Abstract: Disclosed is a method for managing stoppage of a pressurized-water nuclear reactor integrated into a submerged module for producing electrical power, in case of detection of a primary/secondary leak in a steam generator equipped with a safety valve, which generator is connected to the reactor and associated with a standby cooling unit. The method includes: detecting a primary/secondary leak in the steam generator; automatically stopping the reactor and isolating the broken steam generator; bringing the corresponding standby cooling unit online; monitoring the primary pressure and, once the primary pressure has passed below the set pressure of the safety valves of the steam generators, isolating the standby cooling unit of the broken steam generator; and continuing to passively cool the reactor with the remaining steam generators and cooling unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is an overcharge detection method for detecting an overcharging of an accumulator of a battery including a set of parallel branches each including accumulators disposed in series, wherein the method includes steps of: (i) collecting the measurements of the currents flowing in the branches of the battery; (ii) identifying at least one variation in current in one branch with respect to at least one other branch as a function of the measurements of current collected; (iii) determining a level of state of charge of the branch; and (iv) detecting an overcharging of an accumulator in the branch as a function of at least the variation in current identified and of the level of state of charge determined.

Abstract: An underwater connector half includes a base and at least two electrical connection terminals respectively connected to two electric wires received in at least one cable. The two electrical connection terminals are ring-shaped and coaxial about an axis located along a direction of assembly of a complementary connector half and the base has a side wall that is parallel to the axis and through which passes the cable. An underwater connector including such a connector half is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for attaching a thermal battery to a flange of a power supply section of an underwater craft, such as a torpedo, comprising a fixing sleeve arranged around and fixed to the battery and provided with fixing lugs comprising holes for the passage of screws for attachment to the flange, wherein the sleeve is in an overall shape of a C, of which an intermediate part and ends of branches comprise the fixing lugs for fixing the fixing sleeve to the flange.

Abstract: A cartridge includes an outer case, partially filled with electrically insulating gel, and at least one electrically conductive track submerged in the insulating gel. Connection sets including at least one connector half and such a cartridge are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrical apparatus, including: a circuit breaker having a breaking capacity and a breaking current; a DC voltage source including two batteries connected in parallel, connected in series with the circuit breaker, the sum of short-circuit currents of the batteries being greater than the breaking capacity, each battery including: a first branch including storage batteries and a switch connected in series; a second branch connected in parallel with the first branch and including a free-wheeling diode; an ammeter measuring output current; and a control circuit configured to detect a short-circuit. The control circuits simultaneously keep a majority of switches open and close one switch to apply a current passing through the circuit breaker which is higher than the breaking current and lower than the breaking capacity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fairlead for guiding an anchoring element, allowing the anchoring of a unit, such as a floating unit, to an anchoring point, and in particular being applicable to permanent anchoring devices of the submerged fairlead type with an integrated chain stopper, in fields such as the marine, offshore, and renewable marine energy industries. The fairlead comprises guide means 1 to 4 able to guide the translation of the anchoring element between the unit and the anchoring point, and blocking means 5 able to block the translation of the anchoring element in the guide means 1 to 4. The blocking means 5 are mounted on the guide means 1 to 4 at least partially freely rotating around an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the anchoring element when the latter is guided in the guide means 1 to 4.

Abstract: The invention concerns an underwater vehicle equipped with electrochemical means of electrical power generation, characterized in that it comprises a data processing unit (2) with inputs connected to sensors (4) of a parameter selected from amongst temperature, pressure, and hydrogen concentration, of the water in the area of the vehicle, and of the electrochemical means of the vehicle, and with outputs connected to means (5) of transmitting signals to transmit signals authorizing (or not authorizing) an operator to approach the vehicle, depending on whether the sensed value of the parameter of the electrochemical means is in a predetermined range around the value of the parameter corresponding to water in the area of the underwater vehicle.

Abstract: This large flexible submarine conduit system (10) for a platform floating at sea includes: a flexible conduit (12) including a plurality of sheets (26A, 26B, 26C) linked together by a sliding closure (28) on each of the lateral sides of the sheets, the conduit (12) including elements for maintaining a circular cross-section of the conduit (12) that are both flexible and flattenable; and a device capable of being placed on the platform at the upper end of the conduit (12), allowing winding and unwinding of each of the sheets (26A, 26B, 26C) of the conduit (12), this device including a drum (14A, 14B, 14C) for each of the sheets (26A, 26B, 26C).

Abstract: An underwater electricity production module includes an elongated cylindrical casing, which includes an integrated electricity generation unit having a nuclear boiler. The generator is connected to an external electricity distribution station by electrical cables. The nuclear boiler is placed in a dry chamber of a reactor compartment associated with a chamber forming a safety water storage reservoir of the reactor. At least a radial wall of the reservoir chamber is in a direct heat exchange relationship with a marine environment that surrounds the underwater electricity production module in which the underwater electricity production module is submerged.

