Hydrox is gas mixture of hydrogen and oxygen used in very deep diving. It allows divers to descend several hundred metres.[1][2]
Hydrogen is the lightest gas (twice as light as helium) but still has a narcotic potential.[2]
History
editAlthough the first reported use of hydrogen seem to be by Antoine Lavoisier (1743-1794), who had guinea-pigs breathe it, the actual first use of this gas in diving are usually attributed to trials by the Swedish engineer, Arne Zetterstrom in 1945.
He showed that hydrogen was perfectly usable to great depths. Sadly, following a fault in using the surface equipment, he died during demonstration dive. The study of hydrogen was not resumed until several years later, first by the United States Navy, then by COMEX (Compagnie Maritime d'Expertises) who developed procedures allowing dives between 500 and 700 metres depth, breathing gas mixtures based on hydrogen, called hydrox (hydrogen-oxygen) or hydreliox (hydrogen-helium-oxygen).[1][3]
Use
editHydrox may be used to combat High pressure nervous syndrome (HPNS), commonly occurring during very deep dives.[4]
These studies scored a resounding success with a simulated dive to 701 metres, by Theo Mavrostomos on 20 November 1990 at Toulon, during the COMEX Hydra X decompression chamber experiments. This dive made him "the deepest diver in the world".[5]
Biochemical decompression
editThe United States Navy has evaluated the use of bacterial flora to speed decompression from hydrox diving.[6][7][8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Fife, W. P. (1979). "The use of Non-Explosive mixtures of hydrogen and oxygen for diving". Texas A&M University Sea Grant. TAMU-SG-79-201.
- ^ a b Brauer RW (ed). (1985). "Hydrogen as a Diving Gas". 33rd Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society Workshop. (UHMS Publication Number 69(WS-HYD)3-1-87). Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society: 336 pages. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
- ^ Rostain, J. C.; Gardette-Chauffour, M. C.; Lemaire, C.; Naquet, R. (1988). "Effects of a H2-He-O2 mixture on the HPNS up to 450 msw". Undersea Biomed. Res. 15 (4): 257–70. ISSN 0093-5387. OCLC 2068005. PMID 3212843. Retrieved 2008-09-19.
- ^ Hunger Jr, W. L.; Bennett, P. B. (1974). "The causes, mechanisms and prevention of the high pressure nervous syndrome". Undersea Biomed. Res. 1 (1): 1–28. ISSN 0093-5387. OCLC 2068005. PMID 4619860. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
- ^ Lafay V, Barthelemy P, Comet B, Frances Y, Jammes Y (March 1995). "ECG changes during the experimental human dive HYDRA 10 (71 atm/7,200 kPa)". Undersea Hyperb Med. 22 (1): 51–60. PMID 7742710. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Ball R (2001). "Biochemical decompression of hydrogen by naturally occurring bacterial flora in pigs: what are the implications for human hydrogen diving?". Undersea Hyperb Med. 28 (2): 55–6. PMID 11908695. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
- ^ Kayar SR, Fahlman A (2001). "Decompression sickness risk reduced by native intestinal flora in pigs after H2 dives". Undersea Hyperb Med. 28 (2): 89–97. PMID 11908700. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
- ^ Fahlman, A (2000). "On the Physiology of Hydrogen Diving and Its Implication for Hydrogen Biochemical Decompression". PhD Thesis. Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
[[Category:Breathing gases]] [[Category:Hydrogen technologies]]