Study of power system upgrades for NDBC buoys

The National Data Buoy Center operates numerous instrumented marine buoys, measuring oceanic and atmospheric environmental conditions around the world. Currently, buoy environmental monitoring payloads use all available power. Future buoy upgrade options considered include increasing the environmental monitoring capability, as well as possibly supporting other US Government functions, such as for the Federal Aviation Administration to support their air traffic control activities. These upgrade options will require an increase in buoy power system capability. Reductions in future buoy power system maintenance requirements are also desirable. The environmental conditions experienced by buoys located in high-latitude locations pose a special challenge. In the winter, the very cold temperatures and lack of sunlight severely limit the power output of the current buoy power system, which is based on conventional silicon-based photovoltaic cells and sealed lead-acid batteries. To address these issues, Science Applications International Corporation conducted a top-level system engineering design study to identify realistic, near-term cost-effective design options to meet emerging power system requirements for NDBC buoys, particularly in challenging high-latitude environments. The study identified requirements, design drivers, and operational issues, and examined potential power system upgrade solutions using aerospace-type technologies The study found that increases in power output and energy storage capability were indeed possible through use of near-term alternative technology. At the conclusion of the study, a Ni-Cd battery based system was identified that could increase power capability and require less maintenance support. This paper also presents proposals for additional design study and supporting activities that may have additional potential to address this difficult issue.