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 |
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Publication Type |
Journal Article
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Year |
2014
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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
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Volume |
55
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Issue |
68
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Pagination |
303-310
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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
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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 |