How do Submarines work?
Hey friends, Happy Wednesday!
Let’s look at how Submarines work this week. I aim to write my newsletter issues in a way one can follow them while traveling on a bus, having a coffee, waiting for your food, etc. Let's jump in!
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Basic Working Principle
Consider this analogy. An empty plastic bottle floats in water. As we fill it with water, it begins to submerge and eventually sinks going below the surface. This is how a Submarine works. It manipulates the amount of water filled in its tanks to rise and sink, adjusting the depth as needed. Let us look at it in detail.
How do Submarines sink and resurface?
Figure 1: Seawater getting into the ballast tanks, while air is being vented out from the top, making the submarine sink. Source: SubmarineSafaris
This is achieved by using ballast tanks shown in Figure 1. When the submarine is at the surface, its tanks are filled with air, thus making its density less than that of the surrounding water. To submerge the submarine, the air in the ballast tanks is vented out from the top through the opening. Seawater coming in through the flood ports from the bottom forces air out of the vents. Hence the ballast tanks are flooded with water to replace this air. The density is greater than the surrounding water and the submarine begins to sink.
The exact depth can be controlled by adjusting the water-to-air ratio in the ballast tanks. To rise up again, the compressed air is directed into the ballast tanks from within, and hence the water is forced out of the submarine through the openings at the bottom until its overall density is less than the surrounding water and the submarine rises.
How do Submarines move around?
Figure 2: Rudder and Propeller
Nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers utilize onboard nuclear reactors to generate power. They initiate a controlled nuclear fission process, where atoms are split, releasing a tremendous amount of heat. It is then used to produce steam, which powers the turbines connected to the propeller shafts.
Nuclear-powered submarines are the most common. And the others have diesel-electric engines. The tail rudder at the rear is used to change the orientation of the submarine.
How do people breathe in a Submarine?
First, the sea water is purified. Next, the water undergoes electrolysis, where an electrical current is passed through it. This process splits the water molecules into their individual components: hydrogen and oxygen. The oxygen molecules are then recombined, forming breathable oxygen. This oxygen is then circulated into the chamber for people to breathe.
Gadget of the week
Cleaning Robots: This smart pool cleaner uses radar technology to efficiently clean pools up to 5000 sq. ft. on a single charge. With its radar capabilities, Zima Pro can map its surroundings and clean effectively. It also has powerful suction motors that allow it to climb and clean walls. Additionally, it features a built-in filter that purifies the water while cleaning the pool surfaces.
Thank you for reading!
Have a nice rest of the week, and take care!
Until next Wednesday,
Chendur
