Project Habakkuk and Pykrete Carriers
HistoryComments
how would the weight of the refrigeration machinery be distributed across a frozen hull?
Is "creative spirit" really the right term? This looks more like a failure of basic thermodynamics disguised as an innovation.
If we assume the refrigeration tech could be scaled, would it not be more creative to utilize a self-repairing hull? A vessel that could be patched with more ice and sawdust during a voyage is a compelling hypothetical.
I must disagree that it was a failure of thermodynamics. The thermal mass of a Pykrete structure is so immense that the energy required to maintain the temperature is surprisingly manageable relative to the ship's total volume.
The article mentions the refrigeration pipes, but the real context is the "Mid-Atlantic Gap." The desperation came from a specific geographic void where air cover was physically impossible with existing runway technology.
The material science was actually sound. Pykrete's compressive strength and resistance to penetration are objectively superior to pure ice.
This makes me think of how some modern ice roads are reinforced... I wonder if current arctic infrastructure uses similar composites for stability...