Integrated marine vessel hull for energy storage

• US 20060228960A1
• Filed: 04/07/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Durling, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/100,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20060228960A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 440/88.F
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 3/13 Hulls built to withstand hydrostatic pressure when fully submerged, e.g. submarine hulls
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 8/001 Underwater vessels adapted for special purposes, e.g. unmanned underwater vessels; Equipment specially adapted therefor, e.g. docking stations self-propelled or direction controlled diving chambers with mechanical link to a base B63C11/42
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 8/08 Propulsion schnorkels B63G8/36; nuclear propulsion B63H21/18; submerged exhausting apparatus F01N13/12
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/18 Regenerative fuel cells, e.g. redox flow batteries or secondary fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2475 Enclosures, casings or containers of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A hull structure is provided for a marine vessel having an inner hull and an outer hull. An energy storage device is provided between the inner hull and outer hull. The energy storage device has one or more hollow tubes, or has a honeycomb structure. Hydrogen or oxygen can be stored and placed within the hollow tubes or honeycomb structure. A metal hydride, or liquid hydrogen or compressed hydrogen gas, as well as liquid oxygen or compressed oxygen gas can also be stored inside the hollow tubes or honeycomb structure. The dual use of the hull structure provides for an energy storage apparatus and propulsion generation system that conserves space within the marine vessel, and adds less weight to the marine vessel.

Claims

1. A marine vessel comprising:

a hull structure; and

energy storage means provided within the hull structure.

2. The marine vessel of claim 1, wherein the hull structure comprises:

an inner hull; and

an outer hull;

wherein the energy storage means is provided between the inner hull and outer hull.

3. The marine vessel of claim 1, wherein the energy storage means comprises one or more hollow tubes.

4. The marine vessel of claim 3, wherein the one or more hollow tubes are placed to define the marine vessel'"'"'s center of mass.

5. The marine vessel of claim 1, wherein the energy storage means comprises a honeycomb structure.

6. The marine vessel of claim 1, wherein the energy storage means is provided around an outer perimeter of the hull structure of the marine vessel.

7. The marine vessel of claim 1, wherein the energy storage means is provided along a left and right side of the marine vessel.

8. The marine vessel of claim 1, wherein the energy storage means is a means for storing hydrogen.

9. The marine vessel of claim 8, wherein the means for storing hydrogen is a metal hydride.

10. The marine vessel of claim 8, wherein the means for storing hydrogen is liquid hydrogen or compressed hydrogen gas.

11. The marine vessel of claim 1, wherein the energy storage means is a means for storing oxygen.

12. The marine vessel of claim 11, wherein the means for storing oxygen is liquid oxygen or compressed oxygen gas.

13. The marine vessel of claim 1, wherein the marine vessel is an underwater vehicle.

14. The marine vessel of claim 1, wherein the underwater vehicle can be either manned or unmanned.

15. A propulsion generation system for a marine vessel, the propulsion generation system comprising:

a hull structure of the marine vessel;

energy storage means provided within the hull structure of the marine vessel; and

power generation means for providing power for the marine vessel, said power generation means utilizing energy from the energy storage means.

16. The propulsion generation system for a marine vessel of claim 15, wherein the power generation means comprises a regenerative fuel cell.

17. The propulsion generation system for a marine vessel of claim 15, wherein the power generation means comprises a combustor.

18. The propulsion generation system for a marine vessel of claim 15, wherein the power generation means comprises a regenerative fuel cell combined with a combustor.

19. The propulsion generation system for a marine vessel of claim 18, wherein the combustor is a pulse detonation engine.

20. The propulsion generation system for a marine vessel of claim 15, wherein the energy storage means comprises a means for storing hydrogen.

21. The propulsion generation system for a marine vessel of claim 15, wherein the energy storage means comprises a means for storing oxygen.

22. The propulsion generation system for a marine vessel of claim 15, wherein the energy storage means comprises a means for storing hydrogen and a means for storing oxygen.

23. The propulsion generation system for a marine vessel of claim 15, wherein the hull structure comprises:

an inner hull; and

an outer hull;

wherein the energy storage means is provided between the inner hull and outer hull.

24. The propulsion generation system for a marine vessel of claim 15, wherein the energy storage means comprises one or more hollow tubes.

25. The propulsion generation system for a marine vessel of claim 15, wherein the marine vessel is an underwater vehicle.