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Eco-friendlier Submarine
Eco-friendlier Submarine
Problem: Submarines (while more environmentally friendlier then other variants) can produce noise pollution which affects biodiversity.
Our solution: An eco-friendlier submarine with a hybrid propulsion system combining AIP fuel cells and rim driven thrusters.
Other features include: Recycled aluminium for main hull and exterior. Recycled plastic for some interior components.
Sketch #1 - Mhd propulsion
Sketch #1 - Mhd propulsion
Magnetohydrodynamic propulsion uses electromagnetic forces to push a conducting fluid(Like sea water, which contains ions)
Applies lorentz force as ions are moving through electric and magnetic fields this generates thrust.
Other considerations
Other considerations
While there were many ideas for what we could implement our main ideas stemmed from the following:
Implementation of spirullina algae in submarine(Food supplement + potential oxygen production)
Implementation of biomimetic propulsion systems
Underwater surveillance robots
Magnetohydrodynamic propulsion (MHD)
List of main required materials for full-scale/prices
List of main required materials for full-scale/prices
2-3 tonnes of recycled aluminium (for hull/exterior) £6000-£9000
[pressure resistant design~£10,000-£20,000]
Hydrogen fuel AIP system(power,backup+propulsion systems)~ £80,000 - £135,000 (Rmd thrusters ~ £30,000 - £80,000)
Sensors(sonar,depth,cameras + tools) ~ £20,000 - £50,000
GPS + comns ~ £10,000 - £30,000
AI/autonomy systems ~ £10,000 - £30,000
Assembly + pressure testing ~ £100,000 - £250,000
Dry dock or water testing facilities ~ £20,000 - £40,000
Total estimate of highest pricing range ~ £1 million + (If cooling systems for engines considered + internal components)
Assembling process Flowchart
Assembling process Flowchart
Stage 7: Test in a body of water that is able to fit the size of the submarine design
This was a simple Tinker Cad design for our exterior hull shape
Affordable prototype prices and main materials/electronics
Affordable prototype prices and main materials/electronics
Flysky i4FS or i6FSX (4-6 channel reciever + controller)
Hobbywing waterproof 1060 brushed ESC ( Electronic stability control - controls motor speed)
31T 370 Brushed motor DC (Main propulsion motor)
Servo motor SG90 9g Micro (x1 or x2) - for syringe ballast
x2 60ml-100ml syringes (For syringe ballast system)
Total price estimate: ~ £70 - £150
These components are for a basic DIY RC submarine- we had originally oped to implement but unfortunately we did not have the funding.
Sketch #2 - Syringe ballast system
Sketch #2 - Syringe ballast system
Ballast systems regulate the buoyancy of submarines allowing them to submerge and resurface
Spirulina calculations
Spirulina calculations
spirulina has a 60 - 70 % protein content
Moisture content of 70 - 85% in its composition
1g of wet spirullina = how much litres of oxygen?
1gram/L = 1/15-30 ~ 0.033 - 0.067 L/g (15-30 is range)
550L ( Average human breaths in a day)
(0.067 x 550 L) = 36.85 g of oxygen produced in day
1L of oxygen = 1.429 g ~ 1.43g
1.429 x 550L = 0.786kg
So 36.667 g of oxygen = 25.6413 L of oxygen a day (Produced every 24 hours for 1g wet biomass of spirulina)
1g of spirullina requires 2.1L of water so for 1Kg 2100L of water
In summary, spirullina is impractical to implement into our submarine as it adds unecessary weight reducing overall energy efficiency of propulsion systems.
Feedback + developments based on feedback
Feedback + developments based on feedback
Based on company reccomendation we implemented the rim driven thruster hybrid with the AIP fuel cell propulsion system.
Additionally, they sent us more in depth wikipedia pages on MHD propulsion
And suggested biomimetic technologies as of now, are easily beaten by far superior propulsion system alternatives.
Sources
Sources
Science direct.com
ChatGpt + Google
Wikipedia
Youtube
Articles
Page updated
Google Sites
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