Device and method for supplying respiratory air underwater

Abstract

A light and compact device for supplying breathing air under water is equipped with a closed system for regenerating and reusing the breathing air, which has a mixing chamber which, in interaction with a controller, provides breathing air in an adapted mixing ratio depending on the diving depth and/or pressure ratio, furthermore with an electrolyzer which produces oxygen and hydrogen from water in the environment by electrolysis, wherein an admixture of the oxygen and hydrogen thus produced into the mixing chamber, controlled or regulated by the controller.

1 . A device for supplying breathing air under water, comprising: a closed system for regenerating and reusing the breathing air, which has a mixing chamber which, in interaction with a controller, provides breathing air in an adapted mixing ratio depending on the diving depth and/or pressure ratio, and an electrolyzer which produces oxygen and hydrogen from water in the environment by electrolysis, wherein an admixture of the oxygen and hydrogen produced into the mixing chamber, is controlled or regulated by the controller. 
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a hydrogen storage tank for intermediate storage of the hydrogen obtained by electrolysis. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein excess hydrogen is used as a lifting medium or carrying load. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an oxygen storage tank for intermediate storage of the oxygen obtained by electrolysis. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a helium reservoir connected to the mixing chamber, so that used breathing air is supplemented by entrained helium from the helium reservoir. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  any one of the preceding claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to avoid the formation of explosive mixtures in the breathing air. 
     
     
         7 . A method for supplying breathing air under water with a closed system for regenerating and reusing the breathing air, comprising generating oxygen and hydrogen from water by electrolysis, wherein the generated oxygen and hydrogen are added to the breathing air circulating in a circuit in a mixing chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising using an integrated sensor system to monitor that no oxyhydrogen gas is generated in the system. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising detecting, using physiological sensors, a panic state of the diver, and increasing the oxygen feed into the mixing chamber by activating a reserve in the event of a detected panic state. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising increasing the oxygen output of the electrolyzer in the event of a detected panic state. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the physiological sensors measure oxygen saturation and/or pulse of the diver to detect the panic state. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising storing the generated oxygen and hydrogen in intermediate storage before being added to the breathing air circulating in a circuit in a mixing chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 2 , further comprising an oxygen storage tank for intermediate storage of the oxygen obtained by electrolysis. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 13 , further comprising a helium reservoir connected to the mixing chamber, so that used breathing air is supplemented by entrained helium from the helium reservoir. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to avoid the formation of explosive mixtures in the breathing air.