INTRODUCTION 



The U. S. Navy has long recognized the importance of the world's 

 oceans in military tactical operations. Surprise attack from beneath the sea 

 is a serious threat to our country, and the Navy is particularly aware of this 

 problem. This awareness has generated an ever-expanding program of ocean 

 research. 



One of the major obstacles in the development of deep ocean facilities 

 is the unavailability of reliable electrical power for life support, lighting, 

 communications during the construction phase, and later, for system opera- 

 tion as determined by the mission of the facility. A study to determine the 

 feasibility of providing electrical power to deep ocean installations or load 

 modules was undertaken at the Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory (NCEL) a 

 little over a year ago. 



The basic study parameters established for the transmission systems 

 serving deep ocean bottom installations were power levels of 30, 100, 300, 

 1,000, and 3,000 kw at ocean depths of 600, 2,000, 6,000, 10,000, 15,000, 

 and 20,000 feet. The transmission systems would be supplied from either 

 shore-based, surf ace- tendered (floating), or in-situ power sources. The 

 objective of the study was to determine the economic and technical feasibility 

 limits of deep ocean electrical power systems and to establish preliminary 

 design criteria for a few selected systems. An evaluation of feasible power 

 sources was included within the scope of the study program. The study was 

 accomplished in-house and by contract with Electric Boat Division of General 

 Dynamics.* 



This report presents a discussion of the environmental conditions of 

 the sea and their effect on the elements of an underwater power system. 

 Various power system concepts and configurations are developed and 

 evaluated within established design and environmental constraints. Design 

 approaches and related parametric studies are discussed for the selection of 

 the most cost effective system concepts. Preliminary designs of six concepts 



Contract Report CR-68.004, "Conceptual Study of Electrical Power Transmission 

 Systems to Deep Ocean Installations," Contract N62399-67-C-0015, Naval Civil 

 Engineering Laboratory, Port Hueneme, California, Aug. 1967. 



