Adaptive Wireless Power for Subsea Vehicles

Abstract

Abstract Wireless power transfer in seawater removes the inherent risks and complexities of mating conductive surfaces in seawater. An effective underwater wireless power transfer system for subsea vehicles must maintain power transfer despite the potential for dynamic misalignment between the power transmission and receive elements and therefore requires an adaptive system. We describe the development and characterization of a subsea wireless power system, including a transmit-receive coil pair optimized for seawater performance. Built on the adaptive resonant wireless power transfer technology of WiBotic, Inc., the system automatically adjusts for misalignment and separation between the transmit and receive coils. We demonstrate that transmit-receive coil pairs can be effectively tuned to provide adaptive wireless power transfer in salt water, with no significant effects of increased pressure at depth. Furthermore, we describe the full system marinization of the wireless power system and its application to a system that uses a wave energy converter for subsea vehicle charging.