DON26BZ01-NV016 TITLE: Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) Power Interfaces
OUSW (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Scaled Directed Energy (SCADE)
COMPONENT TECHNOLOGY PRIORITY AREA(S): Advanced Materials;Directed Energy (DE);Renewable Energy Generation and Storage
PROJECTED CMMC LEVEL REQUIREMENT: Level 2 (Self)
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.
OBJECTIVE: Develop a Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) system to support intermittent pulsed power loads by providing a consistent load to the generation source during pulsed power duty cycle.
DESCRIPTION: A Navy ship’s electric plant and the electrical load aboard the vessel mimics an electrical microgrid structure to distribute power. Conventional plant designs have separate mechanical propulsion and weapons systems with the electrical plant to support hotel and combat systems. Future all-electric naval ships will require all prime movers to have the functionality of distributed electrical generators to power a wide variety of loads ranging from conventional electronics, electric propulsion systems, and pulsed power systems to drive electric weaponry. The pulsed power systems will draw power from the ship’s electrical distribution to enable continuous operation.
While large-scale energy storage may support operations, high-rate intermittent storage is necessary to ensure the electrical distribution and prime movers are provided with relatively consistent loading. During the charge process of the pulsed power system, a considerable amount of power will be drawn from the electrical grid for time durations on the order of seconds with a lapse in between charges. The large power drawn in an intermittent fashion is difficult to control and difficult for non-stiff electrical generators to supply. Enabling technologies to support a supplemental high-rate storage system is required for pulsed power loads to be effectively used on board the ship without disruption to other loads or damage to the distributed generators.
SMES systems are a relatively new technology that can charge and discharge energy at rates to support the various loads that new Navy ship designs are targeting. Innovative R&D is needed to model and validate novel high-rate, intermittent energy storage and control architectures that can rapidly accept high intermittent currents to load-level prime movers during the pulsed-power duty cycle. The architecture should be designed to minimize the impact this type of operation has on the electrical generators and support the pulsed load modules’ operation. The energy storage must be able to accept rapid charge from the generation system within the constraints of the duty cycle of the pulsed power system and then provide this stored energy on the order of seconds to allow for cyclic capability in a continuous manner. New high-peak power energy storage technologies and designs are needed to accomplish this goal. Control system architectures and algorithms must also be developed to ensure load leveling in all modes of operations while ensuring safety and constant operation. These devices, with the requisite conversion schemes, are necessary in highly dense packages to allow for implementation in volumetrically constrained environments. Proof of principle hardware tests and validated computer design models are desired.
The Navy seeks a full-scale pulsed power SMES system to store energy between 4-10 MJ at a 2-4 MW power level. The energy storage system developed is expected to charge at a rate of > 1 MW and to deliver power > 1 MW. The energy will be pulsed at a power duty cycle > 80% at a discharge/charge ratio of 1:1 and accept power at a sub-second response rate. The Navy desires the energy storage interface to withstand voltages > 1000 V.
PHASE I: Develop a concept for an intermediate storage approach that utilizes advanced high-rate components to continuously accept and provide power to operate on a load leveling basis. At a minimum, modeling and simulation should be performed to aid in proving the concepts are feasible. Small scale proof of concept experimentation may also be performed to demonstrate hardware’s ability to drive high peak powers with compact and sensible architecture and package. Control algorithms that maintain load leveling should be developed and demonstrated on small-scale hardware systems. Provide objective quality evidence in the form of reports and briefings that their development will satisfy the technical specifications in the description. If modeling is performed the results of the modeling shall be included in the reports and briefings. The Phase I Option, if exercised, will include the initial design specifications and capabilities description to build a prototype solution in Phase II.
PHASE II: Develop and deliver a prototype that demonstrates the conceptual architecture and controls at a relevant scale that aligns to the requirements as provided within this topic for voltage and rates. Ensure that modes of continuous operation will be shown without degradation of the device and will support operations under elevated temperature regimes up to 122°F. (Note: Cooling and other interfaces shall be specified and demonstrated for performance.) Build additional intermediate storage devices to be tested at a facility by exposing them to a variety of pulsed power system concepts as well as abusive conditions. Cycle the modules for extended periods to fully characterize degradation and capacity loss with use under relevant conditions. Provide data and results from testing of the hardware, which shall be included in the reports and briefings to the Navy. Deliver any Phase II-developed hardware to the Navy for additional evaluation.
PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Assist the Navy in transitioning the technology to Navy use. Apply the knowledge gained in Phase II to build a multiple-MW scale system to support intermediate storage operations, ensuring that the system will be able to provide load leveling performance as defined within the topic and will be demonstrated as such.
In microgrid applications, additional areas of usage are high-rate charge/discharge applications including fast-dispatch frequency regulation, large power system load leveling and scheduling.
SMES has been implemented to stabilize power in the electrical grid in papermill factories in South Africa and the electrical power feed for a semiconductor manufacturing facility in Japan. It could be commercially adapted for other manufacturing uses.
REFERENCES:
KEYWORDS: Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES); High-Charge Rate; High-Discharge Rate; Power Dense Energy Storage; Pulsed-Power Delivery; High-Duty Cycle Energy Storage
TPOC 1
Peter Ferrara
(215) 897-8057
peter.j.ferrara.civ@us.navy.milTPOC 2
James Kreibick
(215) 897-7402
james.a.kreibick.civ@us.navy.mil
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