Study of Volume Contraction and Energy Storage for the Thermal Engine of Thermal Underwater Glider

Wenliang Zhang; Zhesong Ma

Abstract

A simplified phase-change energy storage system for the thermal engine of thermal underwater glider was presented in this paper. Based on the simplified system, the stored energy of each operation cycle and volume contraction during PCM solidification process was analyzed. The effect of four main factors which can affect the volume contraction and energy storage was studied analytically and simulated, including air solubility in liquidus PCM, residual air within the system, pressure of low pressure oil tank and pressure of high pressure oil tank. In usual parameter configuration, system pressure increases gently until 53% of PCM melts, it means actual PCM for energy storage is less than half and its utilization ratio is very low. Dissolved air in the liquidus PCM and residual air in the phase-change energy storage system can seriously reduce the stored energy during each operating cycle of thermal underwater glider. So the residual air needs to be strictly eliminated. Besides that, under reasonable parameter configuration, such as improving the pressure of high pressure oil tank can greatly improve the stored energy.

Keywords

thermal underwater glider, phase change,volume contraction, energy storage, residual air.

References

[1] Wang X, Shang J, Luo Z, Tang L, Zhang X, Li J. Reviews of power systems and environmental energy conversion for unmanned underwater vehicles. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 2012; 16:1958-1970.

[2] Hasvold Ø, Størkersen NJ, Forseth S, Lian T. Power sources for autonomous underwater vehicles. Journal of Power Sources 2006; 162:935-942.

[3] Sherman J, Davis RE, Owens WB, Valdes J. The autonomous underwater glider "spray". IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering 2001; 26:437-446.

[4] Eriksen CC, Osse TJ, Light RD, Wen T, Lehman TW, Sabin PL, et al. Seaglider: A long-range autonomous underwater vehicle for oceanographic research. IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering 2001; 26:424-436.

[5] Davis RE, Eriksen CC, Jones CP. Autonomous buoyancydriven underwater gliders. Taylor and Francis, London. 2002; p. 37-58.

[6] Zalba B, MarÄ±Ì n JM, Cabeza LF, Mehling H. Review on thermal energy storage with phase change: materials, heat transfer analysis and applications. Applied thermal engineering 2003; 23:251-283.

[7] Webb DC, Simonetti PJ, Jones CP. SLOCUM: An underwater glider propelled by environmental energy. IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering 2001; 26:447-452.

[8] Zhang H, Wang Y, Lian Z. Application and Improvement of the Interlayer Thermal Engine Powered by Ocean Thermal Energy in an Underwater Glider. Power and Energy Engineering Conference (APPEEC), 2009 Asia-Pacific: IEEE 2009; p. 1-4.

[9] 9. Kong Q, Ma J, Xia D. Numerical and experimental study of the phase change process for underwater glider propelled by ocean thermal energy. Renewable Energy 2010; 35:771-779.

[10] Yang H, Ma J. Experimental Study of Effects of Thermocline on the Performance of Underwater Glider's Thermal Engine. Power and Energy Engineering Conference (APPEEC), 2010 Asia-Pacific: IEEE 2010; p. 1-4.

[11] Kong Q, Ma J, Che C. Theoretical and experimental study of volumetric change rate during phase change process. International Journal of Energy Research 2009; 33:513-525.

[12] Shi P, Wang Y, Wang L. Study on Modeling and Simulation of the Hydraulic Fluid. Journal of Agricultural Machinery 2007; 38:148-151(in Chinese).

[13] Kumano H, Saito A, Okawa S, Takeda K, Okuda A. Study of direct contact melting with hydrocarbon mixtures as the PCM. International journal of heat and mass transfer 2005; 48:3212-3220.

[14] Jenkins SA, Humphreys DE, Sherman J, et al. Underwater Glider Systems Study: Pressure Case Design Displacement as a Function of Depth. Technical Report submitted to the ONR Committee. 2003.

Cites this article as

W. Z. , Z. M. , "Study of Volume Contraction and Energy Storage for the Thermal Engine of Thermal Underwater Glider", International Journal of Innovative Research in Engineering & Management (IJIREM), Vol-2, Issue-5, Page No-115 - 121, 2015. Available from: