How Are People Able to Breathe Inside a Submarine?

Crew members on a submarine — Submarine crew members on an attack sub carry out a drill while moored at the navy base in Niteroi, Brazil, on May 27, 2014. YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images

Key Takeaways

Inside submarines, oxygen is replenished, carbon dioxide is removed and exhaled moisture is eliminated to keep the air breathable.
Oxygen can be supplied from pressurized tanks, oxygen generators or oxygen canisters, with levels managed by computerized systems or periodic releases.
Carbon dioxide is chemically removed using substances like soda lime, and moisture is controlled by dehumidifiers or chemical means, preventing condensation inside the vessel.

The air we breathe is made up of significant quantities of four gases:

Nitrogen (78 percent)
Oxygen (21 percent)
Argon (0.94 percent)
Carbon dioxide (0.04 percent)

When we breathe in air, our bodies consume its oxygen and convert it to carbon dioxide. Exhaled air contains about 4.5-percent carbon dioxide. Our bodies do not do anything with nitrogen or argon.

A submarine (or a spaceship, for that matter) is a sealed container that contains people and a limited supply of air. There are three things that must happen in order to keep air in a submarine breathable:

Oxygen has to be replenished as it is consumed. If the percentage of oxygen in the air falls too low, a person suffocates.
Carbon dioxide must be removed from the air. As the concentration of carbon dioxide rises, it becomes a toxic gas.
The moisture that we exhale in our breath must be removed.

Oxygen is supplied either from pressurized tanks, an oxygen generator (which can form oxygen from the electrolysis of water or by some other means) or some sort of "oxygen canister" (You may remember these canisters because of their problems on the MIR space station -- they release oxygen by a very hot chemical reaction). Oxygen is either released continuously by a computerized system that senses the percentage of oxygen in the air, or it is released in batches periodically through the day.

Carbon dioxide can be removed from the air chemically using soda lime (sodium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide). The carbon dioxide is trapped in the soda lime by a chemical reaction and removed from the air. Other similar reactions can accomplish the same goal.

The moisture can be removed by a dehumidifier or chemically. This prevents it from condensing on the walls and equipment inside the ship.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do submarines manage the risk of fire and its impact on breathable air?

Submarines are equipped with sophisticated fire detection and suppression systems to quickly address any fire incidents. These systems are crucial for maintaining air quality, as fires consume oxygen and produce harmful gases.

What happens to human waste inside a submarine?

Human waste in submarines is processed and stored in tanks until the submarine surfaces and can safely dispose of it.