Diver Propulsion Vehicles

[Scrumbag]

Hello, talking to the engineers out there.

Has anyone noticed that a lot of submersible vehicles are slow, cumbersome and expensive. Has anyone thought about this and suitable propulsion.

Battery electric is too heavy and too short lived.

So alternatives:

Has there been any thought of using compressd gas and air turbines driving props?

Or how about a diesel with an H2O2 (H'peroxide supply) as seen in russian torpedos.

Let me know your thought

Mike

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by Scrumbag

Has there been any thought of using compressd gas and air turbines driving props?

I tried a simple air drill motor running through a reg of a pony bottle a couple of years ago. It pulled like mad but ran through air like mad too so, when the ordinary steel motor rusted solid after two test outings, I dropped the idea. The problem is burn time. My scooters are measured in hours while I couldn't see a way to do ten minutes on air without big cylinders. Also my 'new old' Apollo is plenty fast enough for a real cruise round a wreck.

Or how about a diesel with an H2O2 (H'peroxide supply) as seen in russian torpedos

Wasn't it one of them that they think blew up and took out the Kirsk?

Interesting ideas but the faf factor says to me that it's got to be compressed air or batteries for divers.

[zepp]

And an air driven produces far too many bubbles.

[Little Pete]

I'd say it would make the unit much heavier than a lot of scooters by needing large cylinders to provide the propulsion force for any length of time.

Given that the smaller 'tech' scooters like the Gavin and X scooter can do 90 mins at very good speed with batteries (the big ones doing 180 mins) I can't see that you could compete very well. Would be intriguing to be proved wrong though

[recurve]

I have wondered what sort of thrust you could get from just cracking open a cylinder for 'jet' propulsion. Anyone ever tried it?

[Scrumbag]

Originally Posted by nigelH

I tried a simple air drill motor running through a reg of a pony bottle a couple of years ago. It pulled like mad but ran through air like mad too so, when the ordinary steel motor rusted solid after two test outings, I dropped the idea. The problem is burn time. My scooters are measured in hours while I couldn't see a way to do ten minutes on air without big cylinders. Also my 'new old' Apollo is plenty fast enough for a real cruise round a wreck.
Wasn't it one of them that they think blew up and took out the Kirsk?

Interesting ideas but the faf factor says to me that it's got to be compressed air or batteries for divers.

Yes it was one of those that blew up the Kursk and they're selling em off through unattributable sources apparently. I did hear a rumour that some crazy Georgian had strapped himself to one but one wonders what the guy had in his cylinder if you catch my drift.

When I mean fast, i mean like having 10 knots on tap. My main supposition of use would be cruising with larger marine animals. Boat pace, for under water photography. Need a screen to keep mask on of course... OK I'm speed freak!

Mike

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by recurve

I have wondered what sort of thrust you could get from just cracking open a cylinder for 'jet' propulsion. Anyone ever tried it?

I suspect nothing. There isn't much from an airlift and that has a roadbreaker sized compressor driving it. You get a lot of lift from the air in the pipe but virtually no horizontal thrust when you switch it on before it stands up.

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by Scrumbag

When I mean fast, i mean like having 10 knots on tap.

That's not fast. The new generation of torpedoes virtually have a rocket engine blowing a gas shield about them and do 200 knots plus. The Shkval or such (don't trust my spelling - it's Russian). Scientific American did a write up a few years back.

No I'm not using a 240mph scooter even if you do make one.

[Scrumbag]

WOHO!!! Now there's an idea! Could certainly put the wind up the "I'm a tunny/sail fish and I'm the fastest thing in the sea" brigade with that one of those couldn't you!

Mike

PS Nigel H: I'd lob you a bogey but I'm too junior

[Harlequin]

Now, I'm no engineer but understand that in order to burn any combustible material requires oxygen.

So, given that, and the fact that we exhale (is it something like) 60% of our breathed air which is still usale:

Couldn't we combine a combustible material, Hydrogen for exa,ple, with the exhaled gas from our 2nd stage...?

I apreciate that there's a minor issue of force, direction, controllability and the fact that you could actually burn to death under water but surely it's worth looking at...?

For safety, you could make little iddy biddy ones that strap to your feet so if there was an accident you would simply lose a foot or two.