HD Hyundai Achieves Domestic Production of Core Ship Electrification 'Shaft Generator System'

First Domestic Development of Shipboard VFD
Core Technology for 축 Power Generation System

HD Hyundai announced on the 8th that it has succeeded in developing the country's first large-capacity low-voltage Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) for ships. This achievement enables the company to supply all components of the shaft generator system, a core equipment for ship electrification, using its own technology.

On the 7th, HD Hyundai held a demonstration of the 3MVA-class ship VFD jointly developed by HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, HD Hyundai Electric, and HD Hyundai Plaspo at the HD Hyundai Electric rotating machinery factory in Ulsan.

At the demonstration of the 'Large-capacity Low-voltage Drive for Ships' held on the 7th at the HD Hyundai Electric Rotating Machinery Factory, HD Hyundai executives attended and took a commemorative photo. From the left, Jang Gwangpil, Head of Future Technology Research Institute at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Jeon Seungho, Head of Technology Division at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Seol Seunggi, Technical Advisor at HD Hyundai, Jo Seok, HD Hyundai Electric, and Kim Hyungkwan, CEO of HD Hyundai Mipo. Photo by HD Hyundai

Key executives attended the event, including Cho Seok, CEO of HD Hyundai Electric; Kim Hyung-kwan, CEO of HD Hyundai Mipo; Jang Kwang-pil, Head of Future Technology Research Institute at HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering; Jeon Seung-ho, Head of Technology Division at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries; and Seol Seung-gi, Technical Advisor at HD Hyundai.

The ship VFD is a device that controls the rotational speed of the motor to maximize power generation efficiency and plays a key role in the environmentally friendly 'shaft generator system' on ships.

For the generator to produce electricity stably, the rotational speed of the generator motor must be maintained consistently. However, the generator motor in the shaft generator system is linked to the power of the large engine that propels the ship, so its rotational speed inevitably varies according to the ship's operating speed. The VFD adjusts the frequency to provide stable and consistent power supply to the ship.

The ship VFD developed by HD Hyundai has significantly improved performance compared to existing models. It applies 'grid forming' technology that mimics the characteristics of the generator to enable stable power system operation, enhancing power usage efficiency, and allows precise motor control without separate position or speed sensors.

CEO Cho Seok said, "It is significant that we have secured independent core technology that can proactively respond to decarbonization regulations," adding, "We will unite all the group's capabilities to lead the global ship electrification market."