Long endurance small displacement maritime submersible propulsion system

Abstract

A watercraft ( 101 ), such as a submersible or submarine, is provided which includes a hull; a propulsion system ( 121 ) for propelling the hull through water; and a power plant which powers the propulsion system, the power plant including a heat engine ( 103 ) and a thermal energy source. The thermal energy source includes at least one material selected from the group consisting of nuclear isomers and radioisotopes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A watercraft, comprising:
 a hull;   a propulsion system for propelling the hull through water; and   a power plant which powers the propulsion system, the power plant including a heat engine and a thermal energy source;   wherein the thermal energy source includes at least one material selected from the group consisting of nuclear isomers and radioisotopes; and   wherein the watercraft is selected from the group consisting of submersibles and submarines.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hull includes a forward end and an aft end. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat source includes  242 Am. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat source includes  178m2 Am. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat source includes  93 Mo. 
     
     
         6 . The submersible of  claim 1 , wherein the submersible includes at least one generator which powers said propulsion system. 
     
     
         7 . The submersible of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one generator includes an alternator. 
     
     
         8 . The submersible of  claim 1 , wherein said propulsion system includes at least one Tesla bladeless turbine. 
     
     
         9 . The submersible of  claim 2 , wherein said turbine intakes water through a first opening in said hull and ejects water from a second opening in said hull, and wherein said first and second openings in said hull are in fluidic communication with each other by way of a conduit. 
     
     
         10 . The submersible of  claim 9 , wherein said conduit is equipped with a plurality of vanes along an interior surface thereof, and wherein said plurality of vanes are configured to induce vortexual fluid flow to the water ejected from the second opening in said hull. 
     
     
         11 . The submersible of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 an articulated, quasi-conical housing which terminates in a tapered end.   
     
     
         12 . The submersible of  claim 11 , wherein said tapered end of said housing extends beyond said second opening of said conduit. 
     
     
         13 . The submersible of  claim 12 , wherein the flow of water through said housing suppresses cavitation through the entrainment of ambient fluid. 
     
     
         14 . The submersible of  claim 12 , wherein said housing is maneuverable to deflect the flow of water from said second end of said conduit toward the forward end of said hull. 
     
     
         15 . The submersible of  claim 1 , wherein said heat engine is selected from the group consisting of Stirling Cycle engines and Ericsson Cycle engines. 
     
     
         16 . The submersible of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one battery which powers said submersible.   
     
     
         17 . The submersible of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one ultracapacitor which powers said submersible.   
     
     
         18 . The submersible of  claim 1 , further comprising a water jet eductor system. 
     
     
         19 . The submersible of  claim 1 , wherein the propulsion system includes a water jet eductor propulsion system. 
     
     
         20 . The submersible of  claim 1 , wherein the propulsion system includes a bladeless turbine.