Application of Permanent Magnet Variable Speed Drives to Auxiliary Applications in US Navy Submarines

Sat Con proposes to develop permanent magnet varia ble speed drives (PMVSDs) for US Navy submarine auxiliary applications by integrating high density drive electronics with innovative PM motor designs. This will create a standardized set of rotating power modules with common electrical and coolant interfaces. As Navy power distribution systems evolve to DC bus architecture, the power electronics-driven cost disadvantage of PMVSDs will be reduced. The reduction in start-up current surge and higher efficiency of PMVSD operation will also reduce cost, while reduced motor start- up current should decrease submarine power distribution system size and capacity requirements. In Phase I SatCon will study the cost and performance impact of introducing PMVSD technology into submarine auxiliary systems, and will determine the applications likely to benefit from its introduction. These results will be analyzed to estimate impact of this technology on a typical submarine, and on overall fleet operations. SatCon will generate a preliminary PMVSD design for a significant candidate submarine application. SatCon proposes an option to consider variable speed induction motor drives for comparison. These design data will be used to validate and update initial predictions of cost and performance impact on submarine operation. Based on the expectation that PMVSD technology offers significant overall benefit, in Phase II SatCon will generate detailed PMVSD designs for representative submarine applications, identified as significant to fleet cost effectiveness during Phase I. In Phase III, a prototype PMVSD will be fabricated for submarine qualification.