Underwater Craft Electrochemical Battery Seawater Flow Regulator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underwater vehicles with electrochemical cells activated by electrolytes face issues with seawater flow regulation, particularly at high immersion pressures, leading to excessive seawater entry and potential damage to hydraulic components.
Innovation Solution
A flow regulator with a movable drawer and elastic biasing mechanism that adjusts the outlet openings' area in response to immersion pressure, ensuring a consistent and controlled seawater flow rate into the tank, eliminating the need for a prepositioning circuit and optimizing the shape of slots for effective regulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a prepositioning circuit is used to adjust the flow regulator restriction before seawater admission, then the flow regulation is optimized for low immersion pressure, but the flow regulator insufficiently regulates seawater flow at high immersion pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The flow regulator is designed with a movable drawer that can dynamically adjust the restriction area in response to changing immersion pressures. The drawer moves from an initial position (optimized for low pressure) to a second position (optimized for high pressure), allowing the system to adapt to varying operational conditions rather than being fixed at a single preset configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates a feedback mechanism where the immersion pressure itself acts on the drawer through pressure equalization. The control circuit monitors pressure conditions and actuates the drawer to the appropriate position, creating a closed-loop system that automatically adjusts flow regulation based on real-time pressure feedback
2Productivity
If the flow regulator allows high seawater flow rate at high immersion pressure, then the electrochemical cell activation is rapid, but hydraulic components downstream are damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The flow regulator dynamically adjusts its restriction area based on immersion pressure. At high pressures, the drawer moves to reduce the restriction area, thereby limiting the seawater flow rate to protective levels while still allowing rapid activation at lower pressures where full flow is safe
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the flow regulation parameter (restriction area) as a function of immersion pressure. The control circuit modifies the regulator's opening area to maintain optimal flow rates across different pressure conditions, preventing component damage while ensuring adequate activation speed
3Reliability
If a prepositioning circuit is included in the flow regulator, then the regulation is optimized for initial conditions, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the complex prepositioning circuit from traditional flow regulators by replacing it with a simpler drawer mechanism that responds directly to pressure conditions. The drawer can be actuated by a simple control circuit or even directly by pressure differential, removing the need for elaborate pre-positioning mechanisms while maintaining regulation precision
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 provides reliable and efficient seawater flow regulation regardless of immersion pressure, reducing the risk of component damage and enhancing the sealing and structural integrity of the underwater vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
a drawer (62) arranged in the tank (13) and suitable for moving, under the effect of the elastic biasing means, from an initial position, in which the outlet openings (70) have an initial area, to a second position, in which the outlet openings (70) have a reduced area
Implementation Method 2
a high-pressure sealing means (94) arranged in the flow regulator (37) and suitable for sealing, when a high pressure is applied, against the drawer (62)
Data Source
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AI summary
Underwater craft having an electrochemical battery activated by an electrolyte, comprising: - an electrochemical cell; - a tank (13) intended to contain the electrolyte; - a sea water flow rate regulator (37) arranged upstream of the tank (13), comprising: - a fixed housing (60) comprising first ports (64); - a slide (62) comprising second ports (66); the slide (62) being movable, in relation to the fixed housing (60) under the effect of the pressure of the sea water entering the regulator (37), to a balanced position in which the first and second ports (64, 66) define outlet openings (70) for sea water to flow to the tank (13), the slide (62) being movable between a maximum opening position, in which the area of the openings (70) is at a maximum, and a maximum restriction position, in which the area of the openings (70) is at a minimum.