Diaphragm defined Malone Cycle Refrigerator

Vertical Line Arrays (VLAs) have the potential of significantly improving the performance of underwater acoustic systems in shallow water scenarios. Realizing this improved performance in a low storage volume, cost effective system is dependent on an Integrated Hydrodynamic Deployment System which ensures optimal acoustic performance of the Navy's VLA. Creare proposes to develop such a system which will provide for constant and optimal VLA configuration over the range of operational conditions. Specifically, Creare's system will utilize a Buoyant Lifting Body (BLB) with a faired VLA. The BLB will provide a vertical tension force on the VLA which increases with current speed resulting in a constant lift-to-drag-ratio and a constant array configuration, for the range of currents. For optimal survivability, the BLB will be inflated with ployurethane foam. Creare's integrated approach to VLA deployment sytem hydrodynamics in synergy with the Navy's acoustic sensor package will allow the superior performance of VLA acoustic sensors to be realized in shallow water scenarios.