Developing a hot-water drill system for the WISSARD project: 3. Instrumentation and control systems

Title Developing a hot-water drill system for the WISSARD project: 3. Instrumentation and control systems
Publication Type
Journal Article
Year
2014
Author(s) Justin Burnett , Frank R Rack, Daren S Blythe, Pat Swanson, Dennis V Duling, Dar E Gibson, Chad Carpenter, Graham Roberts, Jeff Lemery, Steve Fischbein, Adam Melby
Journal/ Publication
Annals of Glaciology
Volume
55
Issue
68
Pagination
303-310
Abstract

The WISSARD (Whillans Ice Stream Subglacial Access Research Drilling) traversable hot-water drill system was designed to create various-diameter ice boreholes to a depth of >800 m, with most major components being controllable from a single user interface. The drill control system operates four low-pressure pumps for water generation and circulation, two hot-water generation units containing a total of six diesel burner modules with integrated high-pressure pumps, three winches (one with independent level-wind motor), a four-motor linear traction drive, and a large number of analog and digital sensors to monitor system performance and cleanliness. Due to development time constraints the control system design focused on utilizing commercial off-the-shelf components, while being highly modular, easily expandable and rapidly deployable. Additional emphasis was placed on providing redundant manual operator controls and maintaining a low degree of system automation to avoid dependence on software control loops for first-season deployment. The result of this design paradigm was a control system that was taken from concept to full operation in <6 months, successfully performing in the field without insurmountable problems.

DOI
10.3189/2014AoG68A039
File
URL
Special Collections International Workshop on Ice Drilling Technology Series, 7th International Workshop on Ice Drilling Technology
Categories Hot Water Drilling, Subglacial Access
Equipment WISSARD Hot Water Drill
Citation Justin Burnett , Frank R Rack, Daren S Blythe, Pat Swanson, Dennis V Duling, Dar E Gibson, Chad Carpenter, Graham Roberts, Jeff Lemery, Steve Fischbein, Adam Melby ( 2014 ) Developing a hot-water drill system for the WISSARD project: 3. Instrumentation and control systems. Annals of Glaciology , 55 , 68 , 303-310 . doi: 10.3189/2014AoG68A039
Lead Author
Justin Burnett