Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Hydrogen Peroxide

["Captain Nemo" <vulcania@interpac.net>]

----- Original Message -----
From: <SJSVOB@aol.com>
To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2000 4:02 PM
Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Hydrogen Peroxide


> I've been reading about Hydrogen Peroxide rocket engines.  Hydrogen
Peroxide is H2O2.  An H2O2 monopropellent rocket simply passes the H2O2 over
a catalyst, i.e. silver plated mesh screen, which causes the fuel to
decompose into H2O and O2.  The rocket backpack uses this principle.  Other
rocket engines using H2O2 may have the fuel react with gasoline.
>
> Ok my question is, does anyone know of anyone using H2O2 for life support?
You could have a tank of H2O2 and use it to slowly release O2 into the cabin
as needed.  No high pressure tank required.
>
> Stephen Svoboda

Hi Stephen,

I thought about using hydrogen peroxide several years back.  Went to the
local chemical supply to ask about it; they turned pale.  "We won't even
keep that stuff around here!" they told me.  "Too unstable.  Prone to
exploding."  I read Helmut Walter had an HP boat; said contamination during
fueling was a problem, any little thing could set it off.  Generally, I
think everyone would agree it's pretty dangerous stuff, and best left to the
rocket scientists.

Ordinary life support systems seem good enough for most folks; why do you
want to go exotic?  I've heard the idea of using Liquid Oxygen in a Dewar
jar to increase onboard storage; but for most purposes, I think good ol'
pressure tank storage of gaseous O2 what most folks would recommend.

Hope this helps,

Pat Regan