Navy

LEONARDO DRS' "ENERGY MAGAZINE" GIVES THE NAVY POWER FOR SHIPBOARD LASERS AND OTHER HIGH-ENERGY SYSTEMS

The Navy is at a tipping point with regard to electrical power. Most shipboard generators are already maxed out providing power for systems like cooling pumps, heating/ventilation/air conditioning chillers and fans, lighting, and defensive systems like radar, sonar, and electronic countermeasures.

Coming on the scene now are a variety of power-hungry next-generation technologies like higher-power radar systems and offensive/defensive systems such as directed energy lasers that the Navy wants to incorporate into a range of ship systems. That not only drives the need for more power but also for higher power quality, more efficient use of power, and intermittent power for the high bursts of energy required by pulse-power weapons and sensor systems.

“There will be an increased demand for advanced power conversion systems coupled with energy storage in order to meet the peak power demand, as well as maintain compliance to the electrical interface to the ship generators,” said Andy Nerbun, director of engineering and new product development at Leonardo DRS.

The key to managing all this power is an “energy magazine” that employs state-of-the-art lithium ion (Li-Ion) batteries or other solutions for energy storage and advanced controls for energy management. Such a system is capable of supplying energy to either the ship’s electrical distribution system or directly to a pulse weapon/sensor, while accommodating peak power demands that the ship’s generators cannot provide or provide back-up power if a generator goes offline. During times of lower demand the energy magazine is recharged from the ship’s electrical system.