JB> TW> Teh British experiements with the "Self Contained"
Internal combustion
JB> TW> engines using Hydrogen Peroxide for fuel, As the name implies Fuel and
JB> TW> Oxidizer in one package, also to enhance submerged endurance.

JB>Until just now, I never realized Hydrogen Peroxide would be combustable. (Sh
JB>how far my chemistry took me. ;-) I suspect the 3% stuff we find on the shel
JB>wouldn't be?

It was industrial grare doe sure. I would suspect at least 50%
Incidently i nthe "Old Days(50's/60's) they had Hydrogen Peroxide
powered Torpedos. They also had a decomposition of the fuel monitoring
and if the rate started to rappidly increase they wewre placed i na
Torpedo tube and ejected. Becasue of the lesser amount of fuel involved
it woudl only ruin your day if it exploded inside the sub. :-)

JB> TW> The problem that killed the project was the instability of the
JB> TW> Hydrogen Peroxide fuel. With age depending on humidity and temperature
JB> TW> factors it became instable to the point of Spontenious explosions.
JB> TW> Becasue of that the submarine had a system of monitoring the
JB> TW> decomposition rate and was tied up when in post at an isolated spot.
JB> TW> The fuel were outside the strong pressure hull and fairly safely blew
JB> TW> Out from the sub, Sometimes severly damaging anything along side.

JB>Well, it'd still be bangin' on the pistons, so it wouldn't be so quiet eithe

As part of the Sub quieting program they have made amasing advances in
Sound Isolation. Evne an internal combustion engine can be quited so it
cannot be heard outside the Sub hull.
Incidently even the Sterling Engine has soe mpistion noise. But sinde
explosione are not involved it is quite a bit quieter.
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 þ SLMR 2.1a þ This note from El Cajon California USA