Gas assisted ice body damage apparatus and method in a submerged environment

Abstract

The application provides a gas-assisted ice body damage device and method in a submerged environment, which realizes contactless ice melting and ice breaking in a gas-assisted manner, reduces equipment wear and noise compared with a mechanical cutting method, and has the advantages of simple principle and operation and low maintenance cost; meanwhile, the high-energy beam used in the application can be continuously transmitted in the gas channel to realize fast and effective ice melting, and has the advantages of simple operation, high ice melting efficiency, high controllability of ice breaking range, accurate positioning, low noise, and no pollution and damage to the environment; finally, the application releases compressed gas underwater to create a gas channel as a propagation path of various energy beams, so that energy loss of the energy beams in the water can be effectively avoided, and the purpose of accurate, fast and efficient melting and breaking of the ice layer is achieved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application belongs to the technical field of ice breaking, and particularly relates to a gas-assisted ice body damage device and method in a submerged environment. BACKGROUND

[0002] About 50% to 70% of the Arctic region is covered by ice all year round, which brings great challenges to ships and underwater vehicles sailing in the polar region. In the existing technical means, the mainstream ice breaking method is still mechanical impact. For example, the ice breaking ship usually uses the propeller to break the ice layer or uses its own gravity to crush the ice layer when breaking the ice. However, if the ice layer is thick enough, the ice breaking method of the traditional ice breaking ship cannot meet the specific ice damage requirements. The use of the rising of the underwater vehicle to break the ice has high requirements for the shape and material of the vehicle. At the same time, this method of breaking ice only relying on the shell strength not only causes structural damage to the vehicle, but also has low ice breaking efficiency, and it is still difficult to break some super-thick ice. In addition, in order to explore the micro-physical properties and evolution law of sea ice, underwater robots and submersibles are needed to dive into the polar region for research, and high-quality and high-precision on-site investigation data are needed. Therefore, how to more efficiently, safely and accurately damage the ice body in the underwater submerged environment has become a problem to be solved in the polar navigation and exploration.

[0003] The underwater ice body damage device can directly melt or break the ice layer to achieve the purpose of ice breaking or ice taking. On the other hand, by pre-punching or generating pre-cracks in the ice layer to weaken the mechanical strength of the ice layer, support can be provided for further ice breaking of underwater robots and submersibles. The existing underwater ice breaking device can achieve the purpose of ice body damage through mechanical cutting, high-pressure gas impact, jet impact, chemical explosion, laser scanning and other technologies. The patent with the patent application number 202410029404.7 discloses an auxiliary ice breaking device and ice breaking method of an underwater vehicle hydraulic lifting mechanism, which can effectively cut the ice layer, thin the thickness of the ice layer, reduce the strength of the ice layer, and then assist the underwater vehicle to reserve buoyancy to achieve the effect of ice breaking. This mechanical cutting method is easy to realize automation, but the device is large in size, high in maintenance cost, and slow in cutting speed, and loud in noise. The patent with the patent application number 202111121274.2 discloses an underwater high-pressure air gun ice breaking system applied to polar ocean ice breaking. High-pressure gas is filled into the high-pressure container once, and multiple ice breaking operations can be performed. This method damages the ice layer by continuously spraying high-pressure gas and forming pressure pulses, but requires high gas pressure and multiple impacts to effectively break the ice, which has low ice breaking efficiency and complex structure of the high-pressure air gun, which is difficult to process.

[0004] Patent application number 201910767721.8, entitled "An Experimental Device for High-Speed ​​Water Jet Icebreaking Experiment," discloses a high-speed water jet icebreaking experimental device that can analyze the influence of different parameters on the damage characteristics of ice plates during the coupling process between high-speed water jets and ice surfaces. However, this patent and existing patents only consider the jet in the air medium and do not consider the influence of submerged jets. Underwater jet impact needs to overcome seawater resistance, which places high demands on jet equipment and impact strength. Patent application number 202111121274.2, entitled "An Under-Ice Icebreaking Launch Device and Method," can directly launch icebreaking projectiles under the ice surface for explosive icebreaking. It has the advantages of strong icebreaking capability, fast icebreaking launch speed, good concealment, and no limitation on projectile size. However, the explosive intensity of the icebreaking projectile is difficult to control, it is noisy, and the shock wave generated by the explosion may damage the hull and underwater vehicles, thus posing certain safety hazards. Patent application number 202110394651.3, entitled "An Underwater Laser Icebreaking Device and Method," uses seawater as the underwater propagation medium and employs a high-power-density laser beam to irradiate the ice surface from underwater to break the ice. The icebreaking process does not cause significant damage to the ice layer itself and is characterized by low noise and no pollution. However, the laser is affected by the seawater, resulting in some energy loss during transmission and significantly reducing the icebreaking effect.

