Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Sgt. Peppers O2 consumption rate question.

[SFreihof@aol.com]

Just a few notes on the subject...

O2 consumption is mostly dependent on workload and/or stress.  Carsten's 
figure of 1/2 liter per minute is for a person at rest.  Under exertion, 
consumption can rise as high as 2 liters/minute.

Breathing is affected most by elevated carbon dioxide levels (partial 
pressure CO2 up to  0.05 atm) not by low oxygen levels.  The discomfort you 
feel after 45 minutes in your unreplenished sub is not low oxygen, but high 
carbon dioxide.  All things equal, I'd rather have my scrubber outlast my 
oxygen because I would rather go from low 02 (sleepy) than high CO2 
(suffocating).

None of this really applies to me.  Since I'm into the ambient scene, I don't 
recycle... I just run out of air...

Stan





In a message dated 11/28/00 8:32:50 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
vulcania@interpac.net writes:

<< That's about what I was getting in the NAUTILUS without any life support
 system; after about 45 minutes, it started getting hard to breathe.  I
 figure the volume of the pressure hull was about 35 cubic feet (about 991
 liters?), and she displaces about 2225 lbs. about 1011.36 kilos).
 
 So, given these specifications about my submarine hull and life support
 system, do you still think my new 20 cubic foot O2 bottle will last me about
 37 hours? >>