Evolution of Reliable and Cost-Effective Power Systems for Buoys Used in Monitoring Indian Seas

摘要

This paper details the evolution of reliable and cost-effective data buoy power systems used for environment monitoring applications in the Indian seas. A reliable power system is the key requirement for offshore moored buoys involved in meteorological and tsunami monitoring missions, as unavailability of the operating power results in loss of time-critical data and can have serious impact on societal protection and, in addition, results in costly repairs and reinstallations. As a significant development and driven by stringent IEC 61508 Safety Integrity Level (SIL) standards, a Generation Ⅲ power system was able to meet the required SIL 4 reliability requirements compared to the Generation I system that complied only with SIL 1. It is found that by using a suggested four slot annual maintenance plan, an operating Generation Ⅲ hybrid power system, and lead acid batteries powered by solar energy and backed by Lithium thionyl chloride batteries, in addition to meeting the required SIL 4 reliability levels, the energy cost of transmission is reduced to U.S. $1.7 per data set, compared to U.S. $2.7 in the Generation Ⅱ systems. Ongoing efforts in increasing the green footprint in futuristic systems are detailed. The study provides confidence in the power system's reliable, cost-effective and eco-friendly support to India's Ocean Observation Network program.