Hull-Compatible Underwater IPT System with Enhanced Electromagnetic–Thermal Performance for USVs

Qingyu Zhao, Songyan Niu, Ziyun Shao and Linni Jian ()
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Qingyu Zhao: Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
Songyan Niu: Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
Ziyun Shao: School of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
Linni Jian: Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 2, 1-18

Abstract: With the growing use of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) for underwater exploration, efficient wireless charging solutions like inductive power transfer (IPT) are crucial for addressing power limitations. This paper presents a novel IPT system for USVs and introduces a systematic design approach for optimizing magnetic couplers. The proposed design addresses three critical challenges: misalignment tolerance, lightweight construction, and thermal safety, which are intricately linked through a magnetic field. In terms of misalignment, this paper demonstrates that the coil length is a key factor in determining misalignment tolerance. For a lightweight design, replacing the ferrite plate with ferrite bars can significantly reduce the weight of the coupler without causing core saturation. The design is further validated through a two-way coupled electromagnetic–thermal simulation. The results reveal that, with proper thermal management, the system avoids thermal risks in underwater environments compared to air. Finally, a 3 kW prototype is constructed and tested in fresh water, achieving 55 V and 50 A wireless charging at an 85.7% full-load dc-to-dc efficiency, thus confirming the practicality and performance of the design.

Keywords: inductive power transfer; magnetic coupler; lightweight design; misalignment tolerance; thermal safety; underwater surface vehicles (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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