Drinking water is essential for the health and safety of submariners, and is a requirement for extended operations. Subs operate for long periods of time underwater. Living in confined quarters with limited air and no access to food or fresh water makes drinking water a critical component of survival.
Subs have limited storage space, and the water that is stored onboard must be rationed accordingly. Drinking water provides hydration and allows the body to stay healthy. It also helps reduce the risk of hyperthermia, exhaustion and other medical issues that can arise from unusually hot or cold conditions and extended operations in such environments.
On subs, drinking water also helps to clean sinks, toilets, showers, and other areas where human waste is disposed of. Without access to other water sources, drinkable water must be provided on every sub to meet basic hygiene standards.
Finally, drinking water helps to keep the air on board a sub clean, as it is often reused for air conditioning, air scrubbing, and other environmental systems. Without water, all of these processes would become much more expensive and difficult.
How long can a submarine remain submerged?
The amount of time that a submarine can remain submerged varies depending on the type, size and age of the submarine as well as the mission it is undertaking. Generally, most modern submarines can stay submerged in excess of 12 hours at depths of 200-500 feet.
However, these submarines are also capable of remaining submerged for extended periods—up to several days or even weeks—if necessary. Nuclear submarines can operate submerged for months or even years at a time due to their onboard nuclear power plant.
However, nuclear submarines often surface every few days for regular maintenance, crew rest and to bring in fresh air. But because of their advanced design and power system, a nuclear submarine can remain submerged for long periods of time if necessary.
Another factor that affects a submarine’s submerged duration is its power source; submarines powered by diesel engines need to come to the surface periodically to take in air and recharge their batteries.
How do they not run out of oxygen on a submarine?
Submarines use diesel engines for propulsion during their time on the surface, but run on electric motors while underwater. They use a process called air independent propulsion (AIP) to indefinitely store and use oxygen without having to surface for air.
AIP works by using a fuel such as diesel to produce electricity when oxygen is scarce. This fuel is then combined with a oxidant such as hydrogen peroxide to create electrical energy and heat, which powers a motor, providing the submarine with propulsion.
The oxygen is then stored and reused in a closed loop system, allowing the submarine to remain submerged indefinitely without having to surface for air. Additionally, submarines are equipped with an oxygen-generation system, which uses various equipment to filter and process carbon dioxide on board the submarine in order to generate oxygen for the crew to breathe.
This allows them to avoid having to surface to replenish their oxygen supply.
How do submarines get rid of human waste?
Submarines have to continuously monitor their wastewater systems on board and adhere to stringent environmental regulations to manage human waste. Generally speaking, submarines have a wastewater treatment system that includes a sewage collection tank, a settling tank, and a holding tank.
The waste is pumped from the collection tank to the settling tank, where it is held for a period of time. The waste is then moved to the holding tank, where it is disinfected and treated. If required, saltwater is also added to the wastewater before it is discharged.
In some cases, the wastewater is filtered for maceration and bacterial action prior to discharge. The wastewater is then released from the submarine, usually at a depth of more than 200 meters and at an angle that ensures its dispersal and dilution.
Furthermore, some newer submarines even feature vacuum toilets that aid in the process of waste disposal.
Why can’t submarines go to the bottom of the ocean?
Submarines are only able to reach a certain depth before they become unable to withstand the immense pressure of the deep ocean. The main factor limiting submarine depth is the design of the hull or outer shell.
The hull must be able to withstand tremendous pressure of the extremely deep, dark and frigid water. The deeper in the ocean one goes, the more pressure the hull must withstand. This pressure increases exponentially as a submarine moves deeper into the depths of the ocean, so it is only able to descend to a certain point before the pressure would become so great that the hull would be destroyed.
Additionally, the materials from which submarines are constructed, such as steel, eventually become too weak to withstand the pressure at extreme depths. Therefore, submarines are unable to reach the very bottom of the ocean.
How do submarines sink if they are full of air?
