Subsea power supply
First Claim
1. A system for providing subsea power, comprising:
- an 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 the power converter;
an oxygen storage vessel connected to the fuel cell;
a hydrogen storage vessel connected to the fuel cell;
an interface connected to the oxygen storage vessel and the hydrogen storage vessel; and
a subsea vehicle having separate oxygen and hydrogen storage tanks, the subsea vehicle adapted to be deployed subsea and engage the interface to deliver oxygen from the oxygen storage tank to the oxygen storage vessel and to hydrogen from the hydrogen storage tank to the hydrogen storage vessel.
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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.
98 Citations
12 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; 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 the power converter; an oxygen storage vessel connected to the fuel cell; a hydrogen storage vessel connected to the fuel cell; an interface connected to the oxygen storage vessel and the hydrogen storage vessel; and a subsea vehicle having separate oxygen and hydrogen storage tanks, the subsea vehicle adapted to be deployed subsea and engage the interface to deliver oxygen from the oxygen storage tank to the oxygen storage vessel and to hydrogen from the hydrogen storage tank to the hydrogen storage vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification