Re: Fw: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Re: Ballast Tank design

[Floridarobots@aol.com]

In a message dated 9/2/01 11:52:27 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
Ray.Keefer@Sun.COM writes:


> Hi Tom,
>
> On the simpler PSUBS they are controlled manually. The top of the
> ballast tanks are piped into the hull where the valves are.  From the
> valve a second pipe goes out for venting the ballast tank. The
> operation is to manually turn the valve open and the ballast tanks
> flood as the air comes up the pipe, passed the valve, and out.  To work
> the valve and exhaust piping have to be arranged higher then the top of
> the ballast tank so are usually located in the conning tower.
>
> To blow the tanks dry a second valve is piped from your compressed air 
> (HPA) source and tee'ed into the pipe from your ballast tank.
>
>                                | <- vent pipe
>                           _____|____
>                           |    |   |
>                    _______|____O   |<- hull/conning tower
>                 __|__     |  |     |
>                |     | ^  |  O     |
>                |     | |     |
>                |__ __| |     |___HPA       O = valves
>                        |
>                 ^ ^    |____pipe
>                 | |____ flood hole
>                 |______ ballast tank  
>                 
> Safety concerns are:
>
> 1. The piping inside the hull needs to be able to handle the pressure 
>    differential between the outside ambient pressure and the inside 1atm
>    pressure. Else a pipe could burst, the interior floods, the hull
>    gets more negatively bouyant, sinks and you die.
>    
> 2. Each hull penetration of a pipe should also have a stop cock valve just
>    inside the hull. This is in case a valve or pipe springs a leak. Allows
>    you an opportunity to shut it off.
>    
> 3. The high pressure air needs to be reduced from the 3000lbs/cu in its
>    tank to some acceptable intermediate pressure that is 50 - 200 lbs/cu in
>    over the ambient pressure. Else you could burst pipes, over pressurize
>    your interior, pop out your view ports, flood, sink and you die.
>    
>    So reduce your HPA and/or beef up the piping and valves that you use.
>                 
> Regards,
> Ray


Thanks Ray....

 Now I have a question. Has anyone ever seen Karl Stanleys sub ? I read it 
had 16 valves to controll ... how did he get 16 valves in that small space 
and safety valves etc ???
What about electronic control...is it feasable ? Safe ? Who has used it if so 
on a GOOD sub ?

Tom Mitzlaff