N093-172 TITLE: Compact Energy Harvesting Power Supporting an "A" size Sensor

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Ground/Sea Vehicles, Materials/Processes, Sensors, Electronics

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA-264 Air ASW Systems

OBJECTIVE: Develop innovative concepts for harvesting energy within a small (< 4.0 inch diameter) cylinder compatible with deployment of "A" size AN/SSQ-101 Advance Deployable Active Receiver (ADAR) sensor.

DESCRIPTION: Aircraft deployed sonobuoys provide continuous acoustic information for up to eight hours. At the end of that six hours, the Navy then needs to re-seed the sonobuoy pattern as the battery power diminishes. The Navy's ability to harvest energy by converting sea energy to electrical power confined to the existing volume in an "A" size sensor greatly enhances the passive sensors life employed in Anti-Submarine Warfare. The extracted (harvest) sea energy can be then stored using a rechargeable battery reduces the number of batteries placed into each sonobuoy. The three ways that appear inviting for buoy power are kinetic energy in the form of vibrations, radiation as solar energy, and thermal energy. Select and develop a methodology that is optimal for deployable buoy source implementation.

The cylinder must provide the ability to replenish the power source (battery cells) of the deployed unit and be robust to support deployment and operational environment. The energy harvesting power system should occupy the same or less volume of space then the current power supply and found in the current "A" size ADAR sonobuoy. The application design should produce enough energy generated by kinetic energy (e.g. sea state 2 to sea state 4) to continuously produce 0.2 -1.4 AMPS of rechargeable energy power energy for storage. The deployed ADAR sonobuoy should be able to function for not less than 8 hours continuous life. (Should have A minimum of 18 volts, supporting a minimum of 1.1 amps, 8.2 AMPS continuous per hour, sea battery is silver chloride), 4.875 inches, diameter, battery size is 3.25 inches in thickness.

PHASE I: Design and develop an innovative concept for converting ocean energy for buoy battery power replenishment within an "A" size ADAR sonobuoy. Demonstrate in theory the effectiveness of the candidate technology through mechanical and electrical modeling.

PHASE II: Fabricate a prototype system and test using an existing operational Fleet "A" sonobuoy, AN/SSQ-101 ADAR at variable depths of 65’, 175’ and 300’ with simulated sea states as to assess power extraction and conversion levels. With mechanical and electrical models demonstrate the ability to provide scalable amounts of power extraction over varying sea-state conditions.

PHASE III: Examine ruggedizing the design for shock and vibration requirements for deployment. The ADAR Prototype should be mature for transition to the Fleet as an appropriate Navy "A" size sensor capable of being powered by the ocean once deployed.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: The resulting efficient power unit could offer a wide ranging ability to provide emergency power to marine systems supporting marine mammal mitigation, beacon markers, portable electronics and emergency equipment. Capability also could provide an alternative means to harvest energy for coastal states. This energy means could also be implemented for buoy systems for the Coast Guard, Homeland Security and NOAA.

REFERENCES:
1. O’Donnell, Terence and Wang, Wensi. "Power Management, Energy Conversion and Energy Scavenging for Smart Systems." Ambient Intelligence with Microsystems, Springer US ISSN 1389-2134 (2008)

2. Woo Kim H., Uchino, K. and Daue, T. "Energy Harvesting With Flexible Piezocomposites." ACTUATOR 2006, 10th International Conference on New Actuators, 14 – 16 (2006)

3. Savelli, Guillaume, Plissonnier, Marc, Bablet, Jacqueline, Salvi, C, and Fournier, J. "Energy Conversion Using New Thermoelectric Generator." Proceedings DTIP (April, 2006)

4. Helms C. E., John, M. and Wyld, L. D. "Meeting the Submarine Challenge: A Short History of the Naval Underwater Systems Center." U.S. Gov't. Print. Office (1997)

5. Davis, Philip. "Underwater Power Generation Using Underwater Thermocline." US Patent No. 7,262,360 (2007)

KEYWORDS: Energy Harvesting; Wet Sensor; Electronics; Power Efficiency; Power Source; Kinetic Energy

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

DoD Notice:   Between July 27 through August 23, 2009, you may talk directly with the Topic Authors to ask technical questions about the topics. Their contact information is listed above. For reasons of competitive fairness, direct communication between proposers and topic authors is not allowed starting August 24, 2009, when DoD begins accepting proposals for this solicitation.

However, proposers may still submit written questions about solicitation topics through the DoD's SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System (SITIS), in which the questioner and respondent remain anonymous and all questions and answers are posted electronically for general viewing until the solicitation closes. All proposers are advised to monitor SITIS (09.3 Q&A) during the solicitation period for questions and answers, and other significant information, relevant to the SBIR 09.3 topic under which they are proposing.

If you have general questions about DoD SBIR program, please contact the DoD SBIR Help Desk at (866) 724-7457 or email weblink.