LIKE A FISH – REVOLUTIONARY UNDERWATER BREATHING SYSTEM

IsraCast ^ | 6-5-05 | Iddo Genuth

[jordan8]

- Iddo Genuth for IsraCast -

An Israeli Inventor has developed a breathing apparatus that will allow breathing underwater without the assistance of oxygen tanks. This new invention will use the relatively small amounts of air that already exist in water to supply oxygen to both scuba divers and submarines. The invention has already captured the interest of most major diving manufacturers as well as the Israeli Navy.

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The idea of breathing underwater without cumbersome oxygen tanks has been the dream of science fiction writers for many years. In George Lucas’ movie "The Phantom Menace", Obi-Wan whips out a little Jedi underwater breathing apparatus and dives in. As things tend to happen in our world, yesterday’s science fiction has turned into today's science fact due to one Israeli inventor with a dream.

There are a number of limitations to the existing oxygen tank underwater breathing method. The first is the amount of time a diver can stay underwater, which is the result of the oxygen tank capacity. Another limitation is the dependence on oxygen refueling facilities near the diving site which are costly to operate and are used to compress the gas into the tanks which might be dangerous if not handled properly. The final problem has to do with the actual use of oxygen tanks underwater. When these tanks are in use they empty out and change the balance of the diver in the water.

Engineers have tried to overcome these limitations for many years now. Nuclear submarines and the international space station use systems that generate Oxygen from water by performing 'Electrolysis', which is chemical separation of Oxygen from Hydrogen. These systems require very large amounts of energy to operate. For this reason, smaller, diesel fueled submarines cannot use these systems and are required to resurface to re-supply their oxygen tanks every so often. Divers can't even consider carrying such large machines not to mention supplying them with energy. To overcome this limitation an Israeli inventor, Alon Bodner, turned to fish.
Fish do not perform chemical separation of oxygen from water; instead they use the dissolved air that exists in the water in order to breathe. In the ocean the wind, waves and underwater currents help spread small amounts of air inside the water. Studies have shown that in a depth of 200m below the sea there is still about 1.5% of dissolved air. This might not sound like much but it is enough to allow both small and large fish to breathe comfortably underwater. Bodner’s idea was to create an artificial system that will mimic the way fish use the air in the water thus allowing both smaller submarines and divers to get rid of the large, cumbersome oxygen tanks.

The system developed by Bodner uses a well known physical law called the "Henry Law" which describes gas absorption in liquids. This law states that the amount of gas that can be dissolved in a liquid body is proportional to the pressure on the liquid body. The law works in both directions – lowering the pressure will release more gas out of the liquid. This is done by a centrifuge which rotates rapidly thus creating under pressure inside a small sealed chamber containing sea water. The system will be powered by rechargeable batteries. Calculations showed that a one kilo Lithium battery can provide a diver with about one hour of diving time.

Bodner has already built and tested a laboratory model and he is on the path to building a full-scale prototype. Patents for the invention have already been granted in Europe and a similar one is currently pending examination in the U.S. Meetings have already been held with most major diving manufacturers as well as with the Israeli Navy. Initial financial support for the project has been given by Israel Ministry of Industry and Commerce and Bodner is currently looking for private investors to help complete his project.

If everything goes according to plan, in a few years the new tankless breathing system will be operational and will be attached to a diver in the form of a vest that will enable him to stay underwater for a period of many hours.

[logocentric]

I want one.

[decal]

Would this eliminate the bends as well?

[zarf]

We need a picture of that sleek breathing apparatus.....

[zarf]

I'll bet anyone a dozen of Krispy Kremes this is bogus.

[jordan8]

Click the link.

[logocentric]

I'm not so sure. Israeli scientists are among the most brilliant in the world. If anybody could develop a technology like this, it would make sense for it to be out of Israel.

[konaice]

I'm struggling to decide just how much stock to put into a story that suggests scuba divers carry oxygen tanks or that diesel electric subs replenish their oxygen tanks after surfacing.

Apparently this writer confuses common air with oxygen, and that makes me wonder just how much else of the story is equally confused.

[Lancey Howard]

....that will enable him to stay underwater for a period of many hours.

Why only "many hours"?

[logocentric]

Ron Howard

Alon Bodner

Weiiiird.

[zarf]

If anybody could develop a technology like this, it would make sense for it to be out of Israel.

That's because the Israeli's sucked the blood from Palestinian babies absorbing, thus stealing, the ancient Palestinian intellectual heritage.

[sheik yerbouty]

I disagree. True palesimian heritage is their lineage of Bedouins and camels!

[Salmonslayer]

So... if I lose, I win?

[logocentric]

I try and make a point of eating one Palestinian baby per week. It works kind of like ginseng and all those other brain-enhancing herbs.

Really.

They go well with bagels.

[logocentric]

Is that kosher?

[Hoosier-Daddy]

It might if all you get is pure oxygen. However, how much residual nitrogen is already in your system...

[dc-zoo]

Opie turned into a red X. Bodner looks just fine. He sure does look like Ron Howard.

[dc-zoo]

Sounds like an incredible invention.

[Windsong]

I would have thought this came from the Japanese (PS3 anyone? :)