[0005] Therefore, existing icebreaking technologies can achieve underwater ice damage through various methods such as mechanical cutting, high-pressure gas impact, jet impact, chemical explosion, and laser scanning. However, due to the significant influence of water resistance, they still suffer from drawbacks such as slow icebreaking speed, high noise, complex equipment, and low efficiency. The specific disadvantages of different ice damage methods are as follows:

[0006] (1) Mechanical cutting method uses a lifting mechanism in conjunction with milling cutters, hobs and other cutting tools to directly contact the ice layer to break the ice. This method is noisy and the equipment is large and has high maintenance costs.

[0007] (2) The pressure pulse penetration depth in the high-pressure gas impact method is limited, and a high gas source pressure is required to break the ice effectively through multiple impacts. The ice-breaking efficiency is low and the technology is complex.

[0008] (3) The jet impact method has a narrow range of action and is easily affected by water resistance. The jet's impact force on the ice layer will decrease significantly with the spray distance, and the equipment strength requirements are high.

[0009] (4) Chemical blasting has a great impact on water pressure. Not only is it noisy, but the shock waves it generates are likely to damage the submersible and cause damage to the aquatic environment.

[0010] (5) Existing laser scanning methods use water as the medium for propagation under ice, which results in some energy loss during transmission. In particular, the 10.6-micron infrared laser will have a significantly reduced effect on ice when breaking ice underwater. Summary of the Invention

[0011] To address the various shortcomings of existing ice-breaking technologies in submerged underwater environments, this invention provides a gas-assisted ice-damaging device and method for submerged environments, which features fast ice-breaking speed, simple operation, no pollution, low noise, high efficiency, and is unaffected by water resistance.

[0012] A gas-assisted ice damage device in a flooded environment includes a gas channel 3, a gas nozzle 4, a gas pump 5, a gas storage tank 6, an energy beam emitter 7, an energy beam controller 8, and a protective shell 9.

[0013] The air pump 5, the air tank 6, and the energy beam controller 8 are all housed within a waterproof protective housing 9; the energy beam emitter 7 is located at the top of the protective housing 9, and its outlet is located outside the protective housing 9; the gas nozzle 4 completely covers the outside of the energy beam emitter 7; the air pump 5 is connected between the air tank 6 and the gas nozzle 4 to control the flow rate of the gas output from the air tank 6; the energy beam controller 8 is connected to the energy beam emitter 7 to control the manner and magnitude of the energy beam output from the energy beam emitter 7; the gas channel 3 is located at the top of the protective housing 9, and the gas nozzle 4 is located within the gas channel 3.

[0014] Furthermore, the energy beam output by the energy beam emitter 7 is a laser beam, a high-pressure water jet, or an ultrasonic beam. When the energy beam is a laser beam, the energy beam emitter 7 is a solid-state laser, a gas laser, or a semiconductor laser.

[0015] Furthermore, the gas channel 3 is either a pre-installed pipeline gas cavity channel or a gas cavity channel without a pre-installed pipeline; wherein, when the gas channel 3 is a pre-installed pipeline gas cavity channel, the pipeline is made of metal or non-metal materials.

[0016] Furthermore, the gas in the gas storage tank 6 is air, O2, or N2.

[0017] Furthermore, the number of nozzles on the gas nozzle 4 can be single or multiple.

[0018] Furthermore, the air pump 5 is a centrifugal air compressor, an axial flow air compressor, or a scroll air compressor.

[0019] A gas-assisted ice damage method in a flooded environment includes the following steps:

[0020] S1: Determine the ice-breaking point based on the ice thickness, ice structure, water flow velocity, and water flow direction of the target water area, and move the ice damage device to a preset position below the ice-breaking point;

[0021] S2: Determine the air supply flow rate Q of air pump 5 based on the relative distance between the ice damage device and the ice surface.

