By
Acheron Project
Design + Industry
McConaghy Boats
Finite Elements
Designed in
Australia
Description
DEEPSEA CHALLENGER is a single occupant research submersible engineered and built in Australia by director James Cameron and Ron Allum from Acheron Project. The 12 ton sub is designed to access the darkest corners of the ocean where depths exceed 11km straight down, deeper than Mount Everest is high. The challenges faced were comparable to those in space exploration - critical attention was paid to the physics of deep-water pressure, to the requirements of exploring the bottom of the ocean and to the complete safety of the pilot.
Key Features
and/or Benefits
A manipulator arm, core sampling equipment and a remotely operated vehicle are able to be utilised by the pilot to sample and explore the terrain.
Powering all this is an innovative system of lithium-ion battery cells captured in silicon oil filled enclosures. These enclosures feature a unique bladder system that compensates for the compression of the oil at depth.
The Life Support Sphere is equipped to provide the pilot with oxygen, warmth and protection from deep-sea pressure
The Sphere's 1.1m diameter was found to be a minimum size for a single pilot with the sub controls and life support either side. The Sphere provides a constant sea level pressure of 1 atmosphere inside while withstanding the 16,500psi pressure outside. The internal air is regulated via 2 oxygen supply and carbon dioxide removal systems, one of which is kept as redundancy and features a full face mask in the event of a fire.
About 70 percent of the sub's volume is taken up by syntactic foam. Lead engineer Ron Allum spent 18 months designing a patented type of foam, ISOFLOAT™.
An innovative, lightweight carbon composite Shell supports the pilot seating, all life-support equipment and a complex array of control assemblies inside the Sphere
The Shell protects the pilot and electrical equipment from condensation that forms inside the steel Sphere. Gutters guide the condensation to the base of the Sphere where the pilot is able to safely store the water using a pump.
The Shell also keeps the pilot out of contact with the Sphere surface, which can reach freezing during the dive
