SBIR Phase I: DEEP-MOP - Development of an Electrification Enabling Platform for Maritime Outboard Propulsion

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目的更广泛影响是为休闲游艇市场减少水道内和水道上的污染和噪音，并为搜救行动、国防和执法提供一个安静、可靠的替代方案。该项目将产生一个重要的舷外马达原型，从一开始就被设计为船舶电力推进系统。该项目将使目前商用舷外电动马达的巡航里程增加一倍，从而在续航里程方面与汽油动力发动机相媲美，同时导致不到十年拥有成本的一半。这也有重要的环境效益。这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目旨在为长度长达25英尺的船只提供一种具有竞争力的舷外电动发动机和电池系统，该系统将与汽油发动机的续航里程相匹配，同时基本消除维护成本。目前正在制定四个开发轨迹：(1)用现代传动材料取代轴和锥齿轮系统，以降低噪音和提高效率，(2)通过采用更大且重新设计的螺旋桨来提高螺旋桨推力，从而使电动马达能够在每分钟低转速下更高效地运行，并优化组件的流体动力学特性，(3)开发避免吸入海水的冷却系统，以减少维护工作量和成本，以及(4)采用外形更灵活的电池，并优化电池控制系统，以实现最大巡航里程。技术要求和挑战包括：(A)证明新驱动材料的耐用性超过现有齿轮驱动；(B)预测流体动力学，以及计算建模和水箱测试之间的成功相互作用；(C)设计完全密封的冷却系统，该系统在电机使用寿命期间不会泄漏，甚至在高峰运行期间也不会过热，以及(D)了解电机和电池控制系统之间的复杂相互作用。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，认为值得支持。

The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to reduce pollution and noise in and on waterways for the recreational boating market, and provide a silent, reliable alternative for search and rescue operations, defense, and law enforcement. The project will result in an important prototype outboard motor designed as an electric marine propulsion system from inception. This project will double the cruising range of current commercial electric outboard motors, thereby matching gasoline-power engines in terms of range, while resulting in less than half the ten-year cost of ownership. This has important environmental benefits as well. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to provide a competitive electric outboard motor and battery system for boats up to 25 ft in length which will match the range of gasoline engines, while mostly eliminating maintenance costs. Four development trajectories are being pursued: (1) replacing shaft-and-bevel gear systems with modern transmission materials to reduce noise and improve efficiency, (2) improving propeller thrust by adopting a larger and redesigned propeller enabled by electric motors running more efficiently at low revolutions per minute, and optimizing fluid dynamics properties of the assembly, (3) developing a cooling system that avoids sea water ingestion to reduce maintenance effort and cost, and (4) adapting batteries with more flexible form factors and optimizing the battery control system to maximize cruising range. Technical requirements and challenges include: (A) demonstrating that the durability of the new drive materials exceeds existing gear drives; (B) predicting fluid dynamics, and the successful interplay between computational modeling and tank testing; (C) designing a completely sealed cooling system, which will neither leak during the lifetime of the motor, nor overheat even during peak operation, and (D) understanding the complex interplay between motor and battery control systems.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.