Advanced Power Management for In-Service Combatants Navy SBIR FY2010.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2010.1 Topic No.: N101-055 Topic Title: Advanced Power Management for In-Service Combatants Proposal No.: N101-055-1041 Firm: Mechanical Solutions, Inc. 11 Apollo Drive Whippany, New Jersey 07981-1423 Contact: Charles Prisco Phone: (973) 326-9920 Web Site: www.mechsol.com Abstract: 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. Benefits: The initial application is for the DDG-51 and other more advanced naval ships. The broader pubic benefit and potential commercial application is supporting the USA's evolution to a smarter, more efficient, and more complex electric power grid ("smart grid"). A critical problem is grid frequency and reactive power regulation. The research performed for this program can be leveraged to develop control strategies for grid stability using energy storage devices with bi-directional power electronic inverters. As the utility grid continues to increase the share of alternative energy sources, such as solar and wind, grid stability management becomes more of an issue. These newer sources of energy have inconsistent power production due to shading from clouds and wind variability. Frequency and reactive power regulation become more of a challenge as the power on the grid will fluctuate as a result. The ability to rapidly absorb load and source short term energy will provide the utility with the ability to absorb these fluctuations, both for frequency and reactive power regulation. Energy storage can be obtained from many types of sources, including batteries, ultra capacitors and flywheels, for example. The capability for the utility to rapidly dispatch these capabilities for grid regulation is the current challenge. Return