SatCon Technology Corporation® (Nasdaq NM: SATC) has been awarded a ‘cost-plus’ contract for the development of a Modular High Density Isolated DC/DC Converter for a fuel cell power source from the Office of Naval Research (ONR). The total value of the contract is approximately $250,000 with an option of an additional $100,000.
“The award is another example of SatCon’s expertise in electric power conversion systems for mobile and stationary applications,” stated SatCon’s Chairman and CEO, David Eisenhaure. “Although this technology is primarily oriented for the US Navy, the technology developed as a result of this effort is particularly well-suited for our hybrid electric vehicle and aerospace offerings which require higher power density, higher efficiency electric drive system solutions. Our power electronics expertise in component packaging, system architecture, and software controls allows us to develop efficient and compact solutions for challenging applications within constrained space and environmental requirements.”
SatCon will design, fabricate, test, and deliver a modular 100 KW fuel cell converter utilizing an architecture, which is based on an advanced high voltage DC/DC capacitive charger developed for the US Army Research Lab. The converter boosts the low voltage variable input from the fuel cell to provide a high quality, constant voltage DC output. This is a key component of the auxiliary fuel cell power system to be tested on a ship and will demonstrate compatibility with the DDG-1000 class ship electrical distribution system.
According to the company, this development is a key enabler that will allow multiple power sources of varying voltages to connect to the ship’s electrical distribution grid in the future. In addition, the technology is applicable to the increased electrification of military and commercial vehicles, as well as for pulse power systems. A bi-directional version of this converter is an enabling technology for “Plug-in” Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV).
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