Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Hydrogen Peroxide

["D. Blake" <dblake@bright.net>]

Hey Pat:
Every once in a while at the clinic I work at, we find ourselves admitting a
client that is on oxygen 24/7 which is really beyond the scope of our
facility, but because they are mentally ill we sometimes make exceptions.
Anyway, sometimes they come in with a big ol' bottle of liquid O2 attached
to some sort of apparatus that regulates the stuff so that it lasts for days
on end!  As a social work intern, I worked for short periods of time in
nursing homes and witnessed people who were dependent on this type of
therapy and as a consequence had survived years beyond what they normally
would have without it.
This string has peaked my curiousity.  I think we need to investigate the
possibilities of at least emergency O2 in the area of respiratory therapy.
You know, check out the mechanics involved with such a device to see how
difficult it would be to replicate ie. reverse engineering, or at least the
cost of off-the-shelf equipment.  Let me know what you think.
Big Dave
-----Original Message-----
From: Captain Nemo <vulcania@interpac.net>
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Date: Thursday, June 22, 2000 9:45 PM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Hydrogen Peroxide


>
>----- 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
>