RADFORD, Va., Feb. 21 (UPI) -- A variant of a low-voltage power generation system for the U.S. Army's Fuel-Efficient Ground Vehicle Demonstrator is being introduced by Virginia's Kollmorgen.
The technology company said the system enables the FED Alpha vehicle to provide 30kW of power at 28VDC over a wide engine-operating band.
"The Kollmorgen power generation platform is uniquely capable of generating all of the power needed to support the tactical demands of today's military vehicles from a low voltage system," says Brandon Edlefsen, director of Kollmorgen's Vehicle Electric Power Business Unit. "It has reduced the weight of the TARDEC FED ALPHA vehicle by approximately 150 pounds when compared with high-voltage power generation systems.
"Those weight savings, combined with the industry leading 90-plus percent efficiency of Kollmorgen's power generation system, play a large role in the vehicle's significant fuel savings."
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The FED Alpha is the first of two vehicle projects that the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center is developing to showcase fuel-efficient technologies, while maintaining tactical vehicle capability.
Kollmorgen's low-voltage power generation platform consists of flexible power electronics that support multiple generator configurations and mild hybrid capability. The generator system used in the FED vehicle is an in-line ISG 28 VDC, 30kW liquid-cooled generator with three 10 kW air-cooled power electronics modules, which communicate on J1939 software protocol.
The low-voltage platform also includes a belt-driven, air cooled generator that produces 30kW at 28VDC, utilizing the same controllers as the integrated starter generator system.
Kollmorgen's low-voltage platform will be demonstrated during the Winter Association of the U.S. Army conference this week in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
