QinetiQ, who lead the world in the provision of Submarine Escape, Rescue, Abandonment & Survival (SMERAS) Support Services and Diving & Life Support Services, has re-commissioned its Hyperbaric Trials Unit (HTU) following an extensive refit. The HTU joins an array of specialist equipment that forms the recently opened Diving and Hyperbaric Test Centre based in Haslar, Portsmouth.
The HTU is a versatile, two compartment chamber that can be used for the testing and evaluation of undersea and hyperbaric systems. It will specifically enable the assessment of submarine escape and diving systems and components.
Certified to test equipment to 1500m, it has a unique capability to re-create the actual pressure profiles experienced underwater, completely independent of the performance of the components under test. The HTU delivers a powerful and proven capability that can be applied in the defence industry and in commercial sectors such as the offshore oil and gas industry.
“The Hyperbaric Trials Unit delivers substantial cost savings to submarine operators and diving/escape equipment suppliers by using a controlled environment to test complete systems and individual components prior to conducting essential, but expensive, sea trials. The HTU is capable of testing the full functionality of a remote underwater operating vehicle and is now available for use by both defence and commercial customers,” said Andy Dinsdale, Head of Maritime Life Support, QinetiQ.
“During the programme to develop a tower escape system for the Italian Navy TODARO Class submarines Fincantieri made extensive use of the QinetiQ HTU to test components under realistic escape pressure profiles. By using the HTU to support component selection and demonstrate component performance/calibration prior to installation we reduced the risks of the project and proceeded to sea trials with confidence in the final escape tower design. Using the HTU definitely saved us time during the on-board tests,” observed Davide Mioni, Senior Project Engineer, Submarine Platform Subsystems, Fincantieri.
[mappress] Subsea World News Staff , June 13, 2012; Image: QinetiQ