[0022]

[0023] Where A is the cross-sectional area of ​​gas channel 3, v is the gas flow rate of air pump 5, h1 is the length of gas channel 3, h2 is the height of the upper outlet of gas channel 3 above the ice surface, d is the diameter of gas channel, k is a safety factor greater than 1, and ρ l ρ is the density of water in the flooded environment. g The density of the gas supplied by the air pump is given by ρ, and g is the acceleration due to gravity.

[0024] S3: Turn on the air pump 5 so that the gas channel 3 is completely filled with gas medium, and the transmission path of the energy beam is not affected by the water when it damages the upper ice body.

[0025] S4: Determine the output method and power of the energy beam based on the air temperature, ice thickness, ice structure, and energy loss;

[0026] S5: After determining the gas supply flow rate Q, the output mode and power of the energy beam, turn on the energy beam controller 8, and control the energy beam transmitter 7 to perform ice damage work through the energy beam controller 8.

[0027] Furthermore, in step S1, the thinner the ice layer, the deeper and longer the ice cracks, the more air bubbles in the ice layer, the lower the water flow velocity, and the more stable the water flow direction, the greater the probability of the area being selected as the ice-breaking point.

[0028] Furthermore, in step S4, in an environment of 0℃ to -20℃, high-pressure water jet or ultrasound is selected as the energy beam for ice breaking; in an environment below -20℃, high-temperature steam or laser is used as the energy beam for ice breaking; when the ice layer is thin ice or floating ice with a thickness of less than 10cm, ultrasound or high-temperature steam is used as the energy beam for ice breaking; when the ice layer is ice with a thickness of 10cm to 30cm, hot water jet, high-temperature steam, or low-power laser is used as the energy beam for ice breaking; when the ice layer is ice with a thickness of more than 30cm, high-pressure water jet or high-power laser is used as the energy beam for ice breaking.

[0029] Furthermore, when using laser as an energy beam for ice breaking, the output power of the laser and the ice melting time are determined based on the actual ice conditions and the energy status of the ice damage device.

[0030] The melting depth and melting time under different laser powers all satisfy the following relationship:

[0031]

[0032] Where t is the melting time, D is the melting depth, and a p b is the melting time coefficient related to laser power. p The melting time index is related to laser power;

[0033] When laser is used as the energy beam for ice breaking, the ice melting depth and ice melting energy consumption under different laser powers both satisfy the following relationship:

[0034]

[0035] Where E is the energy consumption for ice melting, and c p d is the ice-melting energy consumption coefficient related to laser power. p This is the ice-melting energy consumption index related to laser power.

[0036] Beneficial effects:

[0037] 1. This invention provides a gas-assisted ice-damaging device for submerged environments. It achieves non-contact ice melting and breaking through gas-assisted methods, reducing equipment wear and noise compared to mechanical cutting. It also boasts advantages such as simple principle and operation, and low maintenance costs. Furthermore, the high-energy beam used in this invention can be continuously transmitted in the gas channel for rapid and effective ice melting. The device is simple to operate, has high ice-melting efficiency, high controllability of the ice-breaking range, precise positioning, low noise, and does not cause environmental pollution or damage. Finally, by releasing compressed gas underwater to create a gas channel as a propagation path for various energy beams, this invention effectively avoids energy loss during propagation of different forms of energy beams in water, achieving precise, rapid, and efficient melting and breaking of the ice layer.

[0038] 2. This invention provides a gas-assisted ice damage method in a submerged environment. It proposes two methods for creating vertical gas channels in an underwater submerged environment: one with prefabricated pipelines and the other without. In the case of prefabricated pipelines, it proposes a method and formula for determining the gas flow rate required to displace the water. An energy beam is arranged in the underwater gas channel, which can accurately, quickly, and efficiently destroy the ice layer without being affected by water resistance. The energy beam can use various non-contact clean energy sources such as lasers and jets, resulting in less equipment wear, lower noise, and no environmental pollution.

