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AssigneeHelmholtz-Zentrum hereon GmbH
InventorsLucas Merckelbach, Prokopios Georgopanos, Torsten Brinkmann, Burkard Baschek
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The present invention relates to a power supply system for underwater vehicles, in particular to a power supply system for autonomous underwater vehicles, to underwater vehicles equipped with such power supply systems and to a method of operating an underwater vehicle. The power supply system for underwater vehicles comprises a hydrogen fuel cell, which on the one hand is in fluid contact with a metal hydride storage tank, and on the other hand, with a membrane module that is capable of extracting dissolved oxygen from water. By combining the above mentioned components, the energy necessary to support the AUV operation and the operation of its sensors can be provided, replacing in an efficient and sustainable way the currently employed battery energy systems. For the operation of gliders, a weight compensating mechanism could also be implemented.
An underwater vehicle equipped with a power supply system, the power supply system comprising a hydrogen fuel cell, a metal hydride storage tank and a membrane module, wherein the hydrogen fuel cell is in fluid contact with said metal hydride storage tank and with said membrane module, the membrane module employing an oxygen selective membrane in the form of a thin film composite membrane, capable of harvesting dissolved oxygen from an aqueous environment.
The underwater vehicle of 12, wherein the membrane module is positioned at the nose of the underwater vehicle.
A method of operating an underwater vehicle, wherein power is supplied by a power supply system comprising a hydrogen fuel cell, metal hydride storage tank and a membrane module, wherein the hydrogen fuel cell is in fluid contact with said metal hydride storage tank and with said membrane module, the membrane module employing an oxygen selective membrane capable of harvesting dissolved oxygen from an aqueous environment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.