Electro‐Expulsive Separation System Shipboard Applications

• Published in: Naval Engineers Journal
• Main Authors: EMBRY, G.D., ERSKINE, R.W., HASLIM, L.A., LOCKYER, R.T., McDONOUGH, P.T.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1990
• Subjects: Bering Sea; Alaska
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-3584.1990.tb00900.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1559-3584.1990.tb00900.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1559-3584.1990.tb00900.x

THE AUTHORS 6 ABSTRACT Shipboard weather deck ice removal is a laborious, time consuming, dangerous task. The current operational scenario consists of sailors wielding hickory baseball bats. This paper describes a viable alternative, the Electro‐Expulsive Separation System (EESS), originally developed by NASA. EESS technology has been designed to remove ice from aircraft surfaces. Developmental testing, which led to acceptance of this new device, is discussed together with its theory of operation. The resultant aircraft applications are described. The need to adapt this aircraft technology for shipboard applications is recognized by the Navy, the Coast Guard, the State of Alaska, and the commercial shipbuilding industry. Fishing vessels risk sinking every winter due to excessive ice accumulation on their decks and superstructure. Navy and Coast Guard cold water operations have been hampered for centuries due to severe ice accumulation during inclement weather. With the encouragement and cooperation of the State of Alaska, an EESS test program was formulated and subsequently conducted aboard an Alaskan Resources vessel in the Bering Sea. This testing is described, with lessons learned. Future test programs are identified, requisite for successful adaptation of this technology to combat and commercial shipboard applications.