Design of Inductive Wireless Power Transfer with Novel Coupler Unit for Autonomous Underwater Vehicle
摘要
The promotion of coupling-resilient wireless power charging system for airborne underwater vehicles addresses the critical need for efficient energy transfer in challenging underwater environments. Inductive wireless power transmission (IWPT) eliminates the need for physical connections, making it particularly beneficial for AUVs where traditional cables are impractical. While IWPT has been extensively researched for use in air, its application in seawater environments presents significant challenges, notably due to Eddy Current Loss (ECL), which drastically reduces system efficiency. This proposal focuses on developing a wireless charging system with a novel coupler unit for AUVs, enabling rapid, efficient, and convenient recharging in field-deployable stations to extend their operational time. The proposed AUV device is positioned in air, freshwater, and ocean under identical settings. This proposal primarily aims to optimize the inductive wireless power transfer platform and enhance IWPT research for underwater applications by evaluating the performance of the WPT system in various environments. In seawater, ECL presents a major challenge, as it causes an unexpected decline in WPT system efficiency compared to air, where core and winding losses are comparable. The impact of ECL varies with the conductivity of different water media. This system must ensure that wireless charging does not interfere with the AUV's internal instrumentation. The inductive power transfer mechanism for a 1-m diameter AUV has been constructed, capable of transferring 3 kW of power to the charging unit for the AUV, with a 360-degree rotational displacement resolution and a high coupling coefficient over the full power range. Ocean water conductivity, temperature, pressure, movement of water, and biofouling place secondary restriction on Inductive Wireless Power Transfer (IWPT) devices.