Compact Power Conversion Technologies

The Navy is embarking on the development of Next Generation Integrated Power Systems (NGIPS) for application on future surface ships and submarines as a means of providing better fuel economy, architectural flexibility and electrical power for high-energy mission systems. Limited by the shipboard space and weight allocated to power generation, distribution and conversion equipment, the Navy is interested in technology solutions that can cost-effectively increase power system density. The Compact Power Conversion Program will develop electrical power conversion component, subsystem and architectural solutions that align with NGIPS.

The Program will develop technology in three interrelated product areas considered to be key enablers of the NGIPS vision.

• Multifunction Power Converters will be high power density (2-3 MW/m3) power electronic devices that can provide electrical power of the proper voltage and frequency to a number of different high energy loads using common building blocks. The Multifunction Power Converter applications would include the following: propulsion motor drives, generator output power conversion, interface to high energy storage modules, interface to pulsed energy weapons, interface to high power sensors, and ship service or high energy distribution power conversion modules.
• Bi-directional Power Converters with adequate power density (3MW/m3) will enable the power system to be more flexible in the allocation of energy storage modules, which itself will play a key role in the effectiveness of the overall integrated power system. Bidirectional power conversion would enable energy storage modules to be located more strategically throughout the ship’s power system – near power generation sources, near loads that require energy storage, and at various locations within the power distribution network.
• Power Management Controllers that enable the effective management of the power generation and distribution throughout the ship. Next generation ships with multiple high energy loads will not have enough installed generation to power all their loads simultaneously. The Power Management Controller will allow the electrical power to quickly be channeled from one load to another to meet the ship’s real time mission power demands.