[0039] 3. This invention provides a gas-assisted ice damage method in a flooded environment, and gives a method for selecting the optimal ice-breaking point in a flooded environment to maximize ice-breaking efficiency while ensuring the safety and stability of the vehicle; at the same time, this invention also gives the relationship between ice-melting time and ice-melting energy consumption and ice-melting depth when using laser as an energy beam for vertical ice breaking, providing a reference and basis for the selection of power during ice breaking. Attached Figure Description

[0040] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the gas-assisted ice damage device in a flooded environment provided by the present invention;

[0041] Figure 2 A flowchart illustrating the specific workflow of the gas-assisted ice damage method in an underwater submerged environment provided by the present invention.

[0042] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the pre-installed pipeline gas-assisted ice damage device provided by the present invention;

[0043] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the ice-melting process under vertical irradiation by lasers of different power provided by the present invention;

[0044] Figure 5 A schematic diagram showing the melting depth and melting time under different power laser irradiation provided by the present invention;

[0045] Figure 6 A schematic diagram showing the melting depth and melting energy consumption under different power laser irradiation provided by the present invention;

[0046] Figure 7 The schematic diagram of the gas-assisted ice damage device without pre-installed pipelines provided by the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0047] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0048] like Figure 1 As shown in the figure, this embodiment provides a schematic diagram of the principle of a gas-assisted ice damage method in a flooded environment. The flooded environment 2 is below the ice layer 1. The ice damage method is implemented using a gas channel 3, a gas nozzle 4, a gas pump 5, a gas storage tank 6, an energy beam emitter 7, an energy beam controller 8, and a protective shell 9.

[0049] Both the gas storage tank 6 and the energy beam controller 8 are housed within a waterproof protective shell 9. The energy beam emitter 7 is located at the top of the protective shell, with its outlet located outside the shell. The gas nozzle 4 completely covers the outside of the energy beam emitter 7. An air pump 5 is connected between the gas storage tank 6 and the gas nozzle 4 to control the output gas flow rate. The energy beam controller 8 is connected to the energy beam emitter 7 to control the output mode and magnitude of the energy beam. The energy beam experiences significant energy attenuation during transmission in an underwater submerged environment. This invention pre-establishes a gas channel in an underwater submerged environment, which eliminates the influence of water resistance and effectively reduces energy dissipation when the energy beam damages ice, thereby improving the device's ice-breaking and melting efficiency.

[0050] Optionally, the gas channel 3 can be a pre-installed pipeline gas cavity channel, which can be made of metallic or non-metallic materials, such as aluminum alloy, stainless steel, ceramic, plastic, etc., or it can be a gas cavity channel without pre-installed pipeline constructed from a single gas. The gas nozzle 4 can adopt different structures and materials, and the number of nozzles can be single or multiple. The air pump 5 can be a centrifugal air compressor, axial flow air compressor, scroll air compressor, etc. The gas in the gas storage tank 6 can be air, O2, N2, etc. The energy beam 7 can be a laser beam, high-pressure water jet, ultrasonic beam, etc. The laser beam can be a solid-state laser, gas laser, semiconductor laser, etc., and the laser output mode can be pulsed laser or continuous laser. The nozzle, gas channel, and protective shell can be made of metallic or non-metallic materials, such as aluminum alloy, stainless steel, ceramic, plastic, etc. The energy source can be not only a single energy beam, but also multiple energy beams or an array of energy beams in the gas auxiliary channel for ice damage.

[0051] Furthermore, the present invention provides a gas-assisted ice damage method in a flooded environment, such as... Figure 2 As shown, it includes the following steps:

[0052] S1: Taking into account the ice thickness, ice structure, and water flow velocity of the target water area, select a suitable ice-breaking point. Assess the overall ice thickness and structure of the water area, prioritizing the thinnest ice layer and locations with defects such as cracks or air bubbles as ice-breaking points. Additionally, consider the water flow velocity and direction, and choose a location with relatively calm water flow. After determining the suitable ice-breaking point, move the entire gas-assisted ice-damaging device to the preset position below the ice layer.

[0053] S2: Open the gas channel and extend it to a suitable position below the ice layer. The length of the fixed gas channel is h1, and the distance from the opening at the top of the channel to the ice-water interface is h2. Based on the liquid parameters and gas supply parameters of the submerged environment, select an appropriate gas supply rate Q.

