Rebreather World - View Single Post - General design question

Genesis · 3rd October 2006, 02:22

As I close in on something actually divable for the K1, I'm looking at some final things I can add - or not - to the design.

One of the issues is "total" flood recovery.

I have an OPV (drysuit dump valve, really, Poesidon's "no backflow" design) on the exhale lung, down low, to clear water that gets into the loop via the mouthpiece or into the exhale side. Theoretically, water that gets into the scrubber may end up there / can be rolled to there.

But in a full-on flood, where the loop is badly compromised, you're unlikely to be able to drain it all that way. There is no provision to drain on the inhale lung as it stands, and none directly on the cannister. Of course if you get flooded THAT bad, you might also have a cocktail problem...... water traps or no!

How significant is this capability (e.g. a dump in the cannister) in the real world?

I know a number of units have no real capability to recover a full-on flood. I've mixed feelings on this - a flood that is caused by a severe loop compromise (e.g. torn hose) is not recoverable anyway, as you can't fix that problem underwater, so you're left iwth a bail irrespective of other considerations.

So..... draining water from the exhale lung, yes. Is more capability than that useful? It seems to me that there's a ying and a yang - the yang being that an OPV on the cannister bottom, for example, could stick open and cause a flood instead of curing one!

Anyway, thoughts of those with experience with "both worlds" would be helpful as I start buttoning things up and preparing to actually dive this beast.....

3rd October 2006, 02:22	#1 (permalink)
Genesis Bubbless Box of Death Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Home Build Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sunny Florida Posts: 1,395	General design question - flood recovery.... As I close in on something actually divable for the K1, I'm looking at some final things I can add - or not - to the design. One of the issues is "total" flood recovery. I have an OPV (drysuit dump valve, really, Poesidon's "no backflow" design) on the exhale lung, down low, to clear water that gets into the loop via the mouthpiece or into the exhale side. Theoretically, water that gets into the scrubber may end up there / can be rolled to there. But in a full-on flood, where the loop is badly compromised, you're unlikely to be able to drain it all that way. There is no provision to drain on the inhale lung as it stands, and none directly on the cannister. Of course if you get flooded THAT bad, you might also have a cocktail problem...... water traps or no! How significant is this capability (e.g. a dump in the cannister) in the real world? I know a number of units have no real capability to recover a full-on flood. I've mixed feelings on this - a flood that is caused by a severe loop compromise (e.g. torn hose) is not recoverable anyway, as you can't fix that problem underwater, so you're left iwth a bail irrespective of other considerations. So..... draining water from the exhale lung, yes. Is more capability than that useful? It seems to me that there's a ying and a yang - the yang being that an OPV on the cannister bottom, for example, could stick open and cause a flood instead of curing one! Anyway, thoughts of those with experience with "both worlds" would be helpful as I start buttoning things up and preparing to actually dive this beast..... __________________ "A venturesome minority will always be eager to get off on their own, and no obstacles should be placed in their path; let them take risks for Godsake, let them get lost, sunburnt, stranded, drowned, eaten by bears, buried alive under avalanches - that is the right and privilege of any free American." http://www.denninger.net http://www.diversunion.org/liability.htm - Fix the Diving Cert racket
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