AUTONOMOUS UNDER WATER POWER SUPPLY DEVICE

Abstract

An energy supply apparatus may be modular and can be used underwater. In some examples, the modules comprise pressure vessels. The modules are chosen independently of each other from a group comprising a battery module, a fuel cell module, and air-independent Diesel module. The pressure vessels may be cylindrical and may have spherical segments disposed at ends segments of the pressure vessels. One or more of the spherical segments of the pressure vessels may be configured to be swiveled. Modules that are configured as battery modules may include battery elements, an inverter, a battery monitoring system, a separating unit, a control unit, a transformer, and/or a cooling unit.

Claims

1.-14. (canceled)

15. An energy supply apparatus comprising: a first module comprising a first pressure vessel, wherein the first module comprises a first air-independent power generator configured as a battery module, a fuel cell module, a Stirling motor, a Walter turbine, or an air-independent Diesel module; and a second module comprising a second pressure vessel, wherein the second module comprises a second air-independent power generator configured as a battery module, a fuel cell module, a Stirling motor, a Walter turbine, or an air-independent Diesel module.

16. The energy supply apparatus of claim 15 wherein the first and second pressure vessels are cylindrical and each comprise spherical segments at end faces, wherein at least one of the spherical segments of each of the first and second pressure vessels is configured to be swiveled.

17. The energy supply apparatus of claim 15 wherein each of the first and second pressure vessels has a length of 40 feet.

18. The energy supply apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a battery module that comprises: battery elements; an inverter; a battery monitoring system; a separating unit; a control unit; a transformer; and a cooling unit.

19. The energy supply apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a battery module that comprises at least one of: battery elements; an inverter; a battery monitoring system; a separating unit; a control unit; a transformer; or a cooling unit.

20. The energy supply apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a battery module with a third pressure vessel, wherein the third pressure vessel has a diameter of about 2 meters.

21. The energy supply apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a fuel cell module with a third pressure vessel, wherein the third pressure vessel has a diameter of about 3 meters.

22. The energy supply apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a fuel cell module, the fuel cell module comprising a first fuel cell tank for oxygen and a second fuel cell tank for hydrogen.

23. The energy supply apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a fuel cell module with a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell.

24. The energy supply apparatus of claim 15 further comprising an air-independent Diesel module with a third pressure vessel, wherein the third pressure vessel comprises a diameter of about 3 meters.

25. The energy supply apparatus of claim 15 further comprising an air-independent Diesel module, the air-independent Diesel module comprising a first Diesel module tank for liquid oxygen and a second Diesel module tank for Diesel.

26. The energy supply apparatus of claim 15 further comprising an air-independent Diesel module, the air-independent Diesel module comprising an absorber.

27. The energy supply apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a framework, wherein the first and second modules are connected to the framework.

28. The energy supply apparatus of claim 15 wherein the first module is a battery module.

29. The energy supply apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a third module configured as a fuel cell module, a Stirling motor, a Walter turbine, or an air-independent Diesel module, wherein the first and second modules are battery modules.

Description

[0030] The energy supply apparatus according to the invention is explained more in more detail below by means of an exemplary embodiment represented in the drawings.

[0031] FIG. 1: representation of an energy supply apparatus with three modules

[0032] FIG. 2: representation of a battery module

[0033] FIG. 3: representation of an air-independent Diesel module

[0034] FIG. 4: representation of a fuel cell module

[0035] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary energy supply apparatus. It comprises a framework 10. In the framework 10 there are three modules, two battery modules 20 and one fuel cell module 30. The modules comprise a length of around 12 m, the pressure vessels of the battery modules 20 comprise a diameter of around 2 m and the pressure vessel of the fuel cell module comprises a diameter of around 3 m. The framework 10 comprises a length of around 14 m, a width of around 6.5 m and a height of around 5 m. The battery modules 20 comprise swivel caps 22 and the fuel cell module 30 comprises a swivel cap 32. In addition, the fuel cell module 30 comprises pressure tanks 34, in which hydrogen or oxygen is stored under pressure in the gaseous state. Such an energy supply apparatus can on the one hand deliver a high short-term power and on the other hand cover a low base load for a very long time thanks to the fuel module 30.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a battery module 20 in half-transparent representation. Access to the pressure vessel 26 occurs via the swivel cap 22. At the end of the pressure vessel 26 opposite the swivel cap 22 is arranged a control subassembly 42, which comprises an inverter, a battery monitoring system, a separating unit, a control unit and a cooling unit. Furthermore, six subassemblies with battery elements 40 are arranged in the battery module 20, comprising a diameter of around 2 m and a depth of around 1.8 m. The battery elements are in compact arrangement, since there is no maintenance during use underwater. For maintenance and repair, the subassemblies with battery elements 40 are removed through the swivel cap 22 from the pressure vessel 26 while the battery module 20 is on land or on a maintenance ship.

[0037] FIG. 3 shows an air-independent Diesel module 70 with a pressure vessel 76 and a swivel cap 72. Inside the pressure vessel 76 the subassemblies are arranged preferably according to their respective need for maintenance, the subassembly with the least need for maintenance being arranged at the side facing away from the swivel cap 72. The air-independent Diesel module 70 contains a Diesel generator 50. For discharging the CO.sub.2 produced during combustion there is an absorber 51, in which the CO.sub.2 is dissolved in sea water and given off to the surroundings. Furthermore, the thermal process control can be assured via the heat exchanger 52. Furthermore, the air-independent Diesel module 70 contains a switch cabinet 53 and switchboards 54 as well as a water management system 55. Storage tanks for Diesel and liquid oxygen are arranged outside the pressure container 76 and are not shown. The pressure container 76 comprises a length of around 12 m and a diameter of around 3 m.

[0038] FIG. 4 shows a fuel cell module 30 with a pressure vessel 36 with swivel cap 32. Inside the pressure vessel 36 the subassemblies are arranged preferably according to their respective need for maintenance, the subassembly with the least need for maintenance being arranged at the side facing away from the swivel cap 32. In the pressure vessel 36 is found the fuel cell 60, preferably a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. For use of liquid oxygen as oxidizing agent, the fuel cell module 30 has an evaporator 61. Moreover, the fuel cell module 30 comprises a DC converter 62, a control console 63, a switch cabinet 64, an additional switch cabinet 65 as well as pumps 66 and a compressor 67. The pressure container 36 comprises a length of around 12 m and a diameter of around 3 m.

REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0039] 10 Framework of the energy supply apparatus [0040] 20 Battery module [0041] 22 Swivel cap of the battery module [0042] 24 Framework of the battery module [0043] 26 Pressure vessel of the battery module [0044] 30 Fuel cell module [0045] 32 Swivel cap of the fuel cell module [0046] 34 Pressure tanks [0047] 36 Pressure vessel of the fuel cell module [0048] 40 Subassembly with battery elements [0049] 42 Control subassembly [0050] 50 Diesel generator [0051] 51 Absorber [0052] 52 Heat exchanger [0053] 53 Switch cabinet [0054] 54 Switchboard [0055] 55 Water management system [0056] 60 Fuel cells [0057] 61 Evaporator [0058] 62 DC converter [0059] 63 Control console [0060] 64 Switch cabinet [0061] 65 Additional switch cabinet [0062] 66 Pumps [0063] 70 Compressor [0064] 72 Air-independent Diesel module [0065] 76 Swivel cap of the air-independent Diesel module [0066] 76 Pressure vessel of the air-independent Diesel module