ICDS Enhanced Hot Water Drill

EHWD Downhole water hose reel sled (Available in Larger image)

The enhanced hot water drill system was produced for the IceCube project (a neutrino telescope).

The PSL instrument shop fabricated and assembled several major components of the enhanced hot water drill in collaboration with the UW-Madison ICDS. The reel holds 2500 meters of 4-inch (10cm) diameter high-pressure hose. It is one of the biggest pieces of equipment ever made in the PSL shop. PSL subcontracted out the fabrication and welding of the largest parts. Mechanical engineers Bill Mason and Lee Greenler designed the hose reel and drive system; CAD specialist Amy Pagac made the fabrication drawings.

The hose reel is mounted onto three large skis to facilitate its movement over snow. Major components of the hose reel assembly are made of steel; the end flanges are aluminum. Weight of each component has been minimized to lower the cost of transportation and to meet weight restrictions for air transportation. The skis are designed wide enough to prevent the hose reel from sinking into the packed snow. The whole hose reel was designed to be disassembled into pieces "small" enough to ship by cargo aircraft to the South Pole. The drive system has been designed and constructed at PSL. Final assembly of the hose reel and testing was done at PSL. The hose reel has been disassembled, shipped, and reassembled at the South Pole.

Two outrigger skis and one wide center ski provide stable support and acceptable loading on the snow.

Ice Cube is the successor of AMANDA. In the most recent Ice Cube installation season, 12 holes were drilled and 12 DOM strings were installed in the ice, on track with the project schedule and completion of 80 strings total in 2011.

Check out PSL in action! Visit our EHWD Selected Photos page for a sampling, or the PSL FTP directory for EHWD showing construction progress by week.