Lightweight Power Generation for RHIB Platforms

Military USV platforms require an increasing amount of electric power to support electronic systems developed for command and control and other loads. Combined with the fact that existing generator sets that provide the 40 kW of required power are too large and heavy for these boats, alternative solutions need to be found. UQM has developed small, lightweight generator solutions for hybrid electric vehicles used within ground vehicles, and can take this technology into RHIB platforms. Several small diesel engines exist as good candidates to become the prime mover of a UQM permanent magnet generator. The conditioned DC power is then fed to one or more AC power inverters for the creation of 60 and 400 Hz power. The feasibility of combining existing and/or modified components will become the focus of the Phase I effort, with the fundamental approach to minimize component development. UQM believes that the building blocks to create a lightweight (less than 400 lbs) generator system exist, and that good systems engineering will become the challenge. Issues of focus include component maturity, component interactions/compatibility, marine environment suitability, and systems-level tradeoffs.