ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel SmarterEveryDay How Do Nuclear Submarines Make Oxygen?- Smarter Every Day 251
Welcome to an exciting exploration of submarines! Today, we’re focusing on how submarines, like the USS Toledo, manage to stay underwater for long periods without surfacing. One of the big questions is: how do they create oxygen for the crew to breathe?
Inside a submarine, the crew breathes in oxygen and exhales carbon dioxide. Over time, the air can become unbreathable if not managed properly. To keep the air safe, submarines use a system called CAMS (Central Atmospheric Monitoring System) to check the air quality in different parts of the submarine.
The CAMS system is crucial for ensuring that the air in each compartment is safe. This is especially important in areas where many people gather, like sleeping quarters. A crew member named Dell explained how they use sensors to track gases such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, ensuring the air remains safe to breathe.
Submarines have two main methods for creating oxygen:
Electrolysis involves splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity. However, using seawater directly can produce harmful chlorine gas. To avoid this, submarines first purify seawater through filtration and reverse osmosis. Then, they use potassium hydroxide to make the electrolysis process more efficient and safe.
The second method involves burning special candles that produce oxygen through a chemical reaction. Although burning usually consumes oxygen, these candles are designed to release oxygen. Each candle can burn for about 45 minutes to an hour, providing a backup oxygen source.
To keep the air breathable, submarines need to remove carbon dioxide. They use two main methods:
The MEA (Monoethanolamine) system absorbs carbon dioxide from the air and then releases it overboard after processing.
Lithium hydroxide canisters are a passive method for scrubbing CO2. They can be used even if the power goes out, making them a reliable backup.
In summary, submarines create oxygen through electrolysis and burning special candles, while they remove carbon dioxide using the MEA system and lithium hydroxide canisters. These systems ensure that submariners can breathe comfortably while submerged.
Thank you for joining this exploration of how submarines manage their air supply. We hope you found it interesting and informative!
Using household materials, create a simple model of a submarine. Focus on illustrating how the submarine manages air supply. Include compartments for oxygen generation and carbon dioxide removal. Present your model to the class and explain how each part functions.
Conduct a small-scale electrolysis experiment using a battery, water, and salt. Observe how electricity splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. Discuss how submarines use a similar process to generate oxygen and the importance of purifying seawater before electrolysis.
Participate in a role-playing game where you are part of a submarine crew. Assign roles such as captain, engineer, and air quality monitor. Use scenarios to practice decision-making about air quality management and emergency responses.
Work in groups to design a simple air quality monitoring system for a submarine. Decide which gases to monitor and how to alert the crew if levels become unsafe. Present your design and explain how it ensures the safety of the crew.
Draw a comic strip that tells the story of how a submarine generates oxygen and removes carbon dioxide. Use characters to explain the processes of electrolysis, oxygen candles, and CO2 scrubbing. Share your comic with the class and discuss the science behind each step.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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Hey, it’s me, Destin! Welcome back to Smarter Every Day. Today, we’re diving into a new series about submarines, specifically the USS Toledo. Submarines are designed to stay underwater for extended periods, and sometimes they can’t surface, like when they’re under ice. This raises an interesting question: how do submarines create oxygen on board?
When you’re inside a submarine with your crewmates, you’re breathing in oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide. Eventually, the air inside can become unbreathable. So, today, we’re going to explore how submarines generate oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
To maintain a livable atmosphere, submarines use a system called CAMS (Central Atmospheric Monitoring System) to monitor air quality in different compartments. Let’s check out how this system works.
[Music]
To keep everyone alive on the submarine, we need to ensure that the atmosphere in each compartment is safe. Ventilation is crucial, especially in areas where many people are gathered, like sleeping quarters. The CAMS system helps monitor the atmosphere throughout the submarine.
I met with a crew member named Dell, who explained how they monitor oxygen levels using CAMS. They have various sensors that track gases like carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, ensuring that the air remains safe to breathe.
Next, we explored two methods for creating oxygen on board. The first method involves electrolysis, where water is split into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity. However, using seawater directly can produce chlorine gas, which is dangerous. Therefore, the seawater must be purified first through filtration and reverse osmosis.
Once we have purified water, we can use potassium hydroxide to enhance the electrolysis process, allowing for safe oxygen production.
The second method for generating oxygen involves burning special candles. This process may seem counterintuitive since burning consumes oxygen, but these candles are designed to produce oxygen through a chemical reaction. Each candle can burn for about 45 minutes to an hour, providing a backup method for oxygen generation.
Now, let’s talk about removing carbon dioxide. Submarines use two main methods: the MEA (Monoethanolamine) system and lithium hydroxide canisters. The MEA system absorbs carbon dioxide from the air and then releases it overboard after processing. Lithium hydroxide canisters are a passive method for scrubbing CO2, and they can be used even if the power goes out.
In summary, submarines create oxygen through electrolysis and burning candles, while they remove carbon dioxide using the MEA system and lithium hydroxide. This allows submariners to breathe comfortably while submerged.
This episode of Smarter Every Day is sponsored by Raycon, a company that makes fantastic earbuds. I’ve been using them while running, and they have a convenient pause feature. If you’re interested, you can check them out at buyraycon.com/smarter for a discount.
Thank you for joining me on this deep dive into submarines! If you enjoyed this episode, consider subscribing to Smarter Every Day. I’m grateful for your support. Have a great day!
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This version removes any informal language, personal anecdotes, and specific product promotions while maintaining the core information and structure of the original transcript.
Submarine – A vessel designed to operate underwater, often used for scientific exploration or military purposes. – The scientists used a submarine to explore the deep ocean and study marine life.
Oxygen – A colorless, odorless gas that is essential for most forms of life on Earth and is a key element in the process of respiration. – Plants produce oxygen during photosynthesis, which is crucial for animals and humans to breathe.
Carbon – A chemical element that is the fundamental building block of life and is found in all living organisms. – Carbon is a major component of organic molecules, including proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.
Dioxide – A compound consisting of two oxygen atoms bonded to another element, commonly found in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2). – Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burned for energy.
Electrolysis – A chemical process that uses electricity to break down compounds into their elements or simpler compounds. – Electrolysis of water splits it into hydrogen and oxygen gases.
Candles – Objects made of wax with a wick that can be lit to produce light and sometimes heat. – In a science experiment, the burning of candles was used to demonstrate the chemical reaction of combustion.
Lithium – A soft, silvery-white metal that is the lightest of all metals and is used in batteries and other applications. – Lithium is a key component in rechargeable batteries for electronic devices and electric vehicles.
Hydroxide – A chemical compound containing the hydroxide ion (OH-), often used in neutralizing acids. – Sodium hydroxide is commonly used in laboratories to adjust the pH of solutions.
Sensors – Devices that detect and respond to physical inputs from the environment, such as temperature, light, or motion. – The weather station uses sensors to measure temperature, humidity, and wind speed.
Filtration – A process used to separate solids from liquids or gases by passing them through a filter. – Filtration is used in water treatment plants to remove impurities from drinking water.
