ELECTROCHEMICAL BATTERY FOR THE PROPULSION OF UNDERWATER CRAFT WITH A CENTRIFUGAL PUMP REGULATING INCOMING WATER FLOW

摘要

An electrochemical battery for the propulsion of an underwater craft, comprising: a main electric battery of the electrochemical type, wherein a mixing chamber is configured to house an anhydrous electrolyte and is provided with an intake member for admitting a flow of water from the aquatic environment to the chamber, where the admitted water is mixed with the anhydrous electrolyte, thereby forming a liquid electrolyte, and a recirculation system for the fluid electrolyte using a centrifugal electric pump and communicating with a plurality of electrochemical cells housed within the chamber. The water intake member is configured to establish a direct connection, when open, between the exterior of the craft and the inlet of the centrifugal pump, which has an outlet communicating with the mixing chamber. The centrifugal pump is dimensionally configured to act as a flow limiting device when the pressure at the pump inlet is higher than the pressure at the pump outlet, thereby supplying the mixing chamber with a substantially constant flow.