Fossil Energy-Developed Fuel Cell Technology Adapted for Unmanned Undersea Vehicles

By Caroline Rees / 04 Feb 2013

Smart Sourcing for Unmanned Systems

Discover cutting-edge solutions from leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Follow UST

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology being developed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for coal-based central power generation is being adapted by the U.S. Office of Naval Research for use in advanced unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs).

The Navy believes SOFC technology could be a transformative technology that could help to better meet ever-broadening mission profiles, enhance national security and maintain maritime superiority into the future. Its use in this regard is a demonstration of the considerable research and development (R&D) progress made by DOE’s Fuel Cell technology program since its inception in 2000.

The program, managed by the Office of Fossil Energy’s (FE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), is aimed at the development of clean, efficient and reliable fuel cell technology for central power generation. The goal is to take advantage of the technology’s high electrical efficiency, low pollutant emissions, and ease of carbon dioxide capture. Considerable progress has been achieved in performance, reliability, and cost.

Building upon FE’s SOFC innovation, the Office of Naval Research is taking advantage of additional features of the technology, such as modularity and fuel flexibility, to meet the U.S. Navy’s mission requirements.

A significant challenge in UUV development is the source of propulsion power, which must conform to strict size limits and be able to meet projected endurance requirements, ranging from days to weeks. Additional considerations include reliability; air-independent operation; refuelability; rapid start-up, shut-down, and load following; and the ability to operate with little to no “observables,” such as noise or hull discharges.

To address these challenges, the Office of Naval Research has selected several SOFC projects—some with roots in the FE Fuel Cell R&D Program—that have the potential to exceed the limits of current and future high-energy-density batteries.

In 2012, NexTech Materials Ltd., in partnership with Northrop Grumman, Precision Combustion, and Alliant Techsystems, received a contract from the Office of Naval Research to develop an SOFC-based system under the Long Endurance Undersea Vehicle Propulsion program. FE has supported NexTech’s development of SOFC technology for large-system applications through projects on seals, interconnect coating applications, novel cell design, and manufacturing analysis. In addition, Precision Combustion was previously supported by FE in the development of logistics fuel processors for SOFC power generation systems.

Also in 2012, FuelCell Energy received an Office of Naval Research contract under the Large Displacement Unmanned Underwater Vehicle Innovative Naval Prototype program. FuelCell Energy is one of three Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) Industry Teams within FE’s Fuel Cell R&D Program, and is utilizing SOFC technology developed by its subsidiary, Versa Power Systems Inc. In the U.S. Navy project, FuelCell Energy is partnered with NASA, Yardney Technical Products, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC), and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). FE has funded SOFC research by both PNNL and NUWC; PNNL is the lead national laboratory developing core SOFC technologies under the SECA program, and NUWC previously received funding to evaluate SOFCs, including those manufactured by Versa and Delphi, under extreme conditions.

Although the naval projects are not directly related to central power generation, their success is expected to provide the electric power industry with valuable SOFC operational experience and contribute to the manufacturing base required for future low-cost mass production.

Posted by Caroline Rees Caroline co-founded Unmanned Systems Technology and has been at the forefront of the business ever since. With a Masters Degree in marketing Caroline has her finger on the pulse of all things unmanned and is committed to showcasing the very latest in unmanned technical innovation. Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

TUALCOM Showcases Communications Solutions & RF Equipment at Defense Conference

TUALCOM participated in the Loitering Munitions Conference in Virginia, showcasing its latest technologies and sharing insights on future electronic warfare and navigation systems

Apr 28, 2025
Hitec Introduces Specialized Servos for Demanding Environments

Hitec will be releasing a new line of servos in 2025, featuring specialized models for redundant systems, underwater use, and drone applications

Apr 28, 2025
Acecore to Supply Tactical Quadcopter Drones for Dutch Military

Acecore Technologies is providing its Zoe M4 quadcopters to the Royal Netherlands Army, supporting bridge assessments and troop movements with real-time 2D and 3D mapping capabilities

Apr 28, 2025
Advanced AI-Powered Drone, Autopilot & Hardware Solutions

Airvolute's open-architecture NVIDIA-based autopilots and UAS platforms have been utilized by NATO members as well as some of the world’s leading aerospace and defence companies

Apr 25, 2025
Most Read Articles on UST This Week

Here’s our round-up of the five most read articles on UnmannedSystemsTechnology.com this week

Apr 25, 2025
Nanomotion’s Velox Gimbal Enhances Border Surveillance Capabilities

Discover how Nanomotion’s Velox gimbal is enhancing drone surveillance with unmatched coverage, stability, and tracking—ideal for advanced border security operations

Apr 25, 2025

Featured Content

Apollo & Moonrock Launch $122.5m Drone, eVTOL Insurance Facility

Apollo and Moonrock take the lead on new $122.5m drone, eVTOL and aviation innovation insurance facility

Apr 22, 2025
ParaZero Unveils Advanced Parachute Recovery System

ParaZero launches the SafeAir M4, an advanced parachute recovery system designed for the DJI Matrice 4, enhancing drone safety, compliance, and mission readiness

Apr 17, 2025
Compact High Resolution MWIR Zoom Lens Released for UAV & ISR Platforms

MKS Instruments introduces the Ophir SupIR 10-135mm f/1.8 zoom lens, engineered for compact MWIR systems demanding long-range detection and high-resolution thermal imaging

Apr 17, 2025
Advancing Unmanned Systems Through Strategic Collaboration UST works with major OEMs to foster collaboration and increase engagement with SMEs, to accelerate innovation and drive unmanned systems capabilities forward.