Smart process keeps air clean underwater

Croft Engineering Services is
working with two leading
universities to help create a
chemical-free system for removing
carbon dioxide from the air inside
underwater capsules. The smart
process is being developed using
thousands of tiny pieces of fine wire
mesh, called Dixon Rings, supplied
by Croft Engineering Services’
manufacturing centre, in
Warrington.

Neil Burns,
partner of Croft
Engineering
Services, said:
“Dixon Rings
are based on
technology
developed in 1948 – due to their
size, the common 3mm ring has a
surface area of 2378m3/m3 which,
along with a void space of over 90%
and HETP as low as 5.88cm, means
they offer the perfect packing for a
number of applications, including
submarines in which carbon dioxide
can be fatal if left to saturate the
air.”