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Phase change analysis of an underwater glider propelled by the ocean’s thermal energy

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Abstract

The phase change characteristic of the power source of an underwater glider propelled by the ocean’s thermal energy is the key factor in glider attitude control. A numerical model has been established based on the enthalpy method to analyze the phase change heat transfer process under convective boundary conditions. Phase change is not an isothermal process, but one that occurs at a range of temperature. The total melting time of the material is very sensitive to the surrounding temperature. When the temperature of the surroundings decreases 8 degrees, the total melting time increases 1.8 times. But variations in surrounding temperature have little effect on the initial temperature of phase change, and the slope of the temperature time history curve remains the same. However, the temperature at which phase change is completed decreases significantly. Our research shows that the phase change process is also affected by container size, boundary conditions, and the power source’s cross sectional area. Materials stored in 3 cylindrical containers with a diameter of 38mm needed the shortest phase change time. Our conclusions should be helpful in effective design of underwater glider power systems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200030, China

    Qiao-ling Kong & Jie Ma

Authors
  1. Qiao-ling Kong
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  2. Jie Ma
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Additional information

Foundation item: Supported by the Sustainable Energy Propulsion System Program of 211’s Engineering Foundation, Shanghai Jiaotong University.

KONG Qiao-ling was born in 1974. She is a Ph.D candidate of Shanghai Jiaotong University. Her current research interests include sustainable energy and underwater glider.

MA Jie was born in 1946. He is a professor and a Ph.D student supervisor of Shanghai Jiaotong University. The current research interests include power plant and its automation, intellectualization of marine engines, sustainable energy resources.

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Kong, Ql., Ma, J. Phase change analysis of an underwater glider propelled by the ocean’s thermal energy. J. Marine. Sci. Appl. 6, 37–43 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11804-007-7034-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11804-007-7034-0

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