Thermohydraulic Drilling Probe for Studying Ice Sheets and the Subglacial Environment of the Earth and Others Heavenly Bodies

Abstract

A conceptual technology for increasing the thermal ice drilling rate under the impact of hydraulic force generated by a probe (or cryobot) is proposed. It increases the coefficient of thermal energy conversion into the energy of ice melting and increase the heat head power of the probe. A single-wire Tesla system is proposed for the probe power supply, which allows to decrease the cable capacity size and losses of transferred energy. A method of self-lifting to the ice surface probe usage is proposed. Self-lifting is possible by using hydraulic force (traction), allows to refuse lifting bearer cable usage. Principal designs of the probe (or cryobot) are introduced. They are based on thermal hydraulic drilling (THD) developed for investigation of thick (up to 5 km) glacier and subglacial water environments on the Earth, ice up to 30 km thick and the subglacial ocean of Europa (Jupiter's moon). These ideas could lead to a fundamental change in the design of drill-probes for penetration into ice crust. Realization of the conceptual project of the THD cryobot will allow to conduct research of glaciers and subglacial environments on the Earth and other planets without violation ice insulation with multiple savings of resources, energy and time.