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Underwater PV?

Y

Yesiree

Jan 1, 1970
0
As I am relatively new to the subject I beg your tolerance.

I am looking at developing a small underwater vehicle that runs under its
own steam as such and wondered about PV efficiencies underwater.

I know that the atmosphere and other "obstructions" (clouds, pollution etc)
are all factors and I guess my question is "Am I barking up the wrong tree
attempting to use PV for an underwater vessel?"

Your comments and contributions are invited.

Stu
 
A

Anthony Matonak

Jan 1, 1970
0
Yesiree said:
I am looking at developing a small underwater vehicle that runs under its
own steam as such and wondered about PV efficiencies underwater.

I know that the atmosphere and other "obstructions" (clouds, pollution etc)
are all factors and I guess my question is "Am I barking up the wrong tree
attempting to use PV for an underwater vessel?"

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-09/atj/feature/
This gives a basic introduction to the concept of underwater light. You
can see from their charts that the two biggest factors are depth and
turbiditiy. So, how effective solar power will be on your sub will
depend on how deep it will be and how much stuff is in the water.

You should be aware that even at the surface solar PV panels won't give
you a lot of power in a small footprint. Many people have covered their
boats with PV cells and, while it works, it doesn't provide enough power
for sustained cruising at high speed. If you're thinking of building a
real Ahab then you should know it was pure fiction and you likely won't
be happy with it's performance.

Anthony
 
E

Ecnerwal

Jan 1, 1970
0
Yesiree said:
I am looking at developing a small underwater vehicle that runs under its
own steam as such and wondered about PV efficiencies underwater.

I know that the atmosphere and other "obstructions" (clouds, pollution etc)
are all factors and I guess my question is "Am I barking up the wrong tree
attempting to use PV for an underwater vessel?"

Probably. The atmosphere, pollution, etc, are hardly significant factors
for this application. Water absorbs light rather quickly. If your power
requirements are small and your vehicle is operating quite near the
surface, it might work out, but even 33 feet /10 meters down you've lost
a great deal of light, and shifted a long way towards blue (which most
solar panels don't process all that well). At 100 feet/30 meters, it's
dim (on a bright sunny day, with good water claity), and by roughly 600
feet it's dark all the time.

If the thing can operate cyclically, perhaps it could come to/very near
the surface during daylight to charge, and then work at whatever depth
it needs to work.

Batteries with surface recharging and nuclear power are the two options
that are most common for this application.
 
W

William P.N. Smith

Jan 1, 1970
0
Yesiree said:
I am looking at developing a small underwater vehicle that runs under its
own steam as such and wondered about PV efficiencies underwater.

How far underwater, and what kind of water? Light intensity (and
colors, reds go first) drop off pretty quickly in sea water...
 
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