Power system for new MBARI ROV

MBARI is developing a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) capable of 4000 m depth and designed exclusively for support of oceanographic research. Performance and operational requirements led to an all electric design for the basic core vehicle. The vehicle's electric power system, described in this paper, delivers 15 kW to the various onboard loads, and allocates power using preset priorities when demand exceeds supply. Features of the power system include ground fault and overcurrent detection, switch isolation of all loads, motor regeneration control, and limited dual redundancy. A novel transformer cooling scheme minimizes acoustic emissions from the main power transformer.<>