Helium prices and shortage

[Nick_Radov]

Have just heard read that the Wetmules have just returned from a Pearse Resurgence trip where they conducted their first deep technical dive using hydrogen as a breathing gas. No doubt more details will be released in the near future.

They posted a brief statement on Facebook but no details yet.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02CxUdw9SrHpNpzQtzmByJxFeWGrG1GnYUGXqm4jEKy6DnhPtM2A1618X34TgyLj2dl&id=100064878422864&mibextid=Nif5oz

 

[nadwidny]

Given the extremely lawsuit adverse society today (thanks America) I can't imagine that any gas supplier would sell hydrogen to a random diver walking in their door.

 

[GiraffeMarineSalvage]

Given the extremely lawsuit adverse society today (thanks America) I can't imagine that any gas supplier would sell hydrogen to a random diver walking in their door.

Maybe if you promise it's for a South Carolina scientific balloon project?

 

[kammel78]

Given the extremely lawsuit adverse society today (thanks America) I can't imagine that any gas supplier would sell hydrogen to a random diver walking in their door.

I'm sure there are company-level rules and such, but you'd be surprised at how little some of the store level employees actually know about what they're selling. I baffled an AirGas employee once by asking what grade helium they had...

 

[Dr Simon Mitchell]

Have just heard read that the Wetmules have just returned from a Pearse Resurgence trip where they conducted their first deep technical dive using hydrogen as a breathing gas. No doubt more details will be released in the near future.

Hello,

Yes, we came out of the Pearse on Thursday, and yes, Harry and Craig completed a 13.5-hour dive to 230m during which hydrogen was introduced below 200m as diluent in a meg rebreather. The goal is not so much to eliminate helium, but rather to eliminate the small amount of dense nitrogen one retains in the trimix to ameliorate the high-pressure neurological syndrome (HPNS) during very fast descents to very deep depths by replacing it with a lighter gas (hydrogen) which also ameliorates the HPNS. We will write up a detailed account of the dive and outcome, but it went well.

This picture shows the hydrogen cylinder (small cylinder mounted on top of the sling tank) about to be attached.

Cold water (6oC, 43oF) and a 13 hour deco means a need for habitats. We had four:

The deep habitats (40m and 27m, 131' and 88'), were upside down water tanks as shown above, and the shallow habitats (17m and 6m, 56' and 20') were lift bags as shown below:

Simon

 

[iochanan]

Hey Simon, that sounds like an insane dive. So, in response to all the discussion here, what's your experience of handling the hydrogen? Was it hard to get it, any special cleaning processes necessary?

 

[Robert H. Diver]

Hello,

Yes, we came out of the Pearse on Thursday, and yes, Harry and Craig completed a 13.5-hour dive to 230m during which hydrogen was introduced below 200m as diluent in a meg rebreather. The goal is not so much to eliminate helium, but rather to eliminate the small amount of dense nitrogen one retains in the trimix to ameliorate the high-pressure neurological syndrome (HPNS) during very fast descents to very deep depths by replacing it with a lighter gas (hydrogen) which also ameliorates the HPNS. We will write up a detailed account of the dive and outcome, but it went well.

View attachment 770586
This picture shows the hydrogen cylinder (small cylinder mounted on top of the sling tank) about to be attached.

Cold water (6oC, 43oF) and a 13 hour deco means a need for habitats. We had four:

View attachment 770587

The deep habitats (40m and 27m, 131' and 88'), were upside down water tanks as shown above, and the shallow habitats (17m and 6m, 56' and 20') were lift bags as shown below:

View attachment 770588

Simon

Absolutely wild. Can’t wait to hear about this dive in detail.

 

[Nick_Radov]

Have just heard read that the Wetmules have just returned from a Pearse Resurgence trip where they conducted their first deep technical dive using hydrogen as a breathing gas. No doubt more details will be released in the near future.

Dr. Richard Harris will give a presentation on this dive at the Rebreather Forum 4 conference on April 22.

Program - Rebreather Forum 4

Rebreather Forum 4 Program The symposium will address safety, physiology, technology, training, and knowledge gaps relevant to rebreather diving. The primary goals are to: 1) consolidate the knowledge base and enhance knowledge transfer, and 2) promote best practices within the community. The...

rebreatherforum-event.com

 

[rjack321]

The lower flammability point of hydrogen is 4% O2. So you need a really hypoxic dive to keep your hydrogen from combusting. Although at 4% O2 it still requires a spark of some kind - although solenoids could be a potential ignition source.