Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] CO2 Scrubbers

[John Brownlee <jonnie@cobweb.scarymonsters.net>]

	Huh. A few years back I worked with the Space Engineering Research
Center out here in Tucson on building a re-breather for Martian atmosphere.
The idea was to use a ceramic electro-chemical cell to convert (2) CO2 into
(2) CO + O2 to scavenge oxygen from a primordial carbon dioxide
atmosphere. The neat things about the cells was that they were extremely
efficient as pumps over three orders of magnitude of pressure
differentials, from Martian atmosphere ambient (12 microbars) up to some
fraction of terrestrial that evades me. It was a neat problem, but most
life-support concepts from space exploration are addressing different
systematic needs and facilities. The Mars Re-breather was excellent at
using electricity to split CO2 into O2 and CO, but we had a big planet to
put that carbon monoxide exhaust in! In a sub, the scale of the system you
are trying to close up is very different. A lot of regenerative
closed-system life support has a minimum scale at which it functions. This
scale is bigger than most P-subs.

	As an aside, regenerative life-support is excellent for when you
decide to become a Bond-ian underwater villain and have to build a secret
base. I think we've killed this horse before though. ;-)
 
	Zubrin's Mars Society has been constructing a mock-up Mars base on
Devon Island in Canada, and several very experienced closed-circuit
regenerative live support system people are involved. You might want to
check out their web site at:

	http://www.marssociety.org

	Realistically, I think Vance has this right. The airplane
barometer/sock 'o sofnolime/O2 cylinder system is a lot easier to make
reliable. That's what I was looking for in my scrubbers.

							John

John Brownlee
Chief Systems Administrator
Scary Monsters Network
jonnie at scarymonsters dot net