Quote:
Originally Posted by Vendzilla
The submarine I was on that was built in the 60's used a process that used electrolysis to separate hydrogen from oxygen in water that we had previously purified for drinking and secondary water for the reactor from sea water. As the hydrogen had no use to us, it was simply pumped overboard using a defuser so no bubbles were generated and the O2 was stored in tanks. I say this because this was technology from the late 60's . Was on that sub in the late 70's and breathed in that O2.
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The methods are nearly the same now. Just slightly more efficient. Not much though.
Yes, when you charge the water that needs to be de-ionized or de-mineralized you get the hydrogen collecting on one electrode side and the oxygen collecting on the other side electrode.
You must have been on a nuclear trident capable of staying under for months.
They could have made use of the hydrogen, but the cost and space on the sub was to costly. Not to mention additional hazards. But I do wonder how they dispersed the hydrogen without making much noise, which you know is a bad thing.
I will guess and say they spread it to tiny outlets spread across the entire length of the hull and perhaps only released it after crossing thermal layers or right at them.