PANAMA CITY, Florida - Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City
(NSWC PC) scientists have developed a prototype for a new life support system
for divers the Navy announced today.
The goal of the new system is to accelerate the deployment of
Navy divers, increase safety, and also conserve helium, a valuable natural
resource.
"This new, semi-closed system was conceived to drastically reduce helium requirements," said NSWC PC Principal
Investigator Dr. John Camperman. "And where possible we also incorporated proven
technology in the system in order to speed transition to operators."
Currently, U.S. Navy mobile diving and salvage units meet their
requirement for manned diving operations with the Fly-Away Mixed Gas System
(FMGS). The FMGS provides breathing gas through an umbilical to a demand
regulated, open circuit, diver-worn helmet. In each breathing cycle all
inhalation is from surface supplied gas, and all exhalant vents to the sea. In
the process a large portion of oxygen and helium are wasted.
"The new system modifies the current helmet and rebreather.
Prototype analysis and testing have shown that drastic reduction in helium
consumption is possible," said Camperman. "Testing of the new prototype system
indicates that the full range of FMGS diving is supportable within Navy life
support requirements, and that several life support characteristics are
improved, including extended emergency come-home gas duration."
Conserving helium can produce a snowball-like effect. FMGS
operational cost is driven by transportation, support vessel size, and
consumables (largely helium). Reducing helium requirements will reduce deck
space requirements, and can thereby positively impact all three cost variables.
The new life support system is part of the Initial Response
Diving (IRD) project. IRD is a Navy innovative science and engineering
initiative to support faster recovery of objects in deep waters. The ultimate
goal of IRD is to provide military diver intervention to depths of 600 feet
anywhere in the world. The goal would put diver's hands on targets for recovery
within 36 hours of deployment.
The implications of this project have international and
humanitarian significance. The IRD project could support life-saving rescues for
survivors trapped in a capsized hull, or subsea infrastructure maintenance. The
project could also enhance disabled submarine assessment and escape, or rapidly
recover sensitive debris from vessels, aircraft or spacecraft.
The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division conducts
research, development, test and evaluation, in-service support of mine warfare
systems, mines, naval special warfare systems, diving and life support systems,
amphibious/expeditionary maneuver warfare systems, and other missions that occur
primarily in coastal (littoral) regions. It is a field activity of Naval Sea
Systems Command (NAVSEA).