Misplaced Pages

#13986

74-559: The Lambertsen Amphibious Respiratory Unit ( LARU ) is an early model of closed circuit oxygen rebreather used by military frogmen . Christian J. Lambertsen designed a series of them in the US in 1940 (patent filing date: 16 Dec 1940) and in 1944 (issue date: 2 May 1944). The LARU is what the initials SCUBA (Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) originally meant; Lambertsen changed his invention's name to SCUBA in 1952; but later "SCUBA", gradually changing to "scuba", came to mean (first in

148-415: A diurnal or semidiurnal (twice-daily) cycle caused by global atmospheric tides . This effect is strongest in tropical zones, with an amplitude of a few hectopascals, and almost zero in polar areas. These variations have two superimposed cycles, a circadian (24 h) cycle, and a semi-circadian (12 h) cycle. The highest adjusted-to-sea level barometric pressure ever recorded on Earth (above 750 meters)

222-550: A fire hazard, so the more successful applications have been for space-suits, fire-fighting and mine rescue. A liquid oxygen supply can be used for oxygen or mixed gas rebreathers. If used underwater, the liquid-oxygen container must be well insulated against heat transfer from the water. Industrial sets of this type may not be suitable for diving, and diving sets of this type may not be suitable for use out of water due to conflicting heat transfer requirements. The set's liquid oxygen tank must be filled immediately before use. Examples of

296-417: A large range of options are available depending on the specific application and available budget. A diving rebreather is safety-critical life-support equipment – some modes of failure can kill the diver without warning, others can require immediate appropriate response for survival. A helium reclaim system (or push-pull system) is used to recover helium based breathing gas after use by the diver when this

370-410: A location on Earth 's surface ( terrain and oceans ). It is directly proportional to the mass of air over that location. For numerical reasons, atmospheric models such as general circulation models (GCMs) usually predict the nondimensional logarithm of surface pressure . The average value of surface pressure on Earth is 985 hPa. This is in contrast to mean sea-level pressure, which involves

444-404: A loop configured machine has two unidirectional valves so that only scrubbed gas flows to the patient while expired gas goes back to the machine. The anaesthetic machine can also provide gas to ventilated patients who cannot breathe on their own. A waste gas scavenging system removes any gasses from the operating room to avoid environmental contamination. One of the functions of a space suit

518-516: A lower pressure in the suit which gives the wearer better freedom of movement. Submarines , underwater habitats , bomb shelters, space stations , and other living spaces occupied by several people over medium to long periods on a limited gas supply, are equivalent to closed circuit rebreathers in principle, but generally rely on mechanical circulation of breathing gas through the scrubbers. Atmospheric pressure Atmospheric pressure , also known as air pressure or barometric pressure (after

592-550: A naturally hypoxic environment. They need to be lightweight and to be reliable in severe cold including not getting choked with deposited frost. A high rate of system failures due to extreme cold has not been solved. Breathing pure oxygen results in an elevated partial pressure of oxygen in the blood: a climber breathing pure oxygen at the summit of Mount Everest has a greater oxygen partial pressure than breathing air at sea level. This results in being able to exert greater physical effort at altitude. The exothermic reaction helps keep

666-435: A number of hoses and electrical cables twisted together and deployed as a unit. This is extended to the divers through the diver umbilicals. The accommodation life support system maintains the chamber environment within the acceptable range for health and comfort of the occupants. Temperature, humidity, breathing gas quality, sanitation systems, and equipment function are monitored and controlled. An atmospheric diving suit

740-454: A pendulum rebreather. Breathing hoses can be tethered down to a diver's shoulders or ballasted for neutral buoyancy to minimise loads on the mouthpiece. A mouthpiece with bite-grip , an oro-nasal mask , a full-face mask , or a sealed helmet is provided so that the user can breathe from the unit hands-free. A store of oxygen, usually as compressed gas in a high pressure cylinder, but sometimes as liquid oxygen , that feeds gaseous oxygen into

814-427: A pressure of about 2 atmospheres (1 atm of air plus 1 atm of water). Conversely, 10.3 m is the maximum height to which water can be raised using suction under standard atmospheric conditions. Low pressures, such as natural gas lines, are sometimes specified in inches of water , typically written as w.c. (water column) gauge or w.g. (inches water) gauge. A typical gas-using residential appliance in

