Investigation of Self-Driven Profiler with Buoyancy Adjusting System towards Ocean Thermal Energy

Qingchao Xia; Gul Muhammad; Bingzhe Chen; Feng Zhang; Zhifeng Zhang; Sheng Zhang; Canjun Yang

doi:10.3390/app11157086

Applied Sciences (Jul 2021)

Investigation of Self-Driven Profiler with Buoyancy Adjusting System towards Ocean Thermal Energy

Qingchao Xia,
Gul Muhammad,
Bingzhe Chen,
Feng Zhang,
Zhifeng Zhang,
Sheng Zhang,
Canjun Yang

Affiliations

Qingchao Xia: State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, Ningbo Research Institute, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
Gul Muhammad: State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, Ningbo Research Institute, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
Bingzhe Chen: State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, Ningbo Research Institute, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
Feng Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, Ningbo Research Institute, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
Zhifeng Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, Ningbo Research Institute, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
Sheng Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, Ningbo Research Institute, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
Canjun Yang: State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, Ningbo Research Institute, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/app11157086
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11, no. 15
p. 7086

Abstract

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An underwater profiler is one of the popular platforms for ocean observation. Due to energy limitations, conventional underwater vehicles have a short life span, which cannot meet the needs of long-term ocean exploration. Therefore, there is a growing interest in using ocean energy such as ocean thermal energy and wave energy for driving. This study aimed to investigate an energy-saving and ocean thermal energy (OTE)-powered buoyancy driving system of the ocean profiler. The purpose of this study was to explore an ocean profiler buoyancy driving system powered by ocean thermal energy (OTE). According to the seawater profile temperature gradient, an OTE-powered electro-hydraulic control system was designed, and the dynamic characteristics of this system are simulated and analyzed by using the power bonding diagram method. Based on the results conducted from lake tests, this profiler possesses the self-driving capability for using OTE perfectly. This research can provide important guidance for the design of the buoyancy drive system of underwater vehicles.

Published in Applied Sciences

ISSN: 2076-3417 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General); Science: Biology (General); Science: Physics; Science: Chemistry
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci

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