[0054]

[0055] Where A is the cross-sectional area of ​​the gas channel (3), v is the gas flow rate of the air pump (5), h1 is the length of the gas channel (3), h2 is the height of the upper outlet of the gas channel (3) from the ice surface, d is the diameter of the gas channel, k is a safety factor greater than 1 determined according to the actual application requirements and conditions, and ρ l ρ is the density of water in the flooded environment. g The density of the gas supplied by the air pump is given by ρ, and g is the acceleration due to gravity.

[0056] S3: Turn on the air pump to create a gas path, ensuring that the gas path is entirely composed of gaseous medium, and that the transmission path of the energy beam is not affected by the water when it damages the upper ice layer.

[0057] S4: The output method and power of the energy beam are determined by comprehensively considering factors such as air temperature, ice thickness, ice structure, and energy loss. In environments with higher temperatures (0 to -20℃), the ice is relatively soft and less brittle, making high-pressure water jets or ultrasonic waves suitable for ice breaking. In environments with lower temperatures (above -20℃), the ice is hard and brittle, making high-energy beams such as high-temperature steam or lasers suitable for ice breaking. When the ice is thin (less than 10cm) or floating ice, it can be quickly softened and processed using ultrasonic beams or high-temperature steam without requiring excessive energy. When the ice is of medium thickness (10-30cm) and relatively dense, hot water jets, high-temperature steam, or low-power lasers can be used for penetration and cutting. When the ice is dense and solid (greater than 30cm) and thick, high-pressure water jets or high-power lasers are suitable for penetration and melting.

[0058] S5: After determining the air supply flow rate Q, the ice-breaking energy beam output mode and its power P, start the energy beam controller to perform ice damage work in order to maximize the ice-breaking efficiency.

[0059] The following describes in detail a gas-assisted ice damage device in a flooded environment, using the gas channel 3 with a pre-installed pipeline as an example.

[0060] like Figure 3 The diagram shows a schematic of a gas-assisted ice damage device with pre-installed pipelines in a flooded environment. Its working principle involves first pre-installing gas pipelines in the flooded environment to create a continuous gas channel, and then using a high-power energy beam to irradiate or impact the lower surface of the ice, forming a vertical cut, thereby achieving precise and efficient damage to the ice. Figure 3 The prefabricated pipelines constructed in the middle can isolate the pressure of the underwater submerged environment to a certain extent, thereby reducing the flow threshold for the air pump to displace water and making it easier to form gas passages. For example... Figure 3As shown, the entire device is located below ice layer 1 and in a water-submerged environment 2. The pre-installed pipeline gas-assisted ice damage device mainly includes:

[0061] The compressed gas release device includes a gas nozzle 4, an air pump 5, a compressed gas tank 6, a gas pipeline 10, and a shut-off valve 11. The compressed gas is stored in the gas tank 6, the air pump 5 is used to generate and control the gas flow rate, and the gas nozzle 4 is used to release the gas.

[0062] The air cavity channel 3 includes a pre-installed channel tube 301 and an exhaust port 302. The upper part of the exhaust port has a telescopic gripper 303, which can be fixed to the lower surface of the ice layer.

[0063] The energy beam emitting device includes an energy beam emitter 7, an energy beam controller 8, and control circuitry 12. The energy beam controller 8 can control and adjust the emission power. The energy beam emitter 7 is fixed to the lower part of the gas nozzle 4. After the gas channel is established, it can emit an energy beam to damage the ice.

[0064] In addition, the various parts of the gas-assisted ice damage device are separated from the flooding environment by the housing 9, forming an integrated device for easy application.

[0065] The specific steps for the device to damage ice in an underwater submerged environment are as follows:

[0066] The first step involves comprehensively considering factors such as ice thickness, ice structure, and water flow velocity in the target water area to select a suitable ice-breaking point. After determining the suitable ice-breaking point, the entire gas-assisted ice-damaging device is moved to a preset position below the ice layer.

[0067] The second step is to open the gas channel and extend it to a suitable position below the ice layer, and fix the upper telescopic gripper 303 of the gas pipeline to the bottom surface of the ice layer 1, so that the entire device remains relatively stationary with respect to the ice surface during the ice damage process.

