Hydraulic Depth Control for Submersibles Using Segmented Circuits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic depth-control systems for underwater probes consume excessive energy and face reliability issues due to high pressure differences and complex sealing requirements, particularly during the reascent phase and at great depths.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic depth-control device featuring a variable-volume ballast space, pressure accumulators with deformable walls, and an electrically controlled hydraulic pump and valve system, which reduces power consumption by managing pressure differentials and simplifies sealing, using a combination of low-pressure and high-pressure accumulators to optimize buoyancy control across depth phases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hydraulic pump is used to transfer fluid from an internal reservoir kept at depression to a ballast space at hydrostatic pressure during reascent, then depth control is achieved, but power consumption becomes excessive and sealing becomes extremely complicated due to great pressure differences
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two separate hydraulic circuits: a first circuit for transferring fluid during diving phase and a second circuit for transferring fluid during reascent phase. This segmentation allows each circuit to operate under optimized pressure conditions, avoiding the need for a single pump to handle extreme pressure differences, thereby reducing power consumption and simplifying sealing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a pump to push fluid against high hydrostatic pressure during reascent, the system uses the natural pressure difference by connecting the reservoir to the ballast space through a controlled valve, allowing fluid to flow back naturally. This inverts the conventional approach and eliminates the need for high-power pumping during reascent.
2Productivity
If a pump operates against great pressure differences at great depth, then fluid transfer is achieved, but sealing becomes extremely complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system is segmented into two independent circuits with separate control valves. The first circuit handles fluid transfer during diving at manageable pressure differences, while the second circuit handles reascent. This segmentation prevents the need for complex seals to withstand extreme pressure differences in a single system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary reservoir that acts as a pressure buffer between the ballast space and the external high-pressure environment. This intermediary allows fluid transfer to occur through controlled pressure differences rather than directly against hydrostatic pressure, simplifying sealing requirements.
3Device complexity
If a single hydraulic circuit is used for both diving and reascent, then system simplicity is maintained, but energy consumption increases due to pump operation against high pressure during reascent
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two separate hydraulic circuits with dedicated control valves for each phase. This segmentation allows the reascent circuit to utilize natural pressure equalization rather than requiring high-power pump operation, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining reasonable system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system operates in periodic phases: during diving, the first circuit is active; during reascent, the second circuit is active. This periodic switching between circuits optimizes energy consumption by ensuring that pumping only occurs when necessary and under optimized pressure conditions.
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
The solution significantly reduces energy consumption and enhances reliability by maintaining low pressure differentials and simplifying the sealing of components, allowing for extended autonomous operation and easier recovery of underwater probes.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure accumulator assembly comprising a low-pressure accumulator and a high-pressure accumulator, each accumulator defining a gas volume and a hydraulic volume separated by a piston
Implementation Method 2
a hydraulic pump with a suction inlet connected to the ballast space and a delivery outlet connected to the pressure accumulator assembly
Implementation Method 3
a variable-volume ballast space, at least one pressure accumulator comprising a hydraulic chamber delimited by a deformable or mobile wall
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic depth-control device for a submersible body comprises:a variable-volume ballast space,a pressure accumulator comprising a hydraulic chamber and a gas chamber, which chambers are separated by a deformable or mobile wall, the gas chamber containing a gas at an absolute pressure higher than atmospheric pressure,a hydraulic pump coupled to an electric motor, the hydraulic pump having a suction inlet connected to the ballast space and a delivery outlet connected to the hydraulic chamber of the pressure accumulator,a return hydraulic circuit connecting the hydraulic chamber of the pressure accumulator to the ballast space via an electrically operated valve, anda hydraulic fluid arranged in the ballast space, the hydraulic pump, the hydraulic chamber of the pressure accumulator and the return hydraulic circuit.