A three-phase wireless charging system for lightweight autonomous underwater vehicles

Lightweight autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), powered by rechargeable batteries, are widely applied in inshore survey, environmental monitoring, and mine countermeasures. In order to provide a convenient charging option for AUVs, a three-phase wireless charging system is proposed in this paper. Three-dimensional (3D) finite-element analysis (FEA) tool ANSYS MAXWELL is employed to demonstrate the magnetic characteristics and advantages of the proposed coil structure. Detailed circuit analysis and compensation method are also given. Furthermore, a three-phase wireless charging system is designed and tested. The system is able to deliver 1.0 kW at efficiency (overall dc to dc) of 92.41% at 465 kHz.