Development of Electric Propulsion Motors with Integrated Power Electronics

The effective integration of electric power in future naval ships requires the development of technologies that allow for volume and mass reduction of critical components. The University of Texas at Austin Center for Electromechanics is studying the potential for volume and mass reduction through the integration of power electronics into an electric propulsion motor. Two conceptual designs of a motor with integrated power electronics are presented. Integration of power electronics into the motor frame offers space saving advantages, allowing the motor and power electronics to share the same housing and cooling system. Accordingly, significant mass and volume reductions are possible in the power electronics housing and cooling auxiliaries.Center for Electromechanic