WesTech, Cosworth Sign Licensing Agreement For Closed Cycle Systems

WesTech Gear Corporation, Lynwood, Calif., recently announced its exclusive U.S. licensing agreement with Cosworth Deep Sea Systems, Ltd. (CDSS) to sell, manufacture, install and service Closed Cycle Systems for use with diesel engines.

CDSS has developed a Closed Cycle System which is able to condition the exhaust gas from a diesel down to 3,000 meters while uniquely maintaining surface efficiency.

The exhaust conditioning system can be used with various prime movers including diesel engines. Ongoing research has commenced regarding the application of the gas conditioning system to fuel cells.

Although the most immediate applications are military, there are potentially many within the offshore oil exploration and other deepwater research activities.

The Closed Cycle System allows, for the first time, a diesel engine to provide both significant underwater power generation and propulsion.

This is achieved by the use of a pressure-balanced water management system and absorber which can condition engine exhaust gases and discharge them overboard at any depth without draining power from the diesel engine. Less t h an 15 percent of the engine's power is required for this task.

The principles of the system lie in recycling the exhaust gases to the engine intake after adding oxygen and removing carbon dioxide in the correct proportions.

The basic design criteria included the following requirements: autonomous power supply unit; extensive output from 5 kw to megawatt range; completely depth independent; high responsiveness to power demands; low auxiliary power requirement; simple robust low maintenance system; and ability to use off-the-shelf technology.

Militarily it is envisaged t h a t the maj or application for the system will be as a power source for conventional submarines. There are also applications for torpedo propulsion and for autonomous unmanned submersibles for covert operations.

In civilian guise the role of the system will include specific applications in the oil and gas industry for the reduction of carbon dioxide in gas pipelines; power sources for ocean bed development and exploration; pile hammer energy sources for the oil and gas industry in offshore locations; remote operated vehicles for oil rig and pipeline inspection and for submarine propulsion in oil and gas exploration.

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Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 47, Apr 1992

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