Boat & Combatant Craft Electric Drive Propulsion System

The Navy wants to introduce electric drive propulsion craft that can operate at higher efficiencies than traditional combustion powered vessels at slow, loitering speed since gasoline and diesel engines are inefficient when lightly loaded.  Electric and hybrid electric propulsion are more efficient over the full operating range of a vessel and require less maintenance.  By reducing fuel and maintenance expenses, the Navy will see a significant reduction in the Total Ownership Cost (TOC) of an electric propulsion craft.  The use of electric propulsion technologies also results in vessels with lower acoustic signatures which allows the US Navy to maintain its stealth and lethality advantages in contested environments.  The hybrid architecture PacMar Technologies will develop for this project will include an intrinsic redundancy of operation.  The use of the electric motors in the propulsion system allows for the craft to continue performing operations in a limited scope during the unexpected event of an engine malfunction.  Also, the use of an energy storage system allows for an extended period of auxiliary power production for house loads during an engine failure or issue.  The system architecture also allows for classic diesel only operation in the case of an issue with the electric powertrain, providing two independent systems for propulsion and auxiliary power production.  In critical situations, redundancy is the key for safe operation and PacMar Technologies will provide four (two on port and two and starboard) redundant power systems which will enable operation even in the most unexpected worse case scenarios.  The hybrid architecture PacMar Technologies will develop for this project results in an increase in fuel efficiency of the craft. Due to the craft currently spending a large percentage of its operational time in low-speed maneuvering where the diesel engine operates at its non-optimal load value, repairs to the craft are frequent and costly.  PacMar Technologies will allow for a direct reduction in these costly repairs due to the runtime of the diesel engine being significantly decreased, due to electric only operation during slow speed operation. Subsequently, a reduction in “idle time” of the diesel engine, which is a highly contributing factor to engine fade and repairs, is achieved via the electric motor being used.