----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 12:15
AM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] hydrogen
considerations and oil/air pressure equalization. Bill Akins.
Hi Brian.
Although oil is an alternative to air
equalization of a battery pod or motor, in my opinion it has its
disadvantages. True...since oil does not compress or expand like air (except
from heat), you do not have to have a system that constantly monitors your
pressure
and injects more oil to compensate for outside
water pressure. But oil is messy. Hard to get all the air voids out of your
motor unless you put the oil in under a slight vacuum and use bleeder screws
(like in a car's brake system).
You do not want to completely cover your
batteries with oil and this still leaves a
substantial air void in the battery pod that is not equalized. According
to Minnkota using oil (some folks use transformer oil) can gum up the
brushes on brush motors.
Oil also slows down the rpm of your motor
somewhat depending on what viscosity of oil you use, but no matter how thin
the oil it does slow the rpm even if just slightly.
When your motor gets warm or hot the oil can
expand and blow out your shaft seal unless
you use an oil bladder bag or tube that attaches to the motor and allows
expanding oil from the heat in the motor to flow into the bag so you don't
blow a seal, and also if you have any slight seepage leak of oil, the oil
bladder if put under slight pressure will replace any lost oil and the
slight positive pressure of the oil in the bladder will keep any water
out.
By attaching an oil filled bladder via a
tube to the motor and allowing a section of
the tube to hang BELOW the motor housing, you can utilize
Pascal's law that dictates that any liquid
that is within a closed container (tube) and becomes pressurized at the
lowest point of that container (tube) will impart that same pressure to
the overall container, thus always keeping your oil in your motor housing
just under a slight positive pressure since the tube hangs below the motor and
is slightly pressurized more than the water pressure on the motor.
The oil itself is not compressed here, but it is pressurized. Think of a hot water bottle.
Water/oil can not be compressed. If you open the hot water cap it will dribble
out right? But if you open it and stomp on it the water will shoot out. It is
not compressed but it is pressurized. Pascal's
law applies here if you have an oil bladder or oil filled tube from that
bladder hanging below your motor. But overall I think oil
equalization is more trouble for me than it is worth. It might be more
viable at greater depths where constant air supply for heavy equalization
could be a consideration, but considering the depths I am going to
be diving my wetsub at are normal scuba depths
no greater than a max of 100 feet, I believe after much thought
that the air equalization system is the one I will use.
Some people like oil and others like air
equalization. I think using an air tank and scuba regulator for motor and
battery pod pressure equalization is far less messy and easier to do than
using oil for my particular purposes.
As long as I use a hydrolator and hydrocaps
from the Hydrocap Corporation which converts the hydrogen back into water in
the batteries and the battery compartment itself, I should not have any
problem with any sparks from the motor igniting hydrogen
with my battery pod and motor being
joined via flexible conduit.
If you contact the hydrocap corporation ask for
Mr. George Peroni.
Here is a brief description of what hydrocaps
do....
WE MAKE WATER FROM YOUR GAS
Hydrogen and
oxygen battery gas catalytically recombined into purewater and returned to
each battery cell. Keeps battery topped off for extended periods of time and
reduces maintenance costs. Explosive hydrogen gas is virtually eliminated from
the battery area. Corrosive spray and fumes are contained and washed back into
each battery cell. Electrolyte kept strong longer, extending the useful power
and life of the battery. HYDROCAP Vents simply replace the battery?s caps.
Battery maintenance is greatly reduced. Write or call for more
information.305-696-2504 975 NW 95 St.Miami, FL 33150
Kindest Regards,
Bill Akins.
Is flooding with oil not and option for
you?
Brian
----- Original Message -----
From: <SFreihof@aol.com>
To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Sent:
Wednesday, January 26, 2005 6:55 PM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Wetsub
carrier water transport systems
> I would think inline one-way
check valves could isolate the components so no hydrogen rich air from the
batteries can enter the motor housings. Perhaps you could use one
supply line with the batteries check-valved and downstream from the motor,
but I think two separate check-valved ambient supply lines would be best to
isolate the components. The downside is that check valves will create
some pressure drop in the ambient supply line, so pressurization will lag
behind by a few psi during descent. Or so I suppose...
>
> Stan
>
>
> In a message dated 1/25/2005 3:09:53
PM Eastern Standard Time, "Akins" <lakins1@tampabay.rr.com>
writes:
>
> >It could possibly be if I were not going to use
hydrolators and hydrocaps which absorb any hydrogen and convert it into
water.
> >Plus although there are trace amounts of hydrogen made
during discharge, most ot the hydrogen is made when you charge and
>
>I will be using the forced air while charging and not running the motor
at that time as well. But good thinking though Vance.
> >Those
hydrolators and hydrocaps had BETTER work. Lol. Nobody ever says subs are
safe. Even just scuba diving isn't safe.
> >Heck, living isn't
safe, it means you're going to die. Lol. But I will do my best to make it as
safe as POSSIBLE.
> >
> >I guess it would be possible to
seperate them. By NOT equalizing the pod and plugging the ends of the tubes
that carry the wires from
> >the pod to the motor, and then
carefully epoxying each end of each and every single wire to insure there
was an airtight seal between the
> >wire's insulation and the wire
strands so to preclude any air or hydrogen leakage thru the strands. I could
crimp fittings onto the end of the wires
> >and then carefully
expoxy over the insulation and the strands leaving only the round connector
fitting not epoxied and insuring there was no missed
> >spots where
air could leak thru the strand. I probably could do that and will further
consider it. But for now unless I change my mind I am
> >banking on
the hydrolator and hydrocaps. But again good thinking Vance. Keep helping me
ok? I can use all I can get.
> >
> >
> >Kindest
Regards,
> >Bill Akins.
> >
> > ----- Original
Message -----
> > From: Ron
> > To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 11:14 AM
> > Subject: RE:
[PSUBS-MAILIST] Wetsub carrier water transport systems
> >
>
>
> > Isn't having your motor and battery in the same air comp
loop an invitation for a hydrogen gas
explosion?