2 drysuit questions

[DivingGal]

The argon question has been answered -- for warmth.

I use a Bare shell drysuit (trilam), and love it. In the warm water around here (the 60-70F stuff) I wear a t-shirt, a pair of shorts and a pair of socks under it. As the water gets cooler, I start donning more and more (from track suit to warm woolies).

 

[TexasMike]

Some excellent stuff here on dry suits, so I'll add my question to the mix:

Why is it that you can get a water pressure squeeze while wearing a dry suit and not when you are wearing a wet suit?

 

[Lost Yooper]

Hey Mike,

A wet suit doesn't have air spaces that need to be equalized, therefore there isn't a squeeze on your body. Whatever air may be in the wet suit is allowed to escape since there isn't any seals holding the air inside.

Mike

 

[Green_Manelishi]

why argon?

a bit of comparison here:

dive #1: shell suit, 'x' amount of undergarments, AIR in suit.

I am cold after 45 minutes in low 40 degree water.

dive #2: same suit and undergarments as dive #1 but with
ARGON as the insulation gas

I am still warm after 75 minutes in low 40 degree water

Need I say more?

 

[buff]

I was reading these posts and wondering why Argon would be a more effective insulator than air in a dry suit-I assume it's true since many divers do use Argon. I dug around for my physics textbook but alas couldn't find it......
I would appreciate a scientific explanation. Show all work for full credit.

 

[Bob3]

Here ya go Buff... :bonk:

http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~ceng402/proj99/amistry/ktpcalc.html

 

[Green_Manelishi]

Hey, uh, Bob?

Nice formula but sometimes it's easier to say "because it does"
as an explanation for why something works ;-)

G_M

Diving a really nice Viking suit thanks to Bob3

 

[buff]

I feel kind of geeky but that stuff brings back good memories. Ar has a lower heat capacity and as such cannot transfer the energy from the warmer diver to the colder surrounding water. Why Argon would have a lower heat capacity vs. air is what I don't understand. I'm off to the CalTech physics web site to bug them for a while.

 

[Lost Yooper]

OK Buff, ya want science? Here ya go:

http://home.adelphia.net/~robworld

Just click on the argon artical. The rest of the articals are nice as well for those interested in mind boggling math and science.

Good luck.

Mike

 

[buff]

Thanks Lost Yooper!!!!!
That page answered all of my questions....almost all. That page states that the additional thermal benefit of Argon dry suit inflation, on a practical basis, is between 15-20%. All the hassels of another bottle and system.....So, is it really worth it??