SECTION 10

#1732847779014

888-425: A primary and emergency gas supply. On land they are used in industrial applications where poisonous gases may be present or oxygen may be absent, firefighting , where firefighters may be required to operate in an atmosphere immediately dangerous to life and health for extended periods, in hospital anaesthesia breathing systems to supply controlled concentrations of anaesthetic gases to patients without contaminating

962-424: A standard lapse rate) associated with reduction of sea level from high elevations. The Dead Sea , the lowest place on Earth at 430 metres (1,410 ft) below sea level, has a correspondingly high typical atmospheric pressure of 1,065   hPa. A below-sea-level surface pressure record of 1,081.8 hPa (31.95 inHg) was set on 21 February 1961. The lowest non-tornadic atmospheric pressure ever measured

1036-425: A wide enough bore to minimise flow resistance at the ambient pressure in the operational range for the equipment, are usually circular in cross section, and may be corrugated to let the user's head move about without the tube collapsing at kinks. Each end has an airtight connection to the adjacent component, and they may contain a one-way valve to keep the gas circulating the right way in a loop system. Depending on

1110-435: Is a small one-man articulated submersible of roughly anthropomorphic form, with limb joints which allow articulation under external pressure while maintaining an internal pressure of one atmosphere. Breathing gas supply may be surface supplied by umbilical, or from a rebreather carried on the suit. An emergency gas supply rebreather may also be fitted to a suit with either surface supply or rebreather for primary breathing gas. As

1184-402: Is calcium hydroxide, which is relatively cheap and easily available. Other components may be present in the absorbent. Sodium hydroxide is added to accelerate the reaction with carbon dioxide. Other chemicals may be added to prevent unwanted decomposition products when used with standard halogenated inhalation anaesthetics. An indicator may be included to show when carbon dioxide has dissolved in

1258-458: Is caused by the gravitational attraction of the planet on the atmospheric gases above the surface and is a function of the mass of the planet, the radius of the surface, and the amount and composition of the gases and their vertical distribution in the atmosphere. It is modified by the planetary rotation and local effects such as wind velocity, density variations due to temperature and variations in composition. The mean sea-level pressure (MSLP)

1332-420: Is important, such as in space stations and space suits. Lithium peroxide also replenishes the oxygen during the scrubbing reaction. Another method of carbon dioxide removal occasionally used in portable rebreathers is to freeze it out, which is possible in a cryogenic rebreather which uses liquid oxygen. The liquid oxygen absorbs heat from the carbon dioxide in a heat exchanger to convert the oxygen to gas, which

1406-458: Is instead reported in kilopascals. In the US weather code remarks, three digits are all that are transmitted; decimal points and the one or two most significant digits are omitted: 1,013.2 hPa (14.695 psi) is transmitted as 132; 1,000 hPa (100 kPa) is transmitted as 000; 998.7   hPa is transmitted as 987; etc. The highest sea-level pressure on Earth occurs in Siberia , where

1480-613: Is less of a problem. The Soviet IDA71 rebreather was also manufactured in a high altitude version, which was operated as an oxygen rebreather. Anaesthetic machines can be configured as rebreathers to provide oxygen and anaesthetic gases to a patient during surgery or other procedures that require sedation. An absorbent is present in the machine to remove the carbon dioxide from the loop. Both semi-closed and fully closed circuit systems may be used for anaesthetic machines, and both push-pull (pendulum) two directional flow and one directional loop systems are used. The breathing circuit of

1554-443: Is limited, such as underwater, in space, where the environment is toxic or hypoxic (as in firefighting), mine rescue, high-altitude operations, or where the breathing gas is specially enriched or contains expensive components, such as helium diluent or anaesthetic gases. Rebreathers are used in many environments: underwater, diving rebreathers are a type of self-contained underwater breathing apparatus which have provisions for both

SECTION 20

#1732847779014

1628-427: Is more economical than losing it to the environment in open circuit systems. The recovered gas is passed through a scrubber system to remove carbon dioxide, filtered to remove odours, and pressurised into storage containers, where it may be mixed with oxygen to the required composition for re-use, either immediately, or at a later date. The life support system provides breathing gas and other services to support life for

1702-399: Is sufficient to freeze the carbon dioxide. This process also chills the gas, which is sometimes, but not always, desirable. A breathing hose or sometimes breathing tube on a rebreather is a flexible tube for breathing gas to pass through at ambient pressure. They are distinguished from the low-, intermediate-, and high-pressure hoses which may also be parts of rebreather apparatus. They have

1776-460: Is the atmospheric pressure at mean sea level . This is the atmospheric pressure normally given in weather reports on radio, television, and newspapers or on the Internet . The altimeter setting in aviation is an atmospheric pressure adjustment. Average sea-level pressure is 1,013.25 hPa (29.921 inHg; 760.00 mmHg). In aviation weather reports ( METAR ), QNH is transmitted around

1850-427: Is the earliest type of rebreather and was commonly used by navies for submarine escape and shallow water diving work, for mine rescue, high altitude mountaineering and flight, and in industrial applications from the early twentieth century. Oxygen rebreathers can be remarkably simple and mechanically reliable, and they were invented before open-circuit scuba. They only supply oxygen, so there is no requirement to control

1924-522: Is then available again to react with more carbonic acid. 100 grams (3.5 oz) of this absorbent can remove about 15 to 25 litres (0.53 to 0.88 cu ft) of carbon dioxide at standard atmospheric pressure. This process also heats and humidifies the air, which is desirable for diving in cold water, or climbing at high altitudes, but not for working in hot environments. Other reactions may be used in special circumstances. Lithium hydroxide and particularly lithium peroxide may be used where low mass

1998-427: Is to provide the wearer with breathing gas. This can be done via an umbilical from the life-support systems of the spacecraft or habitat, or from a primary life support system carried on the suit. Both of these systems involve rebreather technology as they both remove carbon dioxide from the breathing gas and add oxygen to compensate for oxygen used by the wearer. Space suits usually use oxygen rebreathers as this allows

2072-421: Is usually necessary to eliminate the metabolic product carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). The breathing reflex is triggered by CO 2 concentration in the blood, not by the oxygen concentration, so even a small buildup of CO 2 in the inhaled gas quickly becomes intolerable; if a person tries to directly rebreathe their exhaled breathing gas, they will soon feel an acute sense of suffocation , so rebreathers must remove

2146-542: Is wasted. Continued rebreathing of the same gas will deplete the oxygen to a level which will no longer support consciousness, and eventually life, so gas containing oxygen must be added to the breathing gas to maintain the required concentration of oxygen. However, if this is done without removing the carbon dioxide, it will rapidly build up in the recycled gas, resulting almost immediately in mild respiratory distress, and rapidly developing into further stages of hypercapnia , or carbon dioxide toxicity. A high ventilation rate

2220-465: The Siberian High often attains a sea-level pressure above 1,050 hPa (15.2 psi; 31 inHg), with record highs close to 1,085 hPa (15.74 psi; 32.0 inHg). The lowest measurable sea-level pressure is found at the centres of tropical cyclones and tornadoes , with a record low of 870 hPa (12.6 psi; 26 inHg). Surface pressure is the atmospheric pressure at

2294-408: The barometer ), is the pressure within the atmosphere of Earth . The standard atmosphere (symbol: atm) is a unit of pressure defined as 101,325  Pa (1,013.25  hPa ), which is equivalent to 1,013.25 millibars , 760   mm Hg , 29.9212   inches   Hg , or 14.696   psi . The atm unit is roughly equivalent to the mean sea-level atmospheric pressure on Earth; that is,

Lambertsen Amphibious Respiratory Unit - Misplaced Pages Continue

2368-419: The decompression status of the diver and record the dive profile . As a person breathes, the body consumes oxygen and produces carbon dioxide . Base metabolism requires about 0.25 L/min of oxygen from a breathing rate of about 6 L/min, and a fit person working hard may ventilate at a rate of 95 L/min but will only metabolise about 4 L/min of oxygen. The oxygen metabolised is generally about 4% to 5% of

2442-1339: The troposphere , the following equation (the barometric formula ) relates atmospheric pressure p to altitude h : p = p 0 ⋅ ( 1 − L ⋅ h T 0 ) g ⋅ M R 0 ⋅ L = p 0 ⋅ ( 1 − g ⋅ h c p ⋅ T 0 ) c p ⋅ M R 0 ≈ p 0 ⋅ exp ⁡ ( − g ⋅ h ⋅ M T 0 ⋅ R 0 ) {\displaystyle {\begin{aligned}p&=p_{0}\cdot \left(1-{\frac {L\cdot h}{T_{0}}}\right)^{\frac {g\cdot M}{R_{0}\cdot L}}\\&=p_{0}\cdot \left(1-{\frac {g\cdot h}{c_{\text{p}}\cdot T_{0}}}\right)^{\frac {c_{\text{p}}\cdot M}{R_{0}}}\approx p_{0}\cdot \exp \left(-{\frac {g\cdot h\cdot M}{T_{0}\cdot R_{0}}}\right)\end{aligned}}} The values in these equations are: Atmospheric pressure varies widely on Earth, and these changes are important in studying weather and climate . Atmospheric pressure shows

2516-416: The vapour pressure is equal to the atmospheric pressure around the liquid. Because of this, the boiling point of liquids is lower at lower pressure and higher at higher pressure. Cooking at high elevations, therefore, requires adjustments to recipes or pressure cooking . A rough approximation of elevation can be obtained by measuring the temperature at which water boils; in the mid-19th century, this method

2590-444: The CO 2 in a component known as a carbon dioxide scrubber . By adding sufficient oxygen to compensate for the metabolic usage, removing the carbon dioxide, and rebreathing the gas, most of the volume is conserved. The endurance of a rebreather, the duration for which it can be safely and comfortably used, is dependent on the oxygen supply at the oxygen consumption rate of the user, and

2664-451: The Earth's atmospheric pressure at sea level is approximately 1 atm. In most circumstances, atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of air above the measurement point. As elevation increases, there is less overlying atmospheric mass, so atmospheric pressure decreases with increasing elevation. Because the atmosphere is thin relative to

2738-443: The Earth's radius—especially the dense atmospheric layer at low altitudes—the Earth's gravitational acceleration as a function of altitude can be approximated as constant and contributes little to this fall-off. Pressure measures force per unit area, with SI units of pascals (1 pascal = 1 newton per square metre , 1   N/m ). On average, a column of air with a cross-sectional area of 1 square centimetre (cm ), measured from

2812-624: The U.S. Navy) in a pool at the Shoreham Hotel in Washington D.C. in 1942 The OSS "Operational Swimmer Group" was formed and Lambertsen's responsibilities included training and developing methods of combining self-contained diving and swimmer delivery including the LARU. Many diving rebreathers are descended from it. However, there were earlier underwater uses of rebreathers: Rebreather Rebreather technology may be used where breathing gas supply

2886-400: The US is rated for a maximum of 1 ⁄ 2  psi (3.4 kPa; 34 mbar), which is approximately 14 w.g. Similar metric units with a wide variety of names and notation based on millimetres , centimetres or metres are now less commonly used. Pure water boils at 100 °C (212 °F) at earth's standard atmospheric pressure. The boiling point is the temperature at which

2960-556: The USA) any self-contained underwater breathing apparatus. (Modern diving regulator technology was invented by Émile Gagnan and Jacques-Yves Cousteau in 1943 and was not related to rebreathers; nowadays the word SCUBA is largely used to mean Gagnan's and Cousteau's invention and its derivatives.) Lambertsen designed the LARU while a medical student and demonstrated the LARU to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) (after already being rejected by

3034-551: The air that the staff breathe, and at high altitude, where the partial pressure of oxygen is low, for high altitude mountaineering. In aerospace there are applications in unpressurised aircraft and for high altitude parachute drops, and above the Earth's atmosphere, in space suits for extra-vehicular activity . Similar technology is used in life-support systems in submarines, submersibles, atmospheric diving suits , underwater and surface saturation habitats, spacecraft, and space stations, and in gas reclaim systems used to recover

Lambertsen Amphibious Respiratory Unit - Misplaced Pages Continue

3108-419: The ambient pressure breathing volume components, usually called the breathing loop in a circulating flow rebreather, and the make-up gas supply and control system. The counterlung is an airtight bag of strong flexible material that holds the volume of the exhaled gas until it is inhaled again. There may be a single counterlung, or one on each side of the scrubber, which allows a more even flow rate of gas through

3182-441: The ambient pressure breathing volume, either continuously, or when the user operates the oxygen addition valve, or via a demand valve in an oxygen rebreather, when the volume of gas in the breathing circuit becomes low and the pressure drops, or in an electronically controlled mixed gas rebreather, after a sensor has detected insufficient oxygen partial pressure, and activates a solenoid valve. Valves are needed to control gas flow in

3256-503: The atmospheric pressure at a given altitude. Temperature and humidity also affect the atmospheric pressure. Pressure is proportional to temperature and inversely related to humidity, and both of these are necessary to compute an accurate figure. The graph on the right above was developed for a temperature of 15 °C and a relative humidity of 0%. At low altitudes above sea level, the pressure decreases by about 1.2 kPa (12 hPa) for every 100 metres. For higher altitudes within

3330-470: The breathing gas is a mixture of oxygen and metabolically inactive diluent gas. These can be divided into semi-closed circuit, where the supply gas is a breathable mixture containing oxygen and inert diluents, usually nitrogen and helium, and which is replenished by adding more of the mixture as the oxygen is used up, sufficient to maintain a breathable partial pressure of oxygen in the loop, and closed circuit rebreathers, where two parallel gas supplies are used:

3404-692: The breathing volume, and gas feed from the storage container. They include: Oxygen sensors may be used to monitor partial pressure of oxygen in mixed gas rebreathers to ensure that it does not fall outside the safe limits, but are generally not used on oxygen rebreathers, as the oxygen content is fixed at 100%, and its partial pressure varies only with the ambient pressure. Re breathers can be primarily categorised as diving rebreathers, intended for hyperbaric use, and other rebreathers used at pressures from slightly more than normal atmospheric pressure at sea level to significantly lower ambient pressure at high altitudes and in space. Diving rebreathers must often deal with

3478-406: The capacity of the scrubber to remove carbon dioxide at the rate it is produced by the user. These variables are closely linked, as the carbon dioxide is a product of metabolic oxygen consumption , though not the only product. This is independent of depth, except for work of breathing increase due to gas density increase. There are two basic arrangements controlling the flow of breathing gas inside

3552-401: The carbon dioxide absorbent: 4KO 2 + 2CO 2 = 2K 2 CO 3 + 3O 2 . A small volume oxygen cylinder is needed to fill and purge the loop at the start of use. This technology may be applied to both oxygen and mixed gas rebreathers, and can be used for diving and other applications. Potassium superoxide reacts vigorously with liquid water, releasing considerable heat and oxygen, and causing

3626-416: The complications of avoiding hyperbaric oxygen toxicity, while normobaric and hypobaric applications can use the relatively trivially simple oxygen rebreather technology, where there is no requirement to monitor oxygen partial pressure during use providing the ambient pressure is sufficient. Rebreathers can also be subdivided by functional principle as closed circuit and semi-closed circuit rebreathers. This

3700-468: The diluent, to provide the bulk of the gas, and which is recycled, and oxygen, which is metabolically expended. Carbon dioxide is considered a waste product, and in a correctly functioning rebreather, is effectively removed when the gas passes through the scrubber. There have been a few rebreather designs (e.g. the Oxylite) which use potassium superoxide , which gives off oxygen as it absorbs carbon dioxide, as

3774-439: The diver continues to inhale. Oxygen can also be added manually by a button which activates the demand valve. Some simple oxygen rebreathers had no automatic supply system, but only the manual feed valve, and the diver had to operate the valve at intervals to refill the breathing bag as the volume of oxygen decreased below a comfortable level. All rebreathers other than oxygen rebreathers may be considered mixed gas rebreathers, as

SECTION 50

#1732847779014

3848-492: The extrapolation of pressure to sea level for locations above or below sea level. The average pressure at mean sea level ( MSL ) in the International Standard Atmosphere ( ISA ) is 1,013.25 hPa, or 1 atmosphere (atm), or 29.92 inches of mercury. Pressure (P), mass (m), and acceleration due to gravity (g) are related by P = F/A = (m*g)/A, where A is the surface area. Atmospheric pressure is thus proportional to

3922-410: The gas composition other than removing the carbon dioxide. In some rebreathers the oxygen cylinder has oxygen supply mechanisms in parallel. One is constant flow ; the other is a manual on-off valve called a bypass valve; both feed into the same hose which feeds the counterlung. Others are supplied via a demand valve on the counterlung. This will add gas at any time that the counterlung is emptied and

3996-435: The granules by size, or by moulding granules at a consistent size and shape. Gas flow through the scrubber may be in one direction in a loop rebreather, or both ways in a pendulum rebreather. The scrubber canister generally has an inlet on one side and an outlet on the other side. A typical absorbent is soda lime , which is made up of calcium hydroxide Ca(OH) 2 , and sodium hydroxide NaOH. The main component of soda lime

4070-475: The inspired volume at normal atmospheric pressure , or about 20% of the available oxygen in the air at sea level . Exhaled air at sea level contains roughly 13.5% to 16% oxygen. The situation is even more wasteful of oxygen when the oxygen fraction of the breathing gas is higher, and in underwater diving, the compression of breathing gas due to depth makes the recirculation of exhaled gas even more desirable, as an even larger proportion of open circuit gas

4144-401: The intermediate reaction, the carbonic acid reacts exothermically with sodium hydroxide to form sodium carbonate and water: H 2 CO 3 + 2NaOH –> Na 2 CO 3 + 2H 2 O + heat. In the final reaction, the sodium carbonate reacts with the slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) to form calcium carbonate and sodium hydroxide: Na 2 CO 3 + Ca(OH) 2 –> CaCO 3 + 2NaOH. The sodium hydroxide

4218-435: The internal pressure is maintained at one atmosphere, there is no risk of acute oxygen toxicity. This is an underwater diving application, but has more in common with industrial applications than with ambient pressure scuba rebreathers. Different design criteria apply to SCBA rebreathers for use only out of the water: Mountaineering rebreathers provide oxygen at a higher concentration than available from atmospheric air in

4292-534: The large volumes of helium used in saturation diving . The recycling of breathing gas comes at the cost of technological complexity and specific hazards, some of which depend on the application and type of rebreather used. Mass and bulk may be greater or less than open circuit depending on circumstances. Electronically controlled diving rebreathers may automatically maintain a partial pressure of oxygen between programmable upper and lower limits, or set points, and be integrated with decompression computers to monitor

4366-421: The mean (average) sea level to the top of Earth's atmosphere, has a mass of about 1.03 kilogram and exerts a force or "weight" of about 10.1 newtons , resulting in a pressure of 10.1 N/cm or 101   kN /m (101 kilopascals, kPa). A column of air with a cross-sectional area of 1   in would have a weight of about 14.7   lbf , resulting in a pressure of 14.7   lbf/in . Atmospheric pressure

4440-400: The personnel under pressure in the accommodation chambers and closed diving bell. It includes the following components: The life support system for the bell provides and monitors the main supply of breathing gas, and the control station monitors the deployment and communications with the divers. Primary gas supply, power and communications to the bell are through a bell umbilical, made up from

4514-402: The photo, benefit from easier field repair if a tear or hole while helical corrugations allow efficient drainage after cleaning. Breathing hoses are usually long enough to connect the apparatus to the user's head in all attitudes of their head, but should not be unnecessarily long, which will cause additional weight, hydrodynamic drag , risk snagging on things, or contain excess dead space in

SECTION 60

#1732847779014

4588-418: The rebreather, known as the pendulum and loop systems. In the pendulum configuration, the user inhales gas from the counterlung through a breathing hose, and exhaled gas returns to the counterlung by flowing back through the same hose. The scrubber is usually between the breathing hose and the counterlung bag, and gas flow is bi-directional. All of the flow passages between the user and the active absorbent in

4662-467: The scrubber are dead space – volume containing gas which is rebreathed without modification by the rebreather. The dead space increases as the absorbent is depleted. Breathing hose volume must be minimised to limit dead space. In the loop configuration, the user inhales gas through one hose, and exhales through a second hose. Exhaled gas flows into the scrubber from one side, and exits at the other side. There may be one large counterlung, on either side of

4736-621: The scrubber contents from freezing, and helps reduce heat loss from the user. Both chemical and compressed gas oxygen have been used in experimental closed-circuit oxygen systems – the first on Mount Everest in 1938 . The 1953 expedition used closed-circuit oxygen equipment developed by Tom Bourdillon and his father for the first assault team of Bourdillon and Evans ; with one "dural" 800l compressed oxygen cylinder and soda lime canister (the second (successful) assault team of Hillary and Tenzing used open-circuit equipment). Similar requirement and working environment to mountaineering, but weight

4810-463: The scrubber, or two smaller counterlungs, one on each side of the scrubber. Flow is in one direction, enforced by non-return valves, which are usually in the breathing hoses where they join the mouthpiece. Only the flow passage in the mouthpiece before the split between inhalation and exhalation hoses is dead space, and this is not affected by hose volume. There are some components that are common to almost all personal portable rebreathers. These include

4884-436: The scrubber, which can reduce work of breathing and improve scrubber efficiency by a more consistent dwell time . The scrubber is a container filled with carbon dioxide absorbent material, mostly strong bases , through which the exhaled gas passes to remove the carbon dioxide. The absorbent may be granular or in the form of a moulded cartridge. Granular absorbent may be manufactured by breaking up lumps of lime and sorting

4958-442: The service, they may be made of a flexible polymer, an elastomer , a fibre or cloth reinforced elastomer, or elastomer covered with a woven fabric for reinforcement or abrasion resistance. If the woven layer is bonded to the outside surface it protects the rubber from damage from scrapes but makes it more difficult to wash off contaminants. Breathing hoses typically come in two types of corrugation. Annular corrugations, as depicted in

5032-416: The type include: A cryogenic rebreather removes the carbon dioxide by freezing it out in a "snow box" by the low temperature produced as liquid oxygen evaporates to replace the oxygen used. This may be compared with some applications of open-circuit breathing apparatus: The widest variety of rebreather types is used in diving, as the consequences of breathing under pressure complicate the requirements, and

5106-425: The water of the soda lime and formed carbonic acid, changing the pH from basic to acid, as the change of colour shows that the absorbent has reached saturation with carbon dioxide and must be changed. The carbon dioxide combines with water or water vapor to produce a weak carbonic acid: CO 2 + H 2 O –> H 2 CO 3 . This reacts with the hydroxides to produce carbonates and water in an exothermic reaction. In

5180-483: The weight per unit area of the atmospheric mass above that location. Pressure on Earth varies with the altitude of the surface, so air pressure on mountains is usually lower than air pressure at sea level. Pressure varies smoothly from the Earth's surface to the top of the mesosphere . Although the pressure changes with the weather, NASA has averaged the conditions for all parts of the earth year-round. As altitude increases, atmospheric pressure decreases. One can calculate

5254-591: The world in hectopascals or millibars (1 hectopascal = 1 millibar), except in the United States , Canada , and Japan where it is reported in inches of mercury (to two decimal places). The United States and Canada also report sea-level pressure SLP, which is adjusted to sea level by a different method, in the remarks section, not in the internationally transmitted part of the code, in hectopascals or millibars. However, in Canada's public weather reports, sea level pressure

5328-551: Was 1,084.8 hPa (32.03 inHg) measured in Tosontsengel, Mongolia on 19 December 2001. The highest adjusted-to-sea level barometric pressure ever recorded (below 750 meters) was at Agata in Evenk Autonomous Okrug , Russia (66°53'   N, 93°28'   E, elevation: 261 m, 856 ft) on 31 December 1968 of 1,083.8 hPa (32.005 inHg). The discrimination is due to the problematic assumptions (assuming

5402-439: Was 870 hPa (0.858 atm; 25.69 inHg), set on 12 October 1979, during Typhoon Tip in the western Pacific Ocean. The measurement was based on an instrumental observation made from a reconnaissance aircraft. One atmosphere (101.325 kPa or 14.7 psi) is also the pressure caused by the weight of a column of freshwater of approximately 10.3 m (33.8 ft). Thus, a diver 10.3 m under water experiences

5476-444: Was used by explorers. Conversely, if one wishes to evaporate a liquid at a lower temperature, for example in distillation , the atmospheric pressure may be lowered by using a vacuum pump , as in a rotary evaporator . An important application of the knowledge that atmospheric pressure varies directly with altitude was in determining the height of hills and mountains, thanks to reliable pressure measurement devices. In 1774, Maskelyne

#13986