Characterizing Naval Ship Systems Power and Energy Metrics through Modeling and Analysis

Abstract

This research introduces a framework for analyzing shipboard power and energy systems as a repeatable process to differentiate between preferred solutions within a design tradespace. The Naval design community needs a consistent method for evaluating non-functional requirements, called “ilities,” in the early design stages when informed decision making provides the greatest opportunity to positively influence the system’s performance and lifecycle cost. Ilities are defined as emergent properties that impact a system’s ability to maintain value over time. The pace of technology maturation and the uncertainty in magnitude and characteristics of future load types drive the need for robust power and energy system architectures that can adapt to future perturbations in requirements. This research proposes a framework for developing metrics that can be used to identify preferred options with the design space. The framework considers the physical, logical, and operational aspects of the architecture to generate a set of perturbations that are likely to impact the system’s ability to maintain value over its lifecycle. The proposed process is exercised to develop quantitative, measurable metrics for Naval power and energy system flexibility: the capability of the system to accommodate change in response to perturbations in requirements. Four case studies are presented, developing metrics for Flexible Power Capacity, Debitable Power Flexibility, Distributable Power Flexibility, and Energy Storage Flexibility. A fifth case presents the application of Real Options Analysis for balancing system performance and cost to “right size” the P&E system at initial delivery with preparations in the design to react to future uncertainty.