Compagnie maritime d'expertises
Encyclopedia
COMEX is a company specializing in engineering and deep diving operations, created in November 1961 and run ever since then by Henri Germain Delauze.
This company is known worldwide for its technology in regards to underwater exploration in high depth.
Its line of business includes:
COMEX carried out pioneering work in very deep Saturation diving
. The company experimented with the use of Hydrogen
in the divers' breathing gas
. This work with Heliox
and Hydreliox
gas mixtures started with Hydra I in 1968. It culminated with Hydra X (Hydra 10) in 1992 when COMEX diver Theo Mavrostomos achieved a record simulated dive of 701 metres in an on shore hyperbaric chamber.
The use of Hydrogen for diving was in part driven by the need to overcome the problems of high pressure nervous syndrome
(HPNS). However, there was another reason for the interest in using hydrogen in a breathing gas
. In 1987, Comex was part of a Canadian-French consortium that was building the world’s first commercial nuclear mini-submarine. This submarine, Saga, was a prototype intended to be used for oil exploration and development under the Arctic ice. Saga was built on a hull originally constructed by Jacques-Yves Cousteau
but not completed due to lack of funds. Saga would have a complete saturation diving system on board. The nuclear power plant would be able to produce large volumes of hydrogen and oxygen through the Electrolysis of water
. This would provide plentiful amounts of breathing gas
for autonomous diving operations under the Arctic ice cap.
The project suffered tax problems in Canada which caused political repercussions between the French and Canadian governments. Saga did undergo successful sea trials in 1991 but without the intended nuclear power plant. Underwater propulsion was provided by a Stirling engine
and surface propulsion by a diesel engine. The project was abandoned and Saga was laid up at Marseille.
This company is known worldwide for its technology in regards to underwater exploration in high depth.
Its line of business includes:
- hyperbaric testing facilities,
- oceanographical research ships (Minibex and Janus),
- testing pool.
COMEX carried out pioneering work in very deep Saturation diving
Saturation diving
Saturation diving is a diving technique that allows divers to reduce the risk of decompression sickness when they work at great depth for long periods of time....
. The company experimented with the use of Hydrogen
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is the chemical element with atomic number 1. It is represented by the symbol H. With an average atomic weight of , hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant chemical element, constituting roughly 75% of the Universe's chemical elemental mass. Stars in the main sequence are mainly...
in the divers' breathing gas
Breathing gas
Breathing gas is a mixture of gaseous chemical elements and compounds used for respiration.Air is the most common and only natural breathing gas...
. This work with Heliox
Heliox
Heliox is a breathing gas composed of a mixture of helium and oxygen .Heliox has been used medically since the 1930s, and although the medical community adopted it initially to alleviate symptoms of upper airway obstruction, its range of medical uses has since expanded greatly, mostly because of...
and Hydreliox
Hydreliox
Hydreliox is an exotic breathing gas mixture of helium, oxygen and hydrogen.It is used primarily for research and scientific deep diving, usually below . Below this depth, extended breathing of heliox gas mixtures may cause high pressure nervous syndrome . Two gas mixtures exist that attempt to...
gas mixtures started with Hydra I in 1968. It culminated with Hydra X (Hydra 10) in 1992 when COMEX diver Theo Mavrostomos achieved a record simulated dive of 701 metres in an on shore hyperbaric chamber.
The use of Hydrogen for diving was in part driven by the need to overcome the problems of high pressure nervous syndrome
High pressure nervous syndrome
High-pressure nervous syndrome is a neurological and physiological diving disorder that results when a commercial diver or scuba diver descends below about while breathing a helium–oxygen mixture. The effects depend on the rate of descent and the depth...
(HPNS). However, there was another reason for the interest in using hydrogen in a breathing gas
Breathing gas
Breathing gas is a mixture of gaseous chemical elements and compounds used for respiration.Air is the most common and only natural breathing gas...
. In 1987, Comex was part of a Canadian-French consortium that was building the world’s first commercial nuclear mini-submarine. This submarine, Saga, was a prototype intended to be used for oil exploration and development under the Arctic ice. Saga was built on a hull originally constructed by Jacques-Yves Cousteau
Jacques-Yves Cousteau
Jacques-Yves Cousteau was a French naval officer, explorer, ecologist, filmmaker, innovator, scientist, photographer, author and researcher who studied the sea and all forms of life in water...
but not completed due to lack of funds. Saga would have a complete saturation diving system on board. The nuclear power plant would be able to produce large volumes of hydrogen and oxygen through the Electrolysis of water
Electrolysis of water
Electrolysis