Study of novel alternative power sources for deep sea instrumentation

Supervisors: Dr Stewart Chalmers, Dr Alastair Allen, Dr David Meldrum

Background: PhDs are offered in University of Aberdeen, Oceanlab (www.oceanlab.abdn.ac.uk) funded by MASTS (www.masts.ac.uk/) in the field of “Platforms & Sensors” applying new technology to marine science jointly between the Colleges of Physical Sciences and Life Sciences & Medicine in the University of Aberdeen and a MASTS partner.

Deep sea sensors are required to gather data autonomously for long periods of time but are limited by the lack of sustainable sources of power. This has resulted in the investigation of energy harvesting, as an alternative, or addition to batteries.

This PhD project will investigate methods of energy harvesting in the deep sea environment and quantify the amount of power each method could reliably be expected to generate. It is anticipated that temperature and pressure differentials, together with tidal current flows would form the initial areas of investigation. The most viable technique would be taken forward and developed further as either a stand-alone power source or, as a method of trickle charging batteries.

This research will involve the design of novel transducers and instrumentation in order to capture and quantify potential energy sources. These systems would be deployed on various Oceanlab scheduled cruises which the student would be expected to participate in.