Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Propane sub

["Herve Jaubert" <caribsub@coqui.net>]

Hi Craig,
I sure do assume that you are aware of the risks of propane, but not
everybody on this forum is aware, you say yourself that there are risks, my
purpose is to say why taking the chance when you know there are risks?
Long time  ago on a military frogman mini sub, I experienced a violent
explosion in a ballast because of hydrogen.  Under this design (same as
yours but working with Hydrogen)  It was not suppose to happen, but it did,
because H , like Propane are explosives gazes and are very keen to ignite.
An electrostatic spark which are the most unpredictible, ignited the
hydrogen blowing up half of my sub with no arm to myself fortunately. I
assume you included in your design an anti electrostatic spark system and
It will cost you a fortune to design an explosion proof ballast system. If
you dont,  name your sub : "Kaiten" as of the suicide WWII japanes mini sub.
 Besides any other systems in the sub, pumps, blower, motors,  anything will
have to be explosion proof. As of my knee jerk reaction it is simply based
on 18 years experience in military mini subs.
I beleive there is no competition because no one would design a sub that
would go in the opposite direction of safety regulations and therefore
difficult to sell.
Herve Jaubert
Caribbean Submarines

----- Original Message -----
From: <CWall@swri.edu>
To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2000 5:05 PM
Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Propane sub


> Herve, your objection is a common one,  which is exactly why I am spending
the
> effort to work up the design.  (Surely you didn't think I actually NEEDED
to be
>  told what the risks are, did you?)
>
> BTW, I make my living designing vehicular fuel cell installations.   I'm
quite
> aware of the state of the art, and PEMFCs operating on propane reformate
> haven't escaped my attention. But don't hold your breath- 98% of all the
fuel
> cell stuff you are hearing about these days is WAY oversold.
>
> Just to keep down the worrywarts, the vehicle is still in the initial
design
> stage, and I won't have any reluctance to abandon the propane option if I
> become convinced that the problems that relate to risk are insurmountable.
But
>  the typical knee-jerk reaction against it is a good indicator to me that
> people really haven't thought about it in depth, and that's what I do
best:
> examine options that everyone else is reluctant to even think about.  And
while
>  the chances of success are often not high, at least the competition is
usually
>  non-existant.
>
> Craig Wall
>
>