SBIR/STTR Award attributes
The need for distressed submarine rescue occurs rarely, but when there is a need, it is critically important that the Navy have tools and capabilities ready to support rescue operations. In a typical distressed submarine scenario, the internal pressure within the submarine will elevate. This means that the crewmembers are saturated at a nitrogen partial pressure significantly above the surface pressure and would be at significant risk for decompression sickness if they were rapidly rescued to the surface. The Navy has established capabilities to transfer survivors from a disabled submarine to decompression chambers on the surface, but decompression times can be long, which could limit the ability to safely rescue all survivors in some scenarios. This topic seeks an oxygen delivery and monitoring system capable of delivering elevated oxygen partial pressure to survivors during rescue. This capability would decrease decompression time and allow survivors to be rescued more efficiently. We are developing a simple rebreather with novel components including gas sensors and the carbon dioxide scrubber that will safely and efficiently deliver elevated oxygen to survivors during rescue.
