.

A literature review was conducted to investigate the suitable standardized methods. The System Structure and Parameterization (SSP) standard was found to be a suitable candidate for describing powertrain simulation models, while an ontological approach was chosen for describing component requirements. A case study applied the SSP standard to describe a simple powertrain simulation model while incorporating the Vehicle Signal Specification ontology for component requirements description to evaluate whether the selected methods fit within the framework.

A qualitative analysis evaluated the SSP standard's suitability based on literature review findings and practical experiences with SSP model creation and simulation. Criteria such as ease-of-use, interoperability, modularity, and accuracy were assessed. The results demonstrated the suitability of the SSP standard, combined with the Vehicle System Simulation (VSS) ontology, for automated component selection and powertrain simulation. While effective, drawbacks in both the SSP standard and VSS ontology were identified, with suggestions proposed to address them.

The findings affirm the viability of standardized methods, particularly the SSP standard and VSS ontology, in automating component selection and powertrain simulation. Addressing identified drawbacks will enhance the framework's efficiency and effectiveness in supporting sustainable innovation within the maritime sector.