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Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] CO2 Scrubber
This sounds like the basic idea behind a lot of the homebuilt rebreathers.Sounds to me like the easiest way for you
to proceed would be to build a basic rebreather unit, and instead of a DSV, use a lower-face mask to cover your nose
and mouth to supply fresh air. ABS tubing is what a lot of guys are using for the scrubber canister, Apparently the
clear plastics like plexiglass and lexan do not like alkali. The unit I am working on uses a stainless tube for the
canister with a small tempered glass "sight window" from the hydraulics industry. Email me directly if you like, I
can provide some links and compare notes on my homebuilt unit.
Warrend Greenway wrote:
> Sure. Like I said, my tests aren't complete, so I don't know how well my specific design will work. But
> here is what I do know: CO2 scrubbers work by passing air through granulated calcium hydroxide. There is
> a reaction between the calcium hydroxide and the CO2 in the air. The by-products of this reaction are
> calcium carbonate and water. It is pretty ovious how this simple chemistry works. The trick is that calcium
> carbonate is what you start with when you make calcium hydroxide. You hydrate calcium carbonate (steam) to
> get the calcium hydroxide. This means that the water in the filter canister can be heated by an element to
> drive off the carbon from the calcium carbonate and produce CO2 and calcium hydroxide. The CO2 would need to
> be vented during this recharging process. The basic scrubber will consist of a canister with two screens, one
> on the top, and one on the bottom. Granulated calcium hydroxide is then lightly packed or "sandwiched" between
> the two filters to hold the medium in place. Air is then circulated through the canister. In rebreathers the
> air is forced to circulate with two one-way valves. (So it doesn't just stagnate somewhere along the line.) At
> this point I should mention that calcium hydroxide is standard slaked or hydrated lime, available at any hardware
> store for a few bucks a fifty pound sack. I am trying porous plastic for my scrubber filters, but you should be
> able to use plastic or stainless screen as well. Oh, and you have to remember that you will still need to slowly
> replenish the oxygen in your sub with oxygen or air from a scuba tank. You should be able to test you own designs
> for cheap with PVC or ABS pipe and fittings for your local hardware store.
>
> Warren.
>
> > Hi Warren!
> >
> > My name is Pierre and I'm building a dry-ambient sub. I was planning to use
> > a mouth-piece inside the sub but your mail about co2 scrubber raise my
> > interest. I don't know anything about scrubbers but by the way you are
> > talking about it, it sound pretty simple... Could you give me more details
> > about the system?
> >
> > Thank you very much!
> >
> > Pierre Poulin
> >
> >
> >
> > >From: "Warrend Greenway" <dub@linuxmail.org>
> > >Reply-To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
> > >To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
> > >Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST] CO2 Scrubber
> > >Date: Sun, 05 Jan 2003 06:03:33 +0800
> > >
> > I just picked up the parts for my "test" CO2 scrubber. It cost all of
> > $12.00. Has anyone else already done this? It's a pretty cheap test, but any
> > words of wisdom would be appreciated. I am using porous plastic for the
> > filters, PVC caps for the canister. I am going to use my welder
> > tanks and regulator to introduce a controlled flow of mixed gas. There will
> > be electronic CO2 sensors on the inlet and outlet so I can monitor
> > absorption rates. Filter medium will be slaked lime from the hardware store
> > granulated. I obviously won't be able to electrically recharge this test
> > scrubber...I'll know how it works as soon as I can assemble it!
> > >
> > >Warren.
> > >--
> >
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
> > MSN Messenger : discutez en direct avec vos amis !
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>
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