High Pressure Diver Breathing Gas Supply System

ADA Technologies, in collaboration with SCUBAPRO, proposes to develop an ultra-high-pressure SCUBA system capable of supplying Navy divers with vastly increased air capacity to allow longer submersion time. This system employs multiple small composite cylinders and a custom first-stage pressure reduction regulator coupled with commercial-off-the-shelf SCUBA parts. It is designed to provide more than twice the amount of breathing air while shedding 30% of the cylinder weight without restricting mobility of the diver. With this additional submersion time, divers will have increased operational flexibility resulting in a higher likelihood of mission success. The proposed Phase I program includes regulator design and prototyping, composite cylinder procurement, integration with COTS components, followed by pressure and functionality testing. The critical task of the program is the design and fabrication of a pressure-reducing regulator to step-down ultra-high cylinder pressure of up to 10,000 psi to an intermediate pressure of 140 psi. The first prototype design will be validated through pressure testing at our facilities to demonstrate safe operation and proper gas flow. Following successful proof-of-concept demonstration, the team will fabricate an advanced prototype, leveraging findings from the initial effort and develop a preliminary engineering and manufacturing plan to be refined in Phase II.