TABLE 7.1 SUBMERSIBLE POWER SOURCE CHARACTERISTICS (Cont.) 



nient in deep submergence compo- 

 nents. The time, energy and dollars 

 lost flue to the malfunction of a conv- 

 ponent are most certainly always sev- 

 eral orders of magnitude greater than 

 the original cost of the component. 

 The lesson herein is that submersible 

 designers must insist on the use of 

 materials and combinations of mate- 

 rials that ivill provide high reliftbility 

 for many yetirs in the ocean's hostile, 

 corrosive depths.^' 



In the 4 years since Rynewicz's statement, 

 there has been some decrease in the "electri- 

 cal problem." Rather than a concerted effort 

 on the part of submersible builders to single- 

 mindedly find reliable materials and compo- 

 nents, the problem has been tackled individ- 

 ually, e.g., by operators, and through the 

 process of elimination suitable answers have 

 been found in some cases, and "some times" 

 answers in others. 



In one instance, the builder (International 

 Hydrodynamics Ltd.) went to the extreme 

 measure of abandoning all commercially- 

 available connectors and now manufactures 

 its own. 



Application 



The only task submersibles could accom- 

 plish without electricity would be to descend 

 and ascend, and this would be done in total 



darkness and incommunicado. To say electri- 

 cal power is critical is a gross understate- 

 ment; it is the lifeblood of undersea work as 

 the following indicates: 



PropuUion: All subiiiersibles use electrically- 

 powered motors for lateral or vertical ma- 

 neuvering. 



Life Support: All submersibles but one, BEN 

 FRANKLIN, use electrically-powered carbon 

 dioxide scrubbers. 



Communicalions: All tWO-Way SUb-tO-SUrfaCe 



communication devices are electrically pow- 

 ered. 



Illumination: All internal and external light- 

 ing is electrically powered. 



Work and Operating Instruments: Virtually all 



scientific and engineering instruments, as 

 well as those used to control and operate the 

 vehicle, are driven by electricity. 



Ballast Drop: The majority of vehicles depend 

 upon an electrical impulse or signal to acti- 

 vate weight drops or jettison instruments. 



Maneuvering: The majority of Vehicles de- 

 pend upon electricity to orient their propul- 

 sion devices or dive planes and rudders. 



Sensors: Virtually all status sensors (trim 

 tank level indicators, MBT and VBT level 

 sensors, etc.) are electrically powered. 



Emergency Indicators: All seawater leak indi- 

 cators depend upon the initiation or termina- 

 tion of electrical current. 



Tracking/Navigation: All routine tracking and 

 navigation systems depend upon electricity. 



313 



