Long Endurance Underwater Power System
Abstract
The development and design of deep sea power sources for long endurances (>1 year) and moderate power (>1 KW) are unique. The best primary battery (Li-thionyl chloride) would involve huge space and weight and the cost of such a system would be prohibitive. Fuel cells with stored gases need a pressure vessel and also quite a large volume and weight. Aquanautics is engaged in developing a power source to a very demanding design. The design would involve a completely open system eliminating the need for a pressure vessel. Aquanautics will capture oxygen from the seawater to be delivered to a fuel cell. The hydrogen generated in this design is envisioned to be from a reaction between aluminum and seawater. Such a completely open system is already available from Alupower, Inc. This provides for a much safer and more compact design than cryogenic hydrogen. Lithium or magnesium can also be used. Both are expensive and lithium is known to be potentially hazardous. Since the last report, there has been major improvement of the technological issue of carrier longevity. The previous carrier had an operational life of 3 days. At present, Aquanautics has discovered a carrier called 23SuzyP which has stable electrochemical performance for over a month. We have also received a report from Alupower which shows that H2 (result of corrosion of aluminum) at these depths would still be available mainly as gas. This retires a technical issue of having to develop a fuel cell with dissolved hydrogen.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 28, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA205473