Long Endurance Underwater Power System
Abstract
Major activities undertaken in this quarter were: 1)Direct Feed of Oxygen Carrier into Fuel Cell: Previous work carried out with carrier in a half- cell has been extended to a fuel cell where H2 has been incorporated as the fuel. The positive power obtained (0.17 10 mA/sq. cm in the fuel cell is in itself a major achievement. Performance analysis points to the possibility of improvement in the hydrogen anode and the carrier, as well as a reduction in IR losses; (2) Gill: For operation at depth, gill membrane elements need to be of a solid type rather than microporus. Another requirement being that hollow fiber membranes are necessary, implies a very limited number of sources of supply. Aquanautics has been able to identify a source and has already tested a cartridge from them. The microporous control cartridge and solid membrane had roughly similar oxygen flux characteristics, and the difference was attributable to the geometry of the cartridges. Oxygen transport through the membranes has been modelled and the results are expected to yield design equations enabling selection of gill geometry and design parameters; (3) Hydrogen Generator: Subsequent to the feasibility study of hydrogen generation by reacting seawater with aluminum, Alupower, Inc. has delivered a 1W-1 month Al-Seawater battery/ hydrogen generator. The system is compact and will be tested. Based on the work done in this quarter, the system volume targets for a one kilowatt system operating continuously for a period of one year have been formulated.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA207576