Subsea Power Supply
First Claim
1. A system for providing subsea power, comprising:
- an energy-capturing device for harvesting free energy; and
a power converter electrically connected to the energy-capturing device, the power converter adapted to convert the free energy into useable electrical energy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention discloses a subsea power system for use in capturing “free” or “waste” energy (e.g., thermal, geothermal, pressurized subsurface gases or liquids, wind, wave, solar, or other free, waste, or low cost energy sources) to convert and/or store to power a subsea service or device during times when the free or waste energy supply is not as abundant, is not available, or demands require greater output than is provided at steady state. The subsea power system may include: (1) one or more energy-capturing devices—such as a turbine and/or thermoelectric generator—for harvesting free or waste energy, (2) a fuel cell, electrolyzer, and oxygen and hydrogen storage vessels for harvesting energy from the surrounding seawater, and (3) a power converter for receiving energy from the various sources and converting the energy into a useful form consumable by subsea devices.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for providing subsea power, comprising:
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an energy-capturing device for harvesting free energy; and
a power converter electrically connected to the energy-capturing device, the power converter adapted to convert the free energy into useable electrical energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for providing electrical energy to power a subsea device, the system comprising:
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at least one energy-capturing device for harvesting free energy;
a power converter electrically connected to the energy-capturing device, the power converter adapted to convert the free energy into useable electrical energy;
a fuel cell electrically connected to power converter, the fuel cell adapted to electrochemically react oxygen and hydrogen to generate water and electrical energy;
an electrolyzer operatively connected to the fuel cell, the electrolyzer adapted to receive seawater, break down the seawater into oxygen and hydrogen, and deliver the oxygen and hydrogen for use by the fuel cell;
an energy storage device electrically connected to the power converter; and
a damper electrically connected between the power converter and the subsea device, the damper adapted to condition the electrical energy for use by the subsea device. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of providing subsea power, comprising:
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harvesting free energy from a subsea environment;
converting the free energy to electrical energy for use in powering an electrical device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification