wet sorb at the top of my scrubber

jojo l'affreux · 20th June 2007, 06:58

Hi all,

it is not the first time I find, after the dive, the sorb, on the upper part of the canister, wet.
As there is some condensation there, maybe it is from here the waters comes ?
Maybe it is also because I am shaking my meg after the dive (cave-diving) ?

Do you already expérience it on yours megs ?

Sorry for my poor english,

Nice to read you,

Frank.

Tom Blomberg · 20th June 2007, 08:13

Hello
I am no expert on this, but you can check the loop conections in the head.
there is some 0 ringes there that can be a problem and you can check the last end of the loop and the clips that hold the rubber to the delrine screw.

Is the pads in the head wet as well ?

my english is not that good eighter.

/tom

Ken · 20th June 2007, 10:06

I always find condensation droplets at the top of the acrylic canister. Nothing to worry about as the Meg is typically very dry. As suggested I would check the pads in the head and at the bottom for degrees of wetness . They are usually damp to the touch after a longish dive.

**Padipro** · 21st June 2007, 01:59

First, both of you have very good English. I understood every word you wrote.

Second, as Ken said there is always condensation in the scrubber canister after the dive but I have never had anything other then that. Even after a 2 1/2 hour dive the pads are moist and there is condensation in the canister but nothing else.

jojo l'affreux · 21st June 2007, 20:11

Hi all,

thanks for your replies.

As there is quite no water at the bottom of the canister, but some at the top of the scrubber; I don't think there problem is on the loop. Moreover the depression test is good after more than 5 minutes.

Maybe it is normal, but when I empty the scrubber, the sorb is really wet.
And I don't like that.

Maybe I am going to try an hydrophobic skin, as inside the Inspiration.

Cheers,

Frank.

divingabe · 21st June 2007, 21:07

Hi Frank,
My understanding of the chemical raction of the scrubber material will produce water and heat as a byproduct of the absorbtion of the co2. I believe that what you are describing is just normal operation of the unit, and that the condensation on top of the scrubber is normal, as is the damp sponge material on the bottom of the can. I also believe that encompassing the scrubber whith an hydrophobic material wil not stop what you are concerned with. The material will only come into play should you allow flooding into the can and protect the scrubber from getting soaked and therefore diminishing its ability to perform.
Gabe

mempilot · 21st June 2007, 21:35

I'm new to the Meg, but it would seem, 'if', there was a leak producing water at the top of the scrubber, it would come from the inhalation hose mounted directly over the center of the head, and the moisture pad in the head would be more wet than normal dampness. Also, you would probably notice a difference in moisture content of the sorb at the top of the scrubber vs. the bottom.

But, since it seems your positive and negative pressure checks on the loop are OK prior to, and maybe you check after the dive as well, then it's probably just condensation like everyone has already stated. There seems to be a lot of relative humidity in the loop after a dive, reasonably so, and this humidity turns to moisture droplets if the outside tempurature is cooler than the inside (cannister) temperature. ie. removing the head or loop hoses and letting outside ambient air temp/humidity in. Think dew formation. The gas inside the can, when cooled can no longer hold the water vapor in gas form.

As long as your moisture pads aren't dripping wet and there isn't pooling water in the top of the scrub, I'd think you have a normal situation.

Gilles · 22nd June 2007, 04:59

Quote: (Originally Posted by jojo l'affreux)

Maybe it is normal, but when I empty the scrubber, the sorb is really wet.
.

I'd like to see a photo of your wet sorb. Do you mean like dripping and soaking wet?

My guess is you have a leak on your inhale side. Any gurgling while diving?

jojo l'affreux · 28th June 2007, 19:55

Hi all,

yesterday, with a friend aslo with a Meg, we dived in a 14°C water during 175 min.

Back to the cars, we both open our canisters and find, looking at it, the upper part of the sorb wet (half of the canister).
There was nothing at the bottom of the scrubber.

It is looking like only condensation. Sorry, I couldn't shoot it, but I'll try next time.

We both dived with 1 - 2,5 sorb. Maybe phenomena is less visible with bigger granulometry.

Sure there is no leak on my meg, only condensation.
But I don't like that too much. What about efficiency of wet sorb ?

Cheers,

Frank.

***jradomski*** · 29th June 2007, 05:06

Quote: (Originally Posted by jojo l'affreux)

Hi all,

yesterday, with a friend aslo with a Meg, we dived in a 14°C water during 175 min.

Back to the cars, we both open our canisters and find, looking at it, the upper part of the sorb wet (half of the canister).
There was nothing at the bottom of the scrubber.

It is looking like only condensation. Sorry, I couldn't shoot it, but I'll try next time.

We both dived with 1 - 2,5 sorb. Maybe phenomena is less visible with bigger granulometry.

Sure there is no leak on my meg, only condensation.
But I don't like that too much. What about efficiency of wet sorb ?

Cheers,

Frank.

the sorb needs moisture for the chemical reaction.. as long as the sorb isnt turning to mush everything should be fine.. If I remember my numbers correct there needs to be something like a minimum of 20% moisture content for the ideal reaction, as this number drops so does the scrubber efficiiency...

20th June 2007, 06:58	#1 (permalink)
jojo l'affreux New Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South-east France Posts: 37	wet sorb at the top of my scrubber Hi all, it is not the first time I find, after the dive, the sorb, on the upper part of the canister, wet. As there is some condensation there, maybe it is from here the waters comes ? Maybe it is also because I am shaking my meg after the dive (cave-diving) ? Do you already expérience it on yours megs ? Sorry for my poor english, Nice to read you, Frank. __________________ http://www.plongeesout.com
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20th June 2007, 08:13	#2 (permalink)
Tom Blomberg New Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Åland (Finland) Posts: 70	Re: wet sorb at the top of my scrubber Hello I am no expert on this, but you can check the loop conections in the head. there is some 0 ringes there that can be a problem and you can check the last end of the loop and the clips that hold the rubber to the delrine screw. Is the pads in the head wet as well ? my english is not that good eighter. /tom __________________ http://www.dykarna.nu/?userId=105
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20th June 2007, 10:06	#3 (permalink)
Ken Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Megalodon Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 320	Re: wet sorb at the top of my scrubber I always find condensation droplets at the top of the acrylic canister. Nothing to worry about as the Meg is typically very dry. As suggested I would check the pads in the head and at the bottom for degrees of wetness . They are usually damp to the touch after a longish dive.
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21st June 2007, 01:59	#4 (permalink)
Padipro Supporting Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Florida Posts: 209	Re: wet sorb at the top of my scrubber First, both of you have very good English. I understood every word you wrote. Second, as Ken said there is always condensation in the scrubber canister after the dive but I have never had anything other then that. Even after a 2 1/2 hour dive the pads are moist and there is condensation in the canister but nothing else. __________________ Scott IANTD Megalodon IANTD Trimix TDI Adv Nitrox and Deco PADI MSDT It could be that the sole purpose of your life is only to serve as a warning to others. Before you attempt to beat the odds, be sure you could survive the odds beating you.
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21st June 2007, 20:11	#5 (permalink)
jojo l'affreux New Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South-east France Posts: 37	Re: wet sorb at the top of my scrubber Hi all, thanks for your replies. As there is quite no water at the bottom of the canister, but some at the top of the scrubber; I don't think there problem is on the loop. Moreover the depression test is good after more than 5 minutes. Maybe it is normal, but when I empty the scrubber, the sorb is really wet. And I don't like that. Maybe I am going to try an hydrophobic skin, as inside the Inspiration. Cheers, Frank. __________________ http://www.plongeesout.com
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21st June 2007, 21:07	#6 (permalink)
divingabe New Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sag Harbor Posts: 74	Re: wet sorb at the top of my scrubber Hi Frank, My understanding of the chemical raction of the scrubber material will produce water and heat as a byproduct of the absorbtion of the co2. I believe that what you are describing is just normal operation of the unit, and that the condensation on top of the scrubber is normal, as is the damp sponge material on the bottom of the can. I also believe that encompassing the scrubber whith an hydrophobic material wil not stop what you are concerned with. The material will only come into play should you allow flooding into the can and protect the scrubber from getting soaked and therefore diminishing its ability to perform. Gabe
(Online)

21st June 2007, 21:35	#7 (permalink)
mempilot What is this..terrafirma? Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Megalodon Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 1,179	Re: wet sorb at the top of my scrubber I'm new to the Meg, but it would seem, 'if', there was a leak producing water at the top of the scrubber, it would come from the inhalation hose mounted directly over the center of the head, and the moisture pad in the head would be more wet than normal dampness. Also, you would probably notice a difference in moisture content of the sorb at the top of the scrubber vs. the bottom. But, since it seems your positive and negative pressure checks on the loop are OK prior to, and maybe you check after the dive as well, then it's probably just condensation like everyone has already stated. There seems to be a lot of relative humidity in the loop after a dive, reasonably so, and this humidity turns to moisture droplets if the outside tempurature is cooler than the inside (cannister) temperature. ie. removing the head or loop hoses and letting outside ambient air temp/humidity in. Think dew formation. The gas inside the can, when cooled can no longer hold the water vapor in gas form. As long as your moisture pads aren't dripping wet and there isn't pooling water in the top of the scrub, I'd think you have a normal situation. __________________ MEM "Da Pilot" Black holes are where God divided by zero. "If at first you don't succeed, don't dive silent." "Would you mind not shooting at the thermo-nuclear weapons." ~ Vic Deakins "Donkey's kill more people annually than plane crashes."
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22nd June 2007, 04:59	#8 (permalink)
Gilles Worship the feminine Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Den Haag (Netherlands) Posts: 761	Re: wet sorb at the top of my scrubber Quote: (Originally Posted by jojo l'affreux) Maybe it is normal, but when I empty the scrubber, the sorb is really wet. . I'd like to see a photo of your wet sorb. Do you mean like dripping and soaking wet? My guess is you have a leak on your inhale side. Any gurgling while diving? __________________ Gilles http://www.dirrebreather.com
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28th June 2007, 19:55	#9 (permalink)
jojo l'affreux New Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South-east France Posts: 37	Re: wet sorb at the top of my scrubber Hi all, yesterday, with a friend aslo with a Meg, we dived in a 14°C water during 175 min. Back to the cars, we both open our canisters and find, looking at it, the upper part of the sorb wet (half of the canister). There was nothing at the bottom of the scrubber. It is looking like only condensation. Sorry, I couldn't shoot it, but I'll try next time. We both dived with 1 - 2,5 sorb. Maybe phenomena is less visible with bigger granulometry. Sure there is no leak on my meg, only condensation. But I don't like that too much. What about efficiency of wet sorb ? Cheers, Frank. __________________ http://www.plongeesout.com
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29th June 2007, 05:06	#10 (permalink)
*jradomski* Moderator Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Sport Kiss Optima rEvo Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Evolution Megalodon Classic Kiss rEvo Other CCR Home Build Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: "Da" Bronx Posts: 2,817	Re: wet sorb at the top of my scrubber Quote: (Originally Posted by jojo l'affreux) Hi all, yesterday, with a friend aslo with a Meg, we dived in a 14°C water during 175 min. Back to the cars, we both open our canisters and find, looking at it, the upper part of the sorb wet (half of the canister). There was nothing at the bottom of the scrubber. It is looking like only condensation. Sorry, I couldn't shoot it, but I'll try next time. We both dived with 1 - 2,5 sorb. Maybe phenomena is less visible with bigger granulometry. Sure there is no leak on my meg, only condensation. But I don't like that too much. What about efficiency of wet sorb ? Cheers, Frank. the sorb needs moisture for the chemical reaction.. as long as the sorb isnt turning to mush everything should be fine.. If I remember my numbers correct there needs to be something like a minimum of 20% moisture content for the ideal reaction, as this number drops so does the scrubber efficiiency... __________________ Joe Radomski CCR Trimix Instructor Trainer ANDI Instructor Trainer Director #10 All posts are personal opinions and DO NOT reflect any affiliated agency unless specifically stated.
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