A PEBB typically incorporates power transistors and power diodes, gate drives, and other components into a building block with: (i) a configurable and clearly defined functionality, (ii) standardized hardware, (iii) control interfaces, and (iv) interoperability with other PEBBs.

Power Converters for Ships and Other Environments With Compact Space Requirements: Certain environments, such as military and commercial ships and aircrafts, place a premium on the utilization of space. As a result, ships require power converters which are more compact than those which may be employed in land-based environments. It is also desirable to reduce the weight of power conversion systems for maritime applications. Reductions in power converter volume and power converter weight lead to both improved power density and less drag on a ship.

For maritime application, both government- and industry-initiated PEBB research and development efforts have focused on the PEBB 1000 building block, also referred to as the “PEBB 1000 Least/Line Replaceable Unit” (hereinafter, “PEBB 1000 LRU”).

In a known hardware configuration, a PEBB 1000 LRU has three or four power conversion stages with a high frequency solid state transformer positioned in the middle. An existing, modular three or four stage PEBB 1000 LRU will have DC or AC voltages of approximately 1 kVolt (1 kV) (or less) on both sides of the PEBB 1000. The high frequency (Hf) transformer in the middle of the legacy PEBB 1000 LRU has a 1:1 (unity) winding ratio which may have certain benefits in legacy power uses: symmetry, simplicity, and common parts/components (that is, a convention or standard of a 1:1 ratio transformer) for different PEBB 1000 LRUs.