Crazy invention idea that just might work?

Question

Design a rechargeable lithium ion underwater backpack the size of two or three
scuba tanks.  (Lithium ion batteries are light weight and store more electrical
energy per unit volume then other battery technologies).

Use electricity employing hydrolysis to split water molecules (H2O) into its
constituent gases, namely hydrogen and oxygen.  Discard the hydrogen and collect
the oxygen from one of the electrodes.  Pipe the O2 to  the face mask - walla!

Simply plug in the pack to re-charge it before taking another dip.
No compressors needed!

SCUEBA = Self Contained Underwater Electrical Breathing Apparatus

There are other problems that need to be worked out, but you get the basic idea.
What are your comments, please.

billrussell42 · Accepted Answer

Goo through the numbers. Get the weight and size of the batteries, and calculate how much O2 they can generate before all the charge is gone.

Now take an actual O2 tank the same weight and see how much O2 it stores. 

Compare the two, I think you will see that the tank will have a lot more O2. A lot more.

.

Anonym · Answer

You would have to use a rebreather system, since pure oxygen is unsuitable for underwater use (it will fry your lungs). So that means that you have to absorb the exhaled CO2. The system to do this is way bigger than the system to supply oxygen, so you are not addressing the main problem with rebreathers. Also, rebreathers are inherently very dangerous which accounts for their lack of popularity.

The source below shows a recent attempt to develop an artificial gill.

Jay · Answer

Even if you were able to create enough oxygen fast enough to be better than current scuba tanks you still have another big problem to overcome. Scuba tanks are not pure oxygen, they're filled with air. Divers could get the bends breathing pure oxygen. And even when not diving, it's probally not good for you to breath it for a long period of time.

chrisadam64 · Answer

That's what nuclear submarines do. You sure there isn't a patent or anything? And I agree with billrussell, regular tank might be a lot easier, no dangerous hydrogen to deal with. You may as well just build a set of gills to extract dissolved oxygen directly.

maggie · Answer

A 'Mans Fart Bag', it operates the same way the 'Scooby Doo screambag 'works when Shaggy and Scooby see a monster ,and screamed loudly into it ,and let it out once out of earshot of the monster -well the fart bag could work in exactly the same way, you fart into it discreetly (lol) take it somewhere safe and environmentally friendly and release the gas into the wild. NB It is for men only, as we all know ,women do not fart ;-) Hope you feel happier now !

Bazza · Answer

I think you have got your chemistry a little skewed..... In salt water you will get hydrogen at the cathode and Hypochlorite (bleach) at the anode.... Hypochlorite bleach is derived when  Cl2 (chlorine) gas is evolved and is immediately adsorbed into the H20..... 
It may work in VERY fresh water where the NaCl is below 800ppm. but most fresh water has about 1000 ppm in it.

speedy60010 · Answer

i dont thing youll make enough O2 (fast enough) to support someone underwater

Crazy invention idea that just might work?

7 Antworten