External Seawater Battery Layout for Safer Submarine Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional submarine power systems using batteries or fuel cells inside the pressure hull face risks of fire, explosion, and space constraints, while also limiting crew living space and device arrangement due to their internal mounting.
Innovation Solution
A seawater battery system is mounted outside the pressure hull, utilizing sodium ions from seawater as a cathode to generate power, with an anode array and cleaning mechanism to maintain contact and cleanliness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a battery or fuel cell is mounted inside the pressure hull to provide electric power, then the submarine can perform air-independent propulsion, but the crew living space and device arrangement space are significantly restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is extracted from the pressure hull interior and relocated to the exterior of the submarine. The battery is mounted on the outer hull surface, allowing seawater to serve as the cathode material. This extraction removes the space-consuming battery compartment from the limited interior space, thereby resolving the contradiction between providing electric power and maintaining adequate crew living space.
2Use of energy by moving object
If a battery or fuel cell system is mounted inside the pressure hull, then electric power can be supplied for submarine operations, but the risk of fire and explosion increases due to system defects, operational errors, or torpedo damage
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is extracted from the pressure hull interior and relocated to the exterior of the submarine. By placing the battery outside the pressure hull, the potential fire and explosion hazards are isolated from the crew compartment. Even if the external battery experiences failure, the pressure hull and crew remain protected, thereby resolving the contradiction between providing electric power and ensuring safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer hull serves as an intermediary barrier between the battery and the crew compartment. The battery is mounted on the outer hull surface, with seawater acting as the cathode. This configuration uses the hull structure as a protective intermediary that isolates the hazardous battery system from the crew, allowing electric power generation while minimizing fire and explosion risks to the crew.
3Use of energy by moving object
If a lithium-ion battery is mounted to provide electric power, then the submarine can operate air-independently, but harmful gas is emitted during fire, seriously endangering crew members' lives
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is extracted from the pressure hull interior and relocated to the exterior of the submarine. By positioning the battery outside the pressure hull, any harmful gases generated during fire or failure are discharged into the external environment rather than being trapped inside the crew compartment. This extraction resolves the contradiction between providing electric power and preventing harmful gas emission to the crew.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration reduces fire and explosion risks, optimizes space utilization, and provides reliable power for submarine operations while ensuring crew safety and device arrangement space.
Implementation Method 1
a chargeable/dischargeable battery that is arranged on the outside of a pressure hull so as to use sodium ions dissolved in seawater as a cathode, thereby producing electric power
Implementation Method 2
use sodium ions dissolved in seawater as a cathode
Data Source
AI summary
Proposed are a submarine power supply system and power supply method using a seawater battery, the system having a chargeable/dischargeable battery that is arranged on the outside of a pressure hull, so as to use, as a cathode, sodium ions dissolved in seawater, and thus produce electric power, which is then used as electric power required for operating a submarine.