Compact High-Speed Isolation Device for MVDC Applications

Future ships will have significantly increased power demands compared to ships of similar size constructed today. To enable this, MVDC will be needed to move generated power to both propulsion and advanced weapons and sensors. Integrating large power sources and loads via a common DC bus simplified the interface control and hardware requirements. It is anticipated that future MVDC power system architectures will control system currents via source power converters or advanced circuit interruption devices thus decreasing the need for fault interruption capability within each node of the MVDC architecture. However, a means of isolation is still required at the zonal nodes of the MVDC architecture. Utilization of a compact high-speed isolation device would provide the functionality to isolate a faulted circuit. In this Phase I SBIR, we propose to develop a mechanical contactor with a fast moving contactor that is launched with electromagnetic forces to achieve the fast circuit isolation required for this application. The concept was proven in the 4160 VAC PNSC applications. The successful development of this technology will enhance future combatant ship survivability while reducing the size and weight of the whole power distribution system.