[0068] The third step involves turning on the air pump 5 and the shut-off valve 11, selecting an appropriate air supply volume Q, and releasing the gas from the gas storage tank 6 into the gas channel 3 through the gas nozzle 4. The water in the gas channel 3 is gradually discharged through the upper exhaust port 302, creating a continuous and stable gas environment within the channel to ensure that the transmission path of the energy beam is not affected by the water when it impacts or melts the upper ice layer.

[0069] The fourth step involves setting the output mode and power of the energy beam through the energy controller 8 according to the actual ice damage requirements, and then turning on the energy beam controller 8 to enable the energy beam transmitter 7 to output the energy beam for ice damage.

[0070] Furthermore, the present invention is based on Figure 3The gas-assisted ice damage device with a pre-installed pipeline in a flooded environment is shown. The device was designed and the gas supply parameters were simulated and calculated. The energy beam is a continuous laser beam output from a CO2 laser. The entire casing is made of stainless steel, which effectively reduces water corrosion. The pre-installed pipeline 301 is made of stainless steel with a diameter d of 1.6 cm, a length h1 of 5 cm, and h2 of 1 cm. The gas nozzle 4 is an aluminum alloy single-nozzle nozzle. The gas in the gas storage tank 6 is air with a density ρ. g Take 1.3kg / m 3 The acceleration due to gravity g is taken as 9.8 m / s². 2 The safety factor k is taken as 1.03. If the water density ρ l 1000 kg / m 3 The minimum air flow rate Q required to drain the water was calculated to be 368.1 L / min. A centrifugal air compressor with a rated flow rate of 400 L / min was used as the air pump.

[0071] To simulate the ice-melting process of lasers in the absence of water, an ice damage experimental system based on a CO2 laser was designed and built, and the experiment was conducted in an air environment. The laser emission system was equipped with a laser power supply with a maximum power of 100W. 220V AC power was converted into DC high voltage by the laser power supply and applied to both ends of the laser tube to generate a CO2 laser beam. Figure 4 This diagram illustrates the ice-melting process under vertical irradiation by lasers of different power. Figure 4 As shown, the fused hole profile remains essentially vertical under different laser powers and irradiation times. The fused hole depth increases with increasing laser irradiation time, and the fused hole depth deepens with increasing laser power. As the fused hole deepens, the fused hole diameter gradually decreases, but as the laser power increases from 20W to 60W, the overall fused hole diameter becomes larger and more uniform.

[0072] Figure 5 The melting depth and melting time under different laser powers are shown in the figure. When the laser power is 20W, 40W, and 60W, the irradiation times to reach a melting depth of approximately 100mm are 32.2s, 17.2s, and 17.1s, respectively. From the start of irradiation to the end of melting, the average melting rates at each power are 3.11mm / s, 5.81mm / s, and 5.85mm / s, respectively. Based on the melting results under different laser powers, the melting depth and melting time are fitted. The melting depth and melting time under different laser powers all satisfy a unified relationship, namely:

[0073]

[0074] In the formula, t is the melting time (s); D is the melting depth (mm); a p b is the melting time coefficient related to laser power.p The melting time index is related to laser power;

[0075] The specific relationships for laser powers of 20W, 40W, and 60W are as follows:

[0076] t = 1.74D 0.61

[0077] t = 1.83D 0.5

[0078] t = 1.17D 0.56

[0079] In the formula, t is the ice melting time (s), and D is the ice melting depth (mm).

[0080] Figure 6 The melting depth and energy consumption under different laser powers are shown in the figure. When the laser power is 20W, 40W, and 60W, the laser energy consumption to achieve a melting depth of approximately 100mm is 640J, 680J, and 1020J, respectively. Based on the melting results under different laser powers, the melting depth and energy consumption are fitted. The melting depth and energy consumption under different laser powers all satisfy a unified relationship, namely:

[0081]

[0082] In the formula, E is the ice-melting energy consumption (J); D is the ice-melting depth (mm); c p d is the ice-melting energy consumption coefficient related to laser power. p The de-icing energy consumption index is related to laser power;

[0083] The specific relationships for laser powers of 20W, 40W, and 60W are as follows:

[0084] E = 35.11D 0.61

[0085] E = 73.27D 0.5

[0086] E = 70.32D 0.56

[0087] In the formula, E is the ice melting energy consumption in J; D is the ice melting depth in mm.

