Advanced Power Management for In-Service Combatants

MSI and subcontractor, Fairmount Automation, propose to develop the capability to monitor and control different power sources to maintain voltage and power system stability with a master controller while maximizing efficiency for a Navy ship under different operating modes. The Navy is taking advantage of opportunities for more efficient and flexible shipboard power generation using technologies such as Hybrid Electric Drives (HED), Electric Propulsion Systems (EPS), and advanced energy storage devices. The issue is that current power management methodology and products lack the capability to support emerging Navy requirements. The Phase I SBIR effort includes shipboard data collection by the PI. The data collected will be used (a) to refine the system requirements, (b) to identify or confirm the limitations in current power management related hardware and software, and (c) by Fairmount Automation to validate a virtual model for the proposed power management system with “real-world” information. The Phase I models form the basis for defining the power management system architecture, testing control algorithms that aim to efficiently and optimally share power under various expected operating load scenarios, and allow an assessment of potential development risk areas. Phase II concludes with a validated prototype system.