N96-030 Electric Power Transfer

It is proposed to develop an electric power transfer technique optimized for linear motors used on aircraft carriers. The power transfer technique must satisfy several requirements including high reliability, safety and electromagnetic compatibility while delivering up to 1 MW at speeds from standstill to 100 m/s. During Phase I we shall study the application and provide a technology assessment of several alternative power transfer techniques. This effort will be greatly aided by our previous experience in power transfer and electromagnetic shielding for Navy, Army, DOT and commercial clients. The result of the assessment will be a downselect to a single preferred concept. We shall extensively analyze this concept for performance in the application. The technical characteristics of the concept will be evaluated including size, weight, efficiency, resistance, inductance, temperature rise, and peak voltage and current. The deliverable will be a Final Technical Report with a design of a preliminary full scale power transfer system and a sub-scale (approximately 100 W) design for feasibility demonstration. During the option we shall build, test, and evaluate the sub-scale system at speeds from standstill up to full speed (scaled). During Phase II we propose to build a larger higher power system, perhaps transferring several hundred kW and traveling at full speed (scaled)