[0088] according to Figure 5 and Figure 6 It is known that for a given ice-melting depth, a higher laser power results in a shorter ice-melting time, but also increases laser energy consumption. Therefore, when using lasers for ice breaking, the laser output power and irradiation time should be determined comprehensively based on the actual ice conditions and the energy status of the device. The laser irradiation time is the ice-melting time.

[0089] Furthermore, Figure 7 A schematic diagram of a gas-assisted ice damage device without pre-installed pipelines in a flooded environment is provided. The entire device is located below the ice layer 1 and in a water flooded environment 2. Figure 7 and Figure 3 The gas compression and release device and the energy beam emission device are the same, but the way they create the gas channel is different. For example... Figure 7 As shown, this embodiment creates a continuous gas channel 3 directly through the gas nozzle 4 by increasing the gas flow rate. This method of creating the gas channel eliminates the need for pipes, reducing the complexity of the equipment. However, this device needs to overcome greater water pressure, therefore requiring a higher gas flow rate and a shorter distance from the ice surface to displace the water and form a continuous and stable gas channel.

[0090] Therefore, two methods for constructing vertical gas channels in underwater submerged environments are proposed: one with prefabricated piping and one without. Furthermore, for the method with prefabricated piping, a method and formula for determining the gas flow rate required to displace the water are presented. Various gases, such as air and N2, can be used as the gas source. Both types of gas channels can continuously and stably displace water, enabling unobstructed passage of the energy beam.

[0091] In summary, the gas-assisted ice damage device in a flooded environment provided by this invention has the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0092] 1. Existing mechanical ice-breaking methods involve bulky equipment, and the ice-cutting device needs to be in direct contact with the ice layer, resulting in high noise levels, impact and wear on the equipment, and high maintenance costs. The gas-assisted ice-damaging method used in this invention employs non-contact ice melting and breaking, which, compared to mechanical cutting methods, reduces equipment wear and noise, and has advantages such as simple principle and operation, and low maintenance costs.

[0093] 2. Existing high-pressure gas impact methods have limited penetration depth, require high gas source pressure and multiple impacts to effectively break ice, resulting in low ice-breaking efficiency and complex technology. The high-energy beam used in this invention, such as a laser, can be continuously transmitted in the gas channel for rapid and effective ice melting, and is simple to operate with high ice-melting efficiency.

[0094] 3. Existing chemical blasting methods are not only noisy, but the shock waves they generate can also damage underwater vehicles and harm the marine environment. The concentrated energy beams used in this invention, such as lasers and jets, offer high controllability of the ice-breaking range, precise positioning, low noise, and do not cause pollution or damage to the environment.

[0095] 4. Existing jet impact and laser scanning methods are easily affected by water resistance during ice breaking, resulting in significant energy attenuation during transmission. This invention, by releasing compressed gas underwater to create a gas channel as a propagation path for various energy beams, effectively avoids energy loss during propagation of different forms of energy beams in water, achieving precise, rapid, and efficient melting and destruction of ice layers.

[0096] Of course, the present invention may have other various embodiments. Without departing from the spirit and essence of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make various corresponding changes and modifications according to the present invention, but these corresponding changes and modifications should all fall within the protection scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A gas-assisted ice body damage device in a submerged environment, characterized by, The device comprises a gas channel (3), a gas nozzle (4), a gas pump (5), a gas tank (6), an energy beam emitter (7), an energy beam controller (8) and a protective shell (9); The gas pump (5), the gas tank (6) and the energy beam controller (8) are arranged in the waterproof protective shell (9); the energy beam emitter (7) is arranged at the top end of the protective shell (9), and the outlet of the energy beam emitter (7) is arranged outside the protective shell (9); the gas nozzle (4) is completely covered outside the energy beam emitter (7); the gas pump (5) is connected between the gas tank (6) and the gas nozzle (4), and is used for controlling the flow of the gas output by the gas tank (6); the energy beam controller (8) is connected with the energy beam emitter (7), and is used for controlling the mode and size of the energy beam output by the energy beam emitter (7); the gas channel (3) is arranged at the top end of the protective shell (9), and the gas nozzle (4) is located in the gas channel (3); The compressed gas released by the gas nozzle (4) under water creates the gas channel (3) as the propagation path of various energy beams, and at the same time, the compressed gas also impacts the ice body to be damaged, cooperates with the energy beam and destroys the ice body to be damaged.

