Engineering the storage battery as an underwater power supply

Engineering of the storage battery into an integrated oceanographic power system has been successfully accomplished. This is evidenced by the scores of systems in operation below the seas today. This accomplishment was made possible by the development of a sophisticated pressure compensation system and applying it to existing electrochemical couples. Comprehensive studies of lead-acid and silver zinc cell operating characteristics at temperatures as low as F and pressures up to 10,000 psi have led to the use of these batteries in systems ranging from small underwater vehicles to mobile sea floor equipment to large stationary habitats. From laboratory evaluations, it was determined that the advantageous effect of elevated pressures on the performance of lead-acid batteries is offset by the deleterious effect of cold temperature. The net effect of these same environs on the silver zinc cell is a decrease of 10% in discharge performance.