Future navy application of wide bandgap power semiconductor devices

An assessment of future U.S. Navy electrical power requirements is presented to identify wide bandgap power device application opportunities, issues, and challenges. An emphasis is placed on blocking voltage and the potential of wide bandgap power semiconductor devices to enable higher voltage machines that can meet the U.S. Navy's future electrical power challenges. Estimates of the blocking voltage and power requirements are made for various power systems envisioned for future shipboard application. Blocking voltage estimates are made using a simplified stress level analysis to illustrate the basic concepts underlying power semiconductor device application in U.S. Navy shipboard systems.