2. A gas assisted ice body damage device in a submerged environment as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The energy beam output by the energy beam emitter (7) is a laser beam, a high-pressure water jet or an ultrasonic beam, wherein when the energy beam is a laser beam, the energy beam emitter (7) is a solid-state laser, a gas laser or a semiconductor laser.

3. A gas assisted ice body damage device in a submerged environment as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The gas channel (3) is a gas cavity channel of a preset pipeline or a gas cavity channel without a preset pipeline, wherein when the gas channel (3) is a gas cavity channel of a preset pipeline, the pipeline is made of a metal material or a non-metal material.

4. A gas assisted ice body damage device in a submerged environment as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The gas in the gas tank (6) is air, O2 or N2.

5. A gas assisted ice body damage device in a submerged environment as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The number of the gas nozzle (4) is single or multiple.

6. A gas assisted ice body damage device in a submerged environment as described in claim 1, wherein, The gas pump (5) is a centrifugal air compressor, an axial air compressor or a vortex air compressor.

7. A method of gas assisted ice damage in a submerged environment based on the gas assisted ice damage device of claim 1, characterized in that, The device comprises the following steps: S1: determining an ice-breaking point according to the ice layer thickness, the ice layer structure, the water flow speed and the water flow direction of a target water area, and moving the ice body damage device to a preset position below the ice-breaking point; S2: determining the air supply flow of the air pump (5) according to the relative distance between the ice body damage device and the ice surface : wherein, is the cross-sectional area of the gas channel (3), is the gas flow rate of the gas pump (5), is the length of the gas channel (3), is the height of the upper outlet of the gas channel (3) from the ice surface, is the diameter of the gas channel, is a set safety factor greater than 1, is the density of the water body in the submerged environment, is the density of the gas supplied by the gas pump, is the acceleration of gravity; S3: starting the gas pump (5) so that the gas channel (3) is completely filled with gas medium, and the transmission path of the energy beam is not affected by the water body when the energy beam damages the upper ice body; S4: determining the output mode and power size of the energy beam according to the air temperature, the ice layer thickness, the ice layer structure and the energy loss; S5: determining the supply air flow After the output mode and power of the energy beam are determined, the energy beam controller (8) is turned on, and the energy beam emitter (7) is controlled by the energy beam controller (8) to perform ice body damage work.

8. A method of ice body damage in a submerged environment with gas assistance as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that, In step S1, the thinner the ice layer, the deeper the ice layer crack, the longer the ice layer crack, the more the ice layer bubbles, the smaller the water flow speed and the more stable the water flow direction, the greater the probability of selecting the area as the ice-breaking point.

9. A method of ice body damage in a submerged environment with gas assistance as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that, In step S4, high-pressure water jet or ultrasonic wave is selected as the energy beam to break the ice in an environment of 0 ℃ to -20 ℃; high-temperature steam or laser is used as the energy beam to break the ice in an environment below -20 ℃; when the ice layer is thin ice or floating ice with a thickness less than 10 cm, ultrasonic wave or high-temperature steam is used as the energy beam to break the ice; when the ice layer is ice body with a thickness of 10 cm to 30 cm, hot water jet, high-temperature steam or low-power laser is used as the energy beam to break the ice; when the ice layer is ice body with a thickness greater than 30 cm, high-pressure water jet or high-power laser is used as the energy beam to break the ice.

10. A method of ice body damage in a submerged environment with gas assistance as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that, When laser is used as the energy beam to break the ice, the output power and ice melting time of the laser are determined according to the actual ice body working condition and the energy condition of the ice body damage device. The ice melting depth and the ice melting time under different laser powers satisfy the following relationship: wherein, is the ice melting time, is the ice melting depth, is the ice melting time coefficient related to the laser power, is the ice melting time exponent related to the laser power; When laser is used as the energy beam to break the ice, the ice melting depth and the ice melting energy consumption under different laser powers satisfy the following relationship: wherein, is the ice-melting energy consumption, is the ice-melting energy consumption coefficient related to the laser power, is the ice-melting energy consumption index related to the laser power.

Images