Helmholtz-zentrum Geesthacht Zentrum Fur Material Und Kustenforschung Gmbh

Helmholtz-zentrum Hereon Gmbh

Helmholtz-zentrum Geesthacht Zentrum Fuer Material- Und Kuestenforschung Gmbh

Forschungszentrum Julich Gmbh

Torsten Brinkmann

Li Zhao

Heiko Notzke

Sebastian Luhr

Lucas Merckelbach

Thorsten Wolff

Prokopios Georgopanos

Burkard Baschek

The present invention relates to a power supply system for underwater vehicles, in particular to a power supply system for autonomous underwater vehicles, to underwater vehicles equipped with such power supply systems and to a method of operating an underwater vehicle. The power supply system for underwater vehicles comprises a hydrogen fuel cell, which on the one hand is in fluid contact with a metal hydride storage tank, and on the other hand, with a membrane module that is capable of extracting dissolved oxygen from water. By combining the above mentioned components, the energy necessary to support the AUV operation and the operation of its sensors can be provided, replacing in an efficient and sustainable way the currently employed battery energy systems. For the operation of gliders, a weight compensating mechanism could also be implemented.

Power supply for underwater vehicles and sensors

The present invention relates to a novel membrane module for separating a fluid feed stream into a permeate stream and a retentate stream. The membrane module according to the invention is characterized in that all components are housed in a 20', 40&#x2032;, 45&#x2032; HC, 45&#x2032; PW or 53&#x2032; HC container, whereby the membrane module can be transported and handled in a very simple and cost-effective manner despite its comparatively large volume and its high weight. The membrane module is furthermore characterized by its large membrane surface area compared with usually used membrane modules, whereby the number of individual membrane modules required in practical use can be reduced many times over. The present invention furthermore relates to a process for separating a fluid feed stream into a permeate stream and a retentate stream using the membrane module according to the invention.

Membrane module

A Fischer-Tropsch process for producing hydrocarbons from synthesis gas which originates e.g. from biomass gasification, using membrane separators. In the process, an input stream which comprises hydrogen, carbon monoxide as well as further gases and/or vapours is initially fed to a first membrane stage which comprises a steam-selective and carbon dioxide-selective membrane and through which at least some of the steam present in the input stream and some of the carbon dioxide present in the input stream are separated from the input stream to form a permeate stream of the first membrane stage comprising steam and carbon dioxide and a retentate stream of the first membrane stage containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide.

Fischer-Tropsch process for producing hydrocarbons from biogas

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Geesthacht, Germany

Torsten Brinkmann