Role of Fuel Cells in the Supply of Silent Power for Operations in Littoral Waters.

摘要

Stealth is an important factor in littoral operations. Stealthy power sources for underwater vehicles include air-independent propulsion technologies, such as fuel cells, perhaps hybridized with an energy store such as an advanced battery. The hybrid combination provides the most covert solution, with good underwater endurance. Of the fuel cell technologies examined, the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) currently offers the best performance. For the very long transit patrols of large submarines, nuclear power must be a component of the solution, but perhaps as part of an integrated hybrid power source system rather than as the sole main power source. (5 tables, 10 figures, 6 refs.).