Uncle FireSnake's "How the Fudge Does This Work?!"

[FireSnake]

Using a still suit is easy!

STEP 1

Take it out of the package!

"I can already taste the phun!"

STEP 2

Look it before putting on

"Ohboyohboyohboyohboy!"

STEP 3

It doesn't work

"GARGH!"

THIS is where Uncle FireSnake comes in.

In today's lesson, I'll teach You kiddies how a still suit works.

We know that a human being inhales O2 and exhales CO2 which it can't use.

The stillsuit has two tubes regarding breathing:

One that comes out of the nostrils and leads the CO2 into a container,

And one that leads from the container to the facial gate (read: "mouth") area and lets the wearer breathe usable O2 again.

How come the wearer can breathe O2 again? Out of nowheres? Is there a little leprechaun inside that container that makes O2 out of CO2? Not necessarily.

The trick is - chemistry.

The container contains Na2O2 that binds CO2 and due to wonderful chemical reactions transforms into solid matter called Na2CO3 and wonderful wonderful O2!

2Na2O2 + 2CO2 -> 2Na2CO3 + O2

If You already knew this neat trick, then call me and I will magically give You back the time You lost reading this hooey. If You liked this trick and found it amusing, then know that somewhere a FireSnake is feeling warm and fuzzy.

Thank You for reading. See kids, chemistry can be fun?

Think of it - what will happen if You're lost in the middle of a desert and can't breathe? Always carry Yout still suit or Na2O2 with You!

(Heheh. If any of You guys were wondering, then that's the way the still suits turn CO2 into O2. :) I got this idea from a braniac back at school. Give him and chemistry a mighty aplause!)

- Matthew

[Colonel_Worf]

Sorry... my brain is on vacation.

[FireSnake]

I'll send him a card. ::)

"Dear Mr. Brain ..." :P

- Matthew

[Navaros]

this is not the important question about how a stillsuit works. the REAL question is in another thread.

[Vanguard3000]

Hmm... I would have thought they simply breathe through their mask into their mouth, and out through their nose tube ("filt-plug," if you want to get technical), where the water vapour is collected, and CO2 is just released into the environment. I guess that's oversimplifying things, though. ;)

[FireSnake]

this is not the important question about how a stillsuit works. the REAL question is in another thread.

Well show that thread. And I this is just my theory on breathing. Not about the whole of the still suit.

- Matthew

[Navaros]

http://www.dune2k.com/forum/?board=1;action=display;threadid=8829;start=0

[Mahdi]

Hmm... I would have thought they simply breathe through their mask into their mouth, and out through their nose tube ("filt-plug," if you want to get technical), where the water vapour is collected, and CO2 is just released into the environment. I guess that's oversimplifying things, though. ;)

Exactly. They are jsut filters, they don't collected your co2 and provide oxygen.

[nemafakei]

Besides which, for every two moles of CO₂ put in, you only get one O₂ out - not very good.

[FireSnake]

NO! You don't like my invention! You're wrong! IT'S BRILLIANT!!!1

*Grabs his invention and jumps out of the window as the whole place blows into pieces a la action-movie*

...

:P

- Matthew

[nemafakei]

I think it's less a case of disliking it, and more one of the invention not working, nor of being a stillsuit.

[Vanguard3000]

Firesnake: If it makes you feel any better, I believe rebreathers use a similar system as your "stillsuit". :)

[FireSnake]

Besides which, for every two moles of CO₂ put in, you only get one O₂ out - not very good.

There's also another way. ;)

4KO2 + 2CO2 -> 2K2CO3 + 3O2

- Matthew

[FireSnake]

Firesnake: If it makes you feel any better, I believe rebreathers use a similar system as your "stillsuit". :)

I know that.

- Matthew

[FireSnake]

I think it's less a case of disliking it, and more one of the invention not working, nor of being a stillsuit.

It WORKS. It is used in reality.

And as for the stillsuit, I merely brought out a new version.

- Matthew