SeaCycler AST2 Surface Piercing Profiler Technology

NSF Development

• Development funded by NSF

• The Surface Piercing Profiler is Ultimately a Vendor Supplied System

• The SeaCycler is an exemplar for the Global OOI Surface Piercing Profiler

- Used on a sub-surface mooring.

- Profiles (or moves) instruments from a 150m depth, to the surface and back collecting data

- When at the surface, it floats a small satellite antenna to communicate data to shore and receive new commands

- No surface expression, except when communicating

- Conserves power to enable numerous long profiles

- Designed for the open-ocean.

150m

Mechanism Float (underwater winch)

Instrument Float - travels 150m to Surface

23m fixed cable length

Communication Float - travels with the “InstFloat”

Flotation Sphere

Profiling PrincipleA small buoyancy

moved a long distance is balanced by a large

buoyancy moved a short distance in the opposite direction.

Antenna – Iridium, GPS, FreeWave

Communication Float Weight = 40 lbs Net Buoyancy = 12 lbs

Length = 60+ inches

Seabird MP-52 CTD with O2

AquaDopp Current Meter

Benthos Acoustic Modem

Instrument Float

Weight = 510 lbs Net Buoy = 230 lbs

Sensor Payload = 100 lbs

Electronics Case

Instrument FloatTank Test

SeaBird MP-52 CTD with O2

NortekUSA Aquadopp HR Current Meter

Benthos Acoustic Modem

Mechanism Float

Weight = 4120 lbs Net Buoyancy = 950 lbs

SeaCycler Testing

Mechanism Float

29

54”

70” ID

Mechanism Float Flow DynamicsFin Designed for Stabilization

Fin orients mechanism float into currents

Motor Pendulum Ring

Torus Pressure Case

Lead Weight (150 lbs)

Principle of Operation

GearMotor (pressure case removed)

Bearings

Lubricator

Pendulum-Ring

Lead Weight

SeaCycler: TorusMotor

Pinion

Section View (both cases

shown)Floating Base Plate

Motor is powerful enough to lift and flip the lead weight

SeaCycler Deployment History:

7 Deployments Since March 2010

- 3x, Bedford Basin (76m depth)

- 2x, 32 km Offshore (155m depth)

- 2x, 250 km Offshore (1120m depth)

Ongoing SeaCycler Deployment April 17, 2011 to

present

1200m water depth

Mechanism Float

Instrument Float

Preparing for Deployment

SeaCycler350 Jan-09 Update ( Home stretch

…..)

Mechanism Float

Instrument Float

Ready for Deployment

Mechanism Float

Deployment Starting

Deployment Using Canadian Coast Guard Vessel

Mechanism Float

Mechanism Float Deployed

Mechanism Float

Instrument Float

CommunicationsFloat

The Instrument Float can be “surfaced” to adjust buoyancy and/or swap instruments at sea without recovering the mooring.

Instrument Float

CommunicationsFloat

Instrument Float

THIS JUST IN

REAL TIME DATA FROM

SEACYCLER

Real-Time Temperature Data

Real-Time Salinity Data

Real-Time Oxygen Data

Real-Time CTD via Inductive Telemetry

Mechanism Float surfacing after mooring release

(1.8 m/s at 70 degrees)

MechanismFloat Recovery

- Satellite communication for near real-time data and remote control operation

- Inductive modem coupling to deeper-water instrumentation- Open-ocean design suitable for deep water (5000m) sites- Profiling

- 365 x 150m profiles are possible for year-long deployments- Profile stops for discreet sampling- Extra cable storage to compensate for mooring knockover- 150m “hide-depth” for security and bio-fouling- Surface wave detection

- Large instrument payload (100 lbs in air)- Simple straight-through cable routing – anchor to surface

SeaCycler Capabilities