There was a recent announcement made by the Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, that a mechanical engineer, Benjamin Wilcox, working for the Shore Technical Department, received two 20-year patents for designing underwater refueling fuel cell systems.
The US Patent number 10,731,549 is assigned to “In-Water Refueling System for Unmanned Undersea Vehicles with Fuel Cell Propulsions,” and it is expected to protect oxygen and hydrogen electrolysis system within a pressure vessel. The main idea behind this system is to use electricity to decompose water into hydrogen and oxygen gas to lead to the desired application.
This amazing innovation of Wilcox has two major parts: the first important aspect is that this electrolysis system is capable enough to generate and manage both oxygen and hydrogen gas at elevated pressure. Moreover, the second important factor is that it serves the need for refueling underwater fuel cell platforms of the Navy. Experts state that this technology can be further enhanced to design a complete refueling system to serve fuel cell platforms on a large scale.
If we look at a previously filed patent, it was possible to integrate the refueling system with non-flow oxygen and hydrogen fuel cell within an unmanned undersea vehicle. In layman terms, we can state that this invention leads to an unmanned undersea vehicle with the ability to regenerate fuel cell propulsion. Note that the refueling system itself is a part of the UUV refueling operation, which is supported by an electrical connection outside UUV.
Considering the advancements in model and results presented by Wilcox, if we adopt this new technology, it will be possible to simplify the UUV refueling process. This invention can further support the activities of the Department of Defense while contributing to the design of fuel cell UUVs with extended duration and range as well.
Wilcox is further interested in designing a long-term fuel cell-based refueling system that can be interoperated on various refueling fuel cell platforms. The ultimate system can establish a new standard for the development of fuel cell platforms, and it could be included in the initial contract requirements to standardize the delivery process. This idea may enhance the streamlining of the refueling process while reducing the sustainment and procurement costs as well. This is a way to save millions of dollars out of taxpayer’s money while presenting a more reliable system for underwater movements.
The Second patented invention of Wilcox includes Brine Electrolysis System that can produce hydrogen and pressurized chlorine gas. It can be developed further to create feedstock for polyvinyl chloride 3D printer technology. A wide range of field experts are interested in 3D printing for designing custom structures and spare parts. If the technology proposed by Wilcox is implemented adequately, it can simplify the logistics process by easing the availability of spare parts during field movements.
Both these technologies produce desired gases at elevated pressure while using an electrolysis system within the pressure vessel. Furthermore, the pressure of the generated gas is regulated with the help of a water pump that assists in the replacement of the typical gas compression process.
I know I usually talk about hydrogen fuel cell cars on this blog but this other “fuel cell phenonenom” is worth discussing as it will bring more fuel cell vehicles to the forefront of our society.
Citations
https://uspto.report/patent/grant/10,731,549
https://techlinkcenter.org/news/navy-engineer-awarded-two-patents-for-underwater-fuel-cell-tech