Mailing List Archive

Mailing List: techdiver

Banner Advert

Message Display

Date: Mon, 16 Oct 95 08:11:01 -0400
From: "J. Scott Landon" <landonjs@a1*.sw*.um*.du*.co*>
To: techdiver@terra.net
Subject: Dry Suit Inflation
[This message is converted from WPS-PLUS to ASCII]

I noticed several messages dealing with dry suit inflation 
cylinders and argon.  One specifically questioned the 6 cf pony 
and the inability to get high pressure Argon.  I have the same 
cylinder and plan to get the most Argon I can and then top with 
air to 3500 psi.  Everyone assumes you just have to have pure 
argon to stay warm.  That's just not true.  Your first priority 
should be to just not inflate your suit with a Helium mix.  Look 
at these thermal conductivities for the various gases we are 
concerned about.  They are listed at 60F, and the units (although 
it doesn't really matter for this discussion) are 

cal/(sec)(cm^2)(degrees C/cm) x 10^-6


Air		 60.34
Argon 		 41.33
Helium		352.10
Nitrogen	 60.34
Oxygen		 61.58


No, there is no typo between air and nitrogen.

If you can fill your cylinder to 2000 with Argon and then top to 
3000 with air, you'll still be doing pretty well.  It is the high 
percentages of He in bottom gas that will freeze you in a dry 
suit.  Just fill the dry suit inflator tank with air and you'll 
be pretty well off.  For the longer, colder hangs, add the Argon.


Dive Safe,
Scott

Navigate by Author: [Previous] [Next] [Author Search Index]
Navigate by Subject: [Previous] [Next] [Subject Search Index]

[Send Reply] [Send Message with New Topic]

[Search Selection] [Mailing List Home] [Home]