Motori elettrici utilizzati nella propulsione elettrica navale, con particolare riferimento alle grandi navi.

This thesis provides a multifaceted investigation into electric propulsion systems tailored for marine applications, with a specific focus on the rigorous requirements of high-displacement vessels such as cruise ships. Driven by the global imperatives of energy optimization, environmental sustainability, and heightened operational dependability, electric propulsion has transitioned from an elective feature to a cornerstone of modern naval architecture. The study commences with a systematic appraisal of diverse propulsion architectures encompassing conventional, hybrid, and all-electric ship (AES) configurations evaluating their respective merits in efficiency and system integration against the inherent risks of increased technical complexity and fault sensitivity. A critical examination of electromechanical conversion technologies, including induction, permanent magnet synchronous, and multiphase machines, reveals that while traditional designs remain robust, multiphase architectures offer superior fault-tolerant characteristics through intrinsic hardware redundancy. This makes such machines indispensable for safety-critical maritime missions where propulsion continuity is paramount. Furthermore, the research explores the pivotal role of power electronic interfaces, specifically medium-voltage modular multilevel converters (MMC), which facilitate high-efficiency operation and minimized harmonic distortion. While these topologies offer significant scalability, the analysis also addresses the sophisticated control challenges they introduce regarding system-wide reliability. A central contribution of this research lies in its comprehensive assessment of reliability and fault-tolerant methodologies, addressing a broad spectrum of failure modes ranging from semiconductor and sensor anomalies to open- and short-circuit faults. The work evaluates ii various mitigation strategies, including multiphase motor reconfiguration and current compensation methods, alongside advanced diagnostic frameworks. By reviewing model-based, signal-centric, and artificial intelligence-driven diagnostic approaches, the study highlights how AI-based methods provide transformative solutions for early-stage anomaly detection and predictive maintenance. The thesis concludes by assessing emerging paradigms such as digitalization and smart ship technologies, ultimately asserting that the resilience of next-generation marine propulsion depends on a holistic synergy between advanced hardware design, intelligent control algorithms, and data-driven diagnostic intelligence.