Outboard Buoyancy Stabilisation Device for Marine Vessel Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Marine vessels face stability and safety issues due to the weight of fuel and battery packs affecting buoyancy and the risk of fuel fires in accidents, particularly with volatile fluids like hydrogen used in fuel cells.
Innovation Solution
A positive buoyancy stabilisation device with a submerged fuel tank, such as a high-pressure hydrogen fuel tank, that provides a positive buoyancy force, isolating the fuel from the hull and allowing for adjustments in weight to maintain stability and safety by minimizing the risk of combustion and optimizing the center of gravity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If fuel is stored in an inboard tank on the marine vessel, then the fuel is easily accessible for power generation, but the risk of fuel fire increases significantly in case of accident
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel tank is extracted from the inboard position and relocated to an outboard position on the marine vessel. This spatial separation removes the fuel storage from the vulnerable inboard area, reducing the risk of fuel fire in case of accident while maintaining fuel accessibility through external connection systems.
2Duration of action of moving object
If a large battery pack is used to power the electric motor, then the range of the marine vessel is extended, but the weight significantly affects the buoyancy and stability of the vessel
Solution Approach 1:
A positive buoyancy stabilisation device is introduced to counterbalance the weight of the large battery pack. The device provides upward buoyant force that offsets the downward gravitational force of the heavy battery, thereby maintaining the vessel's buoyancy and stability while enabling extended range through larger energy storage.
3Stability of the object's composition
If fuel is stored in an inboard tank, then the centre of gravity remains stable, but the fuel weight significantly affects the buoyancy of the marine vessel
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel tank is relocated from the inboard position to an outboard position, separating the heavy fuel storage from the vessel's main structure. This extraction reduces the fuel weight's impact on the vessel's buoyancy while the stabilisation device compensates for any centre of gravity shifts, maintaining overall stability.
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 enhances the safety and stability of marine vessels by reducing the risk of fuel fires and improving buoyancy, allowing for safer operation and reduced impact from fuel weight fluctuations, while using hydrogen as a clean propulsion source.
Implementation Method 1
a stabilisation member (5) for providing a positive buoyancy force when submerged in a body of water (7)
Data Source
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AI summary
A positive buoyancy stabilisation device for a marine vessel, the positive buoyancy stabilisation device comprising a stabilisation member for providing a positive buoyancy force when submerged in a body of water, an elongated part having a first end connected with the stabilisation member and a second end opposite to the first end, and a connecting part configured to connect the second end of the elongated part to a hull of a marine vessel, wherein the stabilisation member comprises a tank for storing fuel.