Modified CO2 cycle for long endurance unmanned underwater vehicles and resultant chirp acoustic capability

Abstract

A carbon dioxide cycle power generation system includes a first carbon dioxide storage configured to store a first portion of carbon dioxide and a second carbon dioxide storage configured to store a second portion of the carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide cycle power generation system also includes a generator configured to generate electrical power based on a flow of at least part of the carbon dioxide between the first and second carbon dioxide storages. The carbon dioxide cycle power generation system is configured to cycle between different underwater depths in order to employ water pressure and/or water temperature in creating the flow of the at least part of the carbon dioxide through the generator. The second carbon dioxide storage includes an annular region surrounding a central region, where the annular region has a variable internal volume configured to receive at least part of the second portion of the carbon dioxide.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.