The concept development of any system includes the definition of various parameters of interest and the determination of the threshold (satisfactory) and goal (desired) value for each. These are classically organized into measures of effectiveness (MOEs), measures of performance (MOPs), and technical performance measures (TPMs). These form the basis of performance requirements, the means for evaluating design, and the measure by which systems are validated. A cross-cutting subset of MOPs and TPMs, key performance parameters (KPPs) can define the trade space within which to optimize the emerging solution. Applying this systematic approach is substantially complicated when the system of interest aims for unprecedented capabilities from emerging technologies, which is the situation for electric ship research. This article presents an integration framework that effectively maps out a process leading to defined parameter objectives, which is being developed and used in the U.S. Department of Navy-sponsored power electronic power distribution system (PEPDS) research initiative. The method then integrates the model-based systems engineering (MBSE) system model with genetic algorithm trade space exploration tools.

Incorporation of energy storage directly into the distribution system of a Navy ship can enable new dynamic high-power loads and improve overall energy efficiency. This paper investigates the integration of energy storage onboard an all-electric destroyer by designing a solution for an advanced combination of loads and establishing a procedure for incorporating energy storage directly into the distribution system design. A case study is examined in which a battery is sized for a defined load and integrated into a ship design with associated peripherals. The selected battery is simulated to verify expected performance. The study investigates a battery-based system that provides peak shaving to assist the traditional generation system in supplying pulsed and stochastic loads, while also enabling single-generator operations. Such an energy storage system provides notable benefits in terms of fuel consumption during normal operations while also guaranteeing a stable and continuous power supply to the mission loads during battle scenarios.

The Navy's early-stage design tools are integrated with the Leading Edge Architecture for Prototyping Systems (LEAPS) data repository, thus enabling a streamlined, cohesive approach to the creation, storage and access of data pertinent to a ship design. The Smart Ship System Design (S3D) design environment currently under development within the Electric Ship Research and Development Consortium (ESRDC) recently completed development of S3D as a LEAPS application and is extending its capability to include the LEAPS application framework, multi-platform compatibility, and added functionality.

This paper presents an overview of thermal management solutions, in support of ship electrification, that are being investigated for power electronic building blocks and their integration into power corridors, both of which are seen as enablers of flexible and reconfigurable power distribution systems in the next generation Navy ships. Air, liquid, two-phase, and indirect cooling approaches are discussed in the context of specific building block configurations built and designed at CPES (Virginia Tech). The paper presents an overview of ongoing efforts towards the design, construction, and testing of cooling technology prototypes.

Superconducting power devices provide a solution to increase the flexibility and power density of electrical power systems for future electric ships. To assess the benefits and constraints of superconducting power devices it is necessary to understand the modifications required to the electrical power system. The paper focuses on recent development on superconducting generators, motors, and cables and assess their inclusion as part of notional superconducting power systems for future all electric ships.