Submarines are typically able to sink because they have overboard ballast tanks which are filled with seawater. While the tanks are empty and the submarine is at the surface, the vessel is properly buoyant and will float.
When it is time to submerge, the crew will fill these ballast tanks with seawater, increasing the overall weight of the submarine. This causes the submarine to sink until the pressure inside the tanks is equal to the pressure outside of the vessel, at which point it will stop descending and hopefully remain at the desired depth.
It is worth noting that other methods such as altering the trim, or weight distribution of the vessel, can also be used. Additionally, some vessels are equipped with dive planes which are used to control the depth and orientation of the submarine in the water.
Do submarines have WIFI?
Yes, submarines have WIFI. Submarines must stay connected to their command and control systems, which requires secure and reliable communications. In the past, this communication was mainly carried out through voice, sonar and other submarine-to-submarine communication, but modern submarines are also equipped with WIFI capabilities.
WIFI has enabled submarines to transfer data and communication with other submarines, vessels and shore-based command systems for faster communication. Submarines also use WIFI to access the internet, which helps the crew stay connected on their long deployment.
WIFI helps bridge the gap between the submarine, which is underwater and out of communication at times, and the rest of the world. In general, submarine WIFI resembles the WIFI networks already existing on the surface, albeit in a much more secure and limited form.
What happens if a submarine runs out of oxygen?
If a submarine runs out of oxygen, the consequences can be catastrophic. Submarines are closed systems and when the oxygen supply depletes, divers can become unconscious due to lack of oxygen. This can cause multiple problems such as incapacitating the on board crew and disabling the submarine, leading to its eventual sinking.
Additionally, if the submarine is in deep water, any rescue of the crew may be extremely difficult and possibly unachievable due to the incredibly high pressures.
If the submarine is able to produce its own oxygen, a malfunctioning oxygen system can cause a deadly combination of increasing levels of carbon monoxide and decreasing levels of oxygen, resulting in asphyxiation of the on board crew.
In addition, if the submarine’s batteries run out, any systems that require electricity to run will not function, which may include certain pumps and filters. Without these critical systems, the submarine can become flooded, or even suffer depressurization, leading to potential damage of the equipment and potential loss of life.
Despite the potentially fatal scenarios, precautions are taken on submarines in order to prevent such issues. Modern vessels have installed sensors that measure the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels aboard and limit their presence within acceptable standards, often providing warning signals if levels become too dangerous.
As such, if a submariner is diligent and follows protocol, then the odds of running out of oxygen should be low.
Can you breathe normally on a submarine?
Yes, you can breathe normally on a submarine. Although the air pressure in a submarine is lower than on land, the submarine has a system that compresses air and pumps it through the vessel. This allows a comfortable, breathabe atmosphere for the crew.
In addition, the interior of the submarine is kept free of moisture and contaminants, meaning that the air within the submarine is typically clean and safe for humans to breathe.
The submarines oxygen supply comes frompressurized tanks filled with oxygen and/or an oxygen-enriched atmosphere. When CO2 levels increase, the submarine’s air filters and scrubbers kick into gear to remove the excess from the air, keeping the air breathable and safe.
Specific measures are also taken to ensure that the carbon dioxide and other gases remain at levels that are safe for breathability.
Overall, although submariners experience some issues related to air pressure,it is possible to breathe normally on a submarine.
What is used for oxygenating in submarine?
Submarines rely on a process called submergence to maintain oxygen levels while underwater. Submergence is the process of drawing in water from the surrounding environment, passing it through onboard filters, and then releasing it as oxygen-rich air back into the interior of the vessel.
This process works in a similar fashion as reverse osmosis, where water is forced through a semipermeable membrane in order to remove salt and other solids. The result is clean, oxygen-rich air that can be used to breathe and move around the vessel.
Submergence units usually work from a generator, auxiliary power unit, or batteries. The main difficulty comes with providing a steady stream of clean, oxygen-rich air while dealing with the complex engineering and design requirements involved in creating a functional submarine.