Abstract: This naval platform (1) of the type including at least one hull (2) equipped with steerable thrusters (3, 4, 5, 6) distributed on the latter and means (7, 8, 9, 10, 11) for controlling the orientation and the actuation of the latter, is characterized in that the control means comprise means (12) for illustrating at least one portion of the surface of the water around the naval platform (13) in proximity to the latter, associated with the means (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21) for controlling at least one portion of the steerable thrusters (3, 4, 5, 6) for generating and directing a waterflow towards this portion of the surface.

Abstract: This device comprises a spray assembly (40) for spraying fluid into the chamber, and a fluid feed pipe (42) intended to feed fluid to the spray assembly (40). It comprises a fluid-distributing intermediate receptacle (46) positioned between the feed pipe (42) and the spray assembly (40), the intermediate receptacle (46) being connected upstream to the feed pipe (42) and comprising a fluid-evacuating sidewall (52) delimiting through orifices (60) connected to the spray assembly (40). It comprises at least one pipe (44A to 44D) for evacuating fluid towards the chamber (19) and projecting into the intermediate receptacle (46) opposite the sidewall (52).

Abstract: This underwater vehicle includes an electrolyte-activated electrochemical fuel cell to supply it with electrical power, which fuel cell includes: an electrochemical power production cell (3), a reservoir (4) to contain the electrolyte. means of circulation (7) of the electrolyte between the electrochemical cell (3) and the reservoir (4), comprising a semi-axial flow pump arranged axially in the reservoir and comprising a motorized wheel rotatably mounted in a diffuser, characterized in that the diffuser has the general shape of a dome to direct the flow of the electrolyte coming out of the pump in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the pump, and thus of the reservoir.

Abstract: An offshore wind turbine foundation comprising a platform carrying a support for the wind turbine tower in its central region, and a plurality of leg guides in its peripheral region; and a plurality of legs, each of which may be movable between a raised position for transport and lowered positions for resting on the seabed. Each leg is capable of freely sliding in its guide.

Abstract: A method of taking a plurality of measurements of the magnetic field using the plurality of sensors; includes assessing the inductive magnetic excitation; and determining the likely distribution of magnetic sources on the surface of the hull by resolving a system of equations derived from modeling the physical phenomena at play, on the basis of the plurality of measurements taken and the assessed inductive magnetic excitation. The model describes the induced magnetic sources as a distribution of dipolar sources and the remanent magnetic sources as a distribution of monopolar sources. A device (6) for determining the magnetization of the hull of a ship for implementing the method is also described.

Abstract: Fuel cell systems and methods for controlling the operation of components of the fuel cell system, which may include a fuel source and a fuel cell stack. In some examples, a fuel source is adapted to provide supply fuel to a fuel cell stack at a supply pressure. The fuel cell stack produces electric current at a production amperage. In some examples, a control system is adapted to control operation of the fuel cell stack based on a pressure detected at the fuel cell stack. In some examples, a target production amperage is determined based on the detected pressure, such that when electric current is produced at the target production amperage for the detected pressure, the fuel cell stack consumes a predetermined proportion of the supply fuel.

Abstract: The support and guidance structure includes a support (14) equipped with means of guidance (16) of the mast (12) in a raising direction (Z), including a wall (32) extending in this direction (Z), and delimiting a housing (33) for the mast (12). The guidance means (16) include two guide rails (18), borne by the support (14), and two additional guidance elements (20), borne by the mast (12), each operating in tandem with a respective rail (18). Each rail (18) forms stops (18A) immobilizing the related guidance element (20) in a second direction (Y) perpendicular to the raising direction (Z) and the wall (32). The guidance means (16) include another guide rail (18), borne by the support (14), and another additional guidance element (20), borne by the mast (12), and operating in tandem with the other rail (18). The other rail (18) forms stops (18A) immobilizing the other guidance element (20) in a third direction (X) perpendicular to the raising direction (Z) and the second direction (Y).

Abstract: A support and guidance structure includes a support equipped with a guidance device configured to guide at least two masts in translation in a raising direction. The support delimits a respective housing for each of the masts, and a fixation device is configured to fix the support and guidance structure to a structural part of the underwater vehicle. Each housing is open, on all planes perpendicular to the raising direction.

Abstract: This underwater electricity production module includes an elongated cylindrical box, which includes a reactor compartment and an electricity production unit. The reactor compartment includes a reservoir chamber and a dry chamber. A nuclear reactor is located in the dry chamber. The reservoir chamber forms a safety water storage reservoir. At least a radial wall of the reservoir chamber is in a direct heat exchange relationship with a marine environment that surrounds the cylindrical box. The nuclear reactor includes a nuclear boiler which includes a pressurizer connected through a depressurizing valve to the reservoir chamber.

Abstract: This floating support (1) for an offshore structure, in particular such as a wind turbine, of the type including means in the form of a support mast (2), the upper part of which is associated with the structure and the lower part of which is associated with means in the form a float (3), is characterized in that the means in the form a float (3) comprise means in the form of a cage (9, 10, 11) for receiving buoyancy tanks (12).