Advanced Marine Generator for Combatant Craft
Navy SBIR 2010.1 - Topic N101-045
NAVSEA - Mr. Dean Putnam - [email protected]
Opens: December 10, 2009 - Closes: January 13, 2010

N101-045 TITLE: Advanced Marine Generator for Combatant Craft

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Ground/Sea Vehicles

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMS 325G, Small Boats and Craft

OBJECTIVE: Development of an advanced power generation system for combatant craft with breakthrough technology for electrical generators. The goal is to provide two to three times the power rating of conventional generators with weight-to-power ratios equal to or less than current technology. Technologies must be able to withstand severe marine operational duty cycles, endure harsh maritime environments with corrosion resistance, embody ruggedness to withstand repeated wave impacts, and demonstrate extended life performance. Novel approaches that lead to increases in power output will enable increases in mission system capability without sacrificing payload weight or personnel transport capability.

DESCRIPTION: Today�s forces employ combatant patrol and assault craft that rely on speed, acceleration, and maneuverability for survivability and multi-mission success. These capabilities are at risk because of the increasing demand to carry extensive payloads (e.g. combat troops, C4ISR equipment, weapons, ballistic armor, etc.). As payload demand increases, the craft�s speed, agility, and survivability decreases while acquisition costs increase. Increased capability and increased payloads must not come at the expense of sacrificing speed and acceleration. The environments in which these craft operate expose the vessels to sand, mud, oil, and seawater spray as well as potential ballistic hazards. Current power generation systems for craft are typically modifications of land systems designed for heavy trucks or stationary land-based power generation. On-road or stationary systems have different operational duty cycles than craft systems and weight-to-power ratios in the 45-60 lbs/Kw range. The differences in the engines for these on-road or stationary applications result in reduced reliability and shorter life spans in marine applications.

This topic seeks to identify and apply innovative solutions for future combatant craft generators that will be scalable or modularized. They must be able to meet power demands on the order of two to three times current capability with weight-to-power ratios less than or equal to 20-30 lbs/Kw. Achieving this goal could increase mission capability while reducing power system weight. Desired features include the ability to supply clean AC and DC power simultaneously, limited maintenance, limited or no support systems, noise and vibration controls, multi-module stacking for larger craft applications, and rapid removal for mission flexibility, repair, or expeditionary land-based applications.

The Science and Technology Strategic Plans for the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command and the Naval Special Warfare Command cited "advanced high capacity power generation" for watercraft as a future capability objective (ref 3). Successful innovation and technology transition of a light weight, maritime power generation system will provide a significant step toward achieving this objective.

PHASE I: Demonstrate the design feasibility of an innovative 30-40 Kw range combatant craft generator with weight-to-power ratios on the order of 20-30 lbs/Kw or less. Perform bench top experimentation where applicable to demonstrate concepts. Complete preliminary design that addresses the needs as identified above.

PHASE II: Develop, demonstrate and fabricate a prototype as identified in Phase I. In a laboratory environment, demonstrate that the prototype meets the performance goals established in Phase I. Verify final prototype operation in a representative laboratory environment and provide results. Develop a cost benefit analysis and a Phase III installation, testing, and validation plan.

PHASE III: Working with government and industry, construct a full-scale prototype and install onboard a selected combatant craft. Conduct extended shipboard testing. The small business will pursue global commercial markets in applying the new technology to commercial craft.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: The vendor will be able to market the new capabilities to over twenty boat builders who serve the U.S. military and commercial markets, as well as the international small boat commercial industry.

REFERENCES:
1. American Boat and Yacht Council Standards and Technical Information Reports for Small Craft, Section E-11.

2. American Bureau of Shipping. "Guide for Building and Classing High Speed Craft." October 2001.

3. NECC Science and Technology Strategic Plan. October 2007.

KEYWORDS: advanced power systems; marine generator; weight-to-power ratio; small boats; combatant craft

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **
DoD Notice:  
Between November 12 and December 9, 2009, you may talk directly with the Topic Authors to ask technical questions about the topics. Their contact information is listed above. For reasons of competitive fairness, direct communication between proposers and topic authors is
not allowed starting December 10, 2009, when DoD begins accepting proposals for this solicitation.
However, proposers may still submit written questions about solicitation topics through the DoD's SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System (SITIS), in which the questioner and respondent remain anonymous and all questions and answers are posted electronically for general viewing until the solicitation closes. All proposers are advised to monitor SITIS (10.1 Q&A) during the solicitation period for questions and answers, and other significant information, relevant to the SBIR 10.1 topic under which they are proposing.

If you have general questions about DoD SBIR program, please contact the DoD SBIR Help Desk at (866) 724-7457 or email weblink.

Return