SYSTEM CONFIGURED TO CONTROL AND POWER A VEHICLE OR VESSEL

摘要

A system configured to power a vehicle or vessel. The system may include an enhanced power control system. The enhanced power control system having a distributed architecture such that power conversion and/or management is provided for individual energy supplies and/or system loads. The distributed architecture of the power control system may enhance the power efficiency of the vehicle or vessel. The distributed architecture of the power control system may enable a plurality of different energy supplies and/or system loads to be incorporated into the power system in a selectable, configurable manner. This may facilitate the addition and/or subtraction of energy supplies and/or system loads from the system to customize the vehicle or vessel for a specific use and/or mission without having to reconfigure the power control system as a whole.

主权项

1. A system configured to generate power within an underwater vessel, the system comprising:
a fuel cell; a chamber that holds a liquid in proximity to the fuel cell such that during operation of the fuel cell waste heat generated by the fuel cell vaporizes the liquid; a steam generator having one or more turbines that, when driven, cause power to be generated by the steam generator; a first conduit that carries the vaporized liquid from the chamber to the one or more turbines such that the one or more turbines are driven by the flow of the vaporized liquid; a cold plate that receives vaporized liquid that has passed through the one or more turbines, the cold plate having a shape that corresponds to the shape of a hull of the vessel and is in thermal communication with the hull; and a second conduit that receives cooled liquid from the cold plate and guides the cooled liquid back into the chamber.