HR: 1340h
AN: OS43B-0559    [Abstracts]
TI: A New Replacement for the Deep Diving Submersible ALVIN: Initial Project Update and Concept
AU: * Brown, R
EM: rbrown@whoi.edu
AF: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 360 Woods Hole Rd., Woods Hole, MA 02543 United States
AU: Tivey, M A
EM: mtivey@whoi.edu
AF: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 360 Woods Hole Rd., Woods Hole, MA 02543 United States
AU: Walden, B
EM: bwalden@whoi.edu
AF: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 360 Woods Hole Rd., Woods Hole, MA 02543 United States
AU: Detrick, R S
EM: rdetrick@whoi.edu
AF: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 360 Woods Hole Rd., Woods Hole, MA 02543 United States
AB: In August 2004, the National Science Foundation (NSF) funded the first phase of a 4-year project proposed by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) to build a replacement submersible for the present human occupied vehicle (HOV) ALVIN operated by WHOI as part of the National Deep Submergence Facility. The design of the replacement HOV is the result of almost 10 years of deliberations among the scientific community and several studies including a recent 2004 National Research Council report on the "Future Needs of Deep Submergence Science". The over-riding design philosophy was to enhance capabilities and not to detract from the present ALVIN capabilities that have made it one of the premier research tools in oceanography. The replacement submersible will have a nominal depth capability of 6500 meters allowing access to over 99% of the world's ocean floor. The submersible is planned to have a sphere diameter of 2.1 m providing 27 cu. ft. of additional internal volume over the present ALVIN. A key improvement will be the viewport design with five viewports for a total 245 degree viewing area and with the forward three viewports having overlapping fields of view. This will provide an unprecedented view of the seafloor. The central pilot viewport is 7" in diameter with two forward 6" observer viewports and two lateral 5" observer viewports. The replacement vehicle will continue to operate with 1 pilot and 2 scientists inside the sphere. In order for the submersible to reach the greater depths will require increased descent and ascent rates. The new vehicle will operate with a variable water ballast system that can provide trim angles of up to +/-25 degrees to use on descent and ascent and will also enable the vehicle to stop in midwater to conduct experiments and sampling. Important design constraints are imposed by the capacity of the present ALVIN mother ship, Atlantis and the A-frame launch system. Due to these restrictions the replacement HOV will weigh 44,000 lbs compared to the present ALVIN 37,000 lbs and will only be slightly larger in overall dimension. A Lithium ion battery power plant will provide greater energy needed for the deep dives and greater endurance and speed. NSF has convened an oversight committee composed of scientists, US Navy personnel and deep submergence industry experts to oversee the various phases of the project. The scheduled completion date is 2008.
UR: http://www.whoi.edu/home/index_alvinreplacement_pr.html
DE: 9805 Instruments useful in three or more fields
DE: 4294 Instruments and techniques
SC: Ocean Sciences [OS]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting