A survey and analysis of multiphase electric propulsion motors and associated controllers for driving underwater platforms

Propulsion motors are essential for driving underwater platforms, which are designed to explore and exploit marine resources, primarily materials located within oceans and other bodies of water. Historically, humans have used artificial underwater structures such as ships, oil rigs, boats, submarine...

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Main Authors: Arun Singh, Anita Khosla
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-06-01
Series:Propulsion and Power Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212540X25000252
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author Arun Singh
Anita Khosla
author_facet Arun Singh
Anita Khosla
author_sort Arun Singh
collection DOAJ
description Propulsion motors are essential for driving underwater platforms, which are designed to explore and exploit marine resources, primarily materials located within oceans and other bodies of water. Historically, humans have used artificial underwater structures such as ships, oil rigs, boats, submarines, robots, and autonomous vehicles to harness marine resources, encompassing commercial and military applications. Whether static or dynamic, these underwater platforms rely on different propulsion systems for manoeuvrability, including nuclear power, diesel engines, fuel cell/air independent propulsion (AIP) and electrically driven motors. These propulsion systems create thrust, using propeller or water jet mechanisms to move inside waterbodies. This study traces the evolution of underwater propulsion motors in deep-sea applications from their inception to the current state-of-the-art advancements. It provides a detailed overview of existing underwater motor and controller technologies used for underwater platforms, emphasising their capabilities and limitations while highlighting potential areas for innovation in the design of multiphase motors. This paper critically evaluates the current electric propulsion motors used in underwater platforms. Furthermore, the paper identifies gaps in existing technologies for multiphase electric motors designed for deep-sea application, which are more than a hundred meters deep with power requirements exceeding 200 kW with the motor mounted externally, directly exposed to the high pressures of the deep-sea environment, setting the stage for future research and development opportunities that can lead to improved exploration of oceans and their resources.
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spelling doaj-art-83473c24700c4bd6ab2d093c8b63e89f2025-08-20T03:12:36ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Propulsion and Power Research2212-540X2025-06-0114230432110.1016/j.jppr.2025.06.001A survey and analysis of multiphase electric propulsion motors and associated controllers for driving underwater platformsArun Singh0Anita Khosla1Corresponding author.; School of Engineering & Technology, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, Faridabad 121004, Haryana, IndiaSchool of Engineering & Technology, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, Faridabad 121004, Haryana, IndiaPropulsion motors are essential for driving underwater platforms, which are designed to explore and exploit marine resources, primarily materials located within oceans and other bodies of water. Historically, humans have used artificial underwater structures such as ships, oil rigs, boats, submarines, robots, and autonomous vehicles to harness marine resources, encompassing commercial and military applications. Whether static or dynamic, these underwater platforms rely on different propulsion systems for manoeuvrability, including nuclear power, diesel engines, fuel cell/air independent propulsion (AIP) and electrically driven motors. These propulsion systems create thrust, using propeller or water jet mechanisms to move inside waterbodies. This study traces the evolution of underwater propulsion motors in deep-sea applications from their inception to the current state-of-the-art advancements. It provides a detailed overview of existing underwater motor and controller technologies used for underwater platforms, emphasising their capabilities and limitations while highlighting potential areas for innovation in the design of multiphase motors. This paper critically evaluates the current electric propulsion motors used in underwater platforms. Furthermore, the paper identifies gaps in existing technologies for multiphase electric motors designed for deep-sea application, which are more than a hundred meters deep with power requirements exceeding 200 kW with the motor mounted externally, directly exposed to the high pressures of the deep-sea environment, setting the stage for future research and development opportunities that can lead to improved exploration of oceans and their resources.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212540X25000252Propulsion motors for underwater platformsMultiphase electric propulsion motorsUnderwater vehiclesDeep-sea propulsionMarine propulsionHigh-power motors
spellingShingle Arun Singh
Anita Khosla
A survey and analysis of multiphase electric propulsion motors and associated controllers for driving underwater platforms
Propulsion and Power Research
Propulsion motors for underwater platforms
Multiphase electric propulsion motors
Underwater vehicles
Deep-sea propulsion
Marine propulsion
High-power motors
title A survey and analysis of multiphase electric propulsion motors and associated controllers for driving underwater platforms
title_full A survey and analysis of multiphase electric propulsion motors and associated controllers for driving underwater platforms
title_fullStr A survey and analysis of multiphase electric propulsion motors and associated controllers for driving underwater platforms
title_full_unstemmed A survey and analysis of multiphase electric propulsion motors and associated controllers for driving underwater platforms
title_short A survey and analysis of multiphase electric propulsion motors and associated controllers for driving underwater platforms
title_sort survey and analysis of multiphase electric propulsion motors and associated controllers for driving underwater platforms
topic Propulsion motors for underwater platforms
Multiphase electric propulsion motors
Underwater vehicles
Deep-sea propulsion
Marine propulsion
High-power motors
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212540X25000252
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AT arunsingh surveyandanalysisofmultiphaseelectricpropulsionmotorsandassociatedcontrollersfordrivingunderwaterplatforms
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