Electrical Power Supply for Military Ground Troops

Abstract

This master thesis studies the possible pathways to support military vehicles and ground troops with electrical power a more efficient way, than the present solution. Present energy solution is based on generation of electrical power from internal combustion engines and/or stored energy in batteries. The usage of the vehicles engine for generation of electricity in static positions, results in several disadvantages on a modern battlefield. The batteries specific energy increase every year, but the soldier s energy need has increased even faster, resulting in a problematic weight load for the dismounted soldier. In the thesis several new or improved solutions are investigated. The solutions are based on technology available today or within the next decade (2020) and selected on the basis of military criteria. A flexible model has been made in an energy simulating program capable to simulate a number of different energy configurations based on future electrical power consumption. Modelling and simulation of the soldiers power system has been recommended by earlier studies [10], but similar models have not been found by the author. The simulation results reveal that improvements of soldiers energy solution are feasible. By implementing new or better batteries in the current energy system, considerable improvement can be achieved. Introduction of fuel cells based on methanol fuel starts to become mature, and can result in several advantages on the battlefield. Solar harvesting can give an additional energy supply, but depend highly on insolation and available time for harvesting.