Modeling and simulation of contact-less power transformers for underwater application

Reliability and precision are key requirements for electric power feeding to vehicles underwater. Transferring electrical energy from a stationary to a moving device must be insulated from the conductive sea water, and the conventional approach of transferring with conductive wires is under critical challenge. This paper examines the possibility of using a revolving transformer for contact-less power transfer (CPT) from the base to the moving device. This paper focuses on the magnetic interfaces, investigating its electromagnetic structure and electrical properties. The reader will gain an understanding of the merits and limitations of this technology and will be able to assess its suitability for underwater application. Furthermore, to optimize the structure and improve the capacity of CPT systems, models are established to analyze the transferring features of CPT systems. The characters of plat-surface cores and cone-surface cores are compared. From simulations of the revolving transformer parameters and finite-element analysis of core structures, the influence of separated structures is investigated and optimized structure is selected that is testified by experimental measurements.