Why don’t subs run out of air?
Submarines don’t run out of air because they are designed to be completely sealed vessels that contain their own atmosphere. This means that the air that is already in the submarine stays inside, and it does not need to be replenished from an external source.
Submarines typically contain systems that control and monitor the air pressure, oxygen content, and carbon dioxide levels. Fresh air is pumped in as necessary to maintain healthy levels of oxygen and keep carbon dioxide from becoming too concentrated.
To ensure the air inside the submarine is clean and breathable, most subs have a filtration and purification system installed. The combination of these systems and design elements allows a submarine to remain submerged for extended periods of time without the need to replenish its air supply.
What is the longest a submarine has stayed submerged?
The longest time a submarine has spent submerged is 115 days, held by the Russian submarine K-371. It was a Project 629A (NATO designation: Juliett class) ballistic missile submarine that was launched on 19 April 1958.
During its sea trials in April of 1964, K-371 conducted an endurance voyage under Captain Alexander Marinesko and stayed submerged for a total of 115 days.
The submarine managed to travel more than 31,500 nautical miles and resurfaced with a well-deserved record of being the longest-held submerged voyage by a submarine. During this voyage, the crew was able to test the missile launch systems, depth-keeping systems, and other life-support systems.
Because of their experience, the crew was virtually untouched by the effects of the plunge.
The crew also tested their own ability to survive the long voyage, as it tested their physical and mental endurance. Although the crew suffered a few minor health issues, overall, they remained healthy and well-conditioned throughout the 115 days.
The record of K-371 remains unchallenged and is still the longest anyone has stayed submerged in a submarine.
Do submarines run out of compressed air?
No, submarines typically do not run out of compressed air. Submarines are built with air systems that are designed to be able to distill air from the surrounding water and to compress it to a level where it can be suitable for breathing.
This means that they don’t have to worry about running out of compressed air since they can essentially produce their own air. Submarines typically have an oxygen storage section where air can be stored, but so far the storage requirements of normal submarine missions has not been a major issue.
As a result, most submarines are equipped with equipment and systems that will allow them to self-sustain their own air supply without having to resort to outside sources.
How did ww2 subs get oxygen?
WW2 submarines were typically powered by diesel engines, which needed air to operate. As a result, the oxygen inside the sub was a very important resource for their operations, as it was essential for the engines to work properly.
Submarines were designed with several features that allowed them to get oxygen to power their engines for extended periods of time.
The primary way subs got oxygen was through snorkeling. Snorkels were small pipes that were fitted to the side of the submarine which allowed them to take in air from the surface while remaining submerged.
The air taken in was filtered through a series of carbon dioxide scrubbers and the oxygen was retained in special compartments.
Another way submarines got oxygen was via the “LIPS” system. This system used a chemical reaction to extract oxygen from seawater and store it in a separate tank. By turning seawater into oxygen gas, submarines did not need to surface as often to get oxygen.
Finally, submarines could get oxygen by carrying oxygen tanks onboard. This was the least common method, as the tanks took up valuable space and could be dangerous if not handled properly.
In conclusion, submarines during WW2 typically obtained oxygen through snorkeling or LIPS systems, with the occasional use of oxygen tanks. Through these methods, submarines were able to remain submerged for long periods of time, allowing them to carry out successful operations during the war.
Why are subs faster underwater?
Submarines are able to travel faster underwater than above the ocean surface for a couple of reasons. First, water is much denser than air and provides a much greater resistance to movement, allowing for a greater amount of force to be applied for a given acceleration.
This results in a much faster speed on the part of the submarine. In addition, because the water density remains relatively consistent throughout most of the ocean depths, a submarine can travel at the same speed in deeper depths as it can on the surface.
This allows submarines to reach higher speeds than those possible on the surface. Finally, because most submarines use a form of propulsion, such as propellers, nuclear reactors or water jets, the persistence of water allows them to generate much more power while reducing drag, again allowing them to travel faster underwater than on the surface.