Hydreliox

Hydreliox ( rarely Hydrelux ) is a gas mixture which is used in research projects, as a breathing gas. The name consists of the name of the component hydrogen (Latin hydrogenium, H2), helium ( He) and oxygen (Latin oxygenium, O2) together. The composition results from the fact that helium is an almost ideal filling gas, because its low density even at high pressures can be easily breathed and it does not has a narcotic effect. However, the High Pressure Nervous Syndrome ( HPNS ) trigger. Therefore, hydrogen is added, which has a narcotic effect and may decrease slightly as an antagonist to the helium HPNS.

Benefits

• Larger (or very large ) Diving depths than comparably with breathing air, helium or other gas mixtures possible. Theoretically, up to 1000 meters depth, this surpassed only by the practically not usable liquid breathing.
• No narcotic effect, since no nitrogen is included (nitrogen narcosis)
• Very low breathing resistance

Disadvantages

• Possible " reducing " chemical- biological effect of hydrogen.
• Due to the good thermal conductivity of hydrogen and helium takes place a cooling of the lungs of the diver.
• Mainly dry dives in pressure chambers; 1988 used in the real " Hydra- VIII " program, with a maximum depth of 534 m was achieved in the Mediterranean with people; animals were able to successfully depths up to 900 m (1988, " Hydra IX " mice) and 1200 m (1994, " Hydra X", monkeys ) be dived.
• General expenses and necessary security during dives persist to great depths. Likewise, the necessary decompression and the heat problem.
• General risk of detonating gas explosion on the surface or in the gas processing. This risk is lower under water, no longer present in the inserted depth of the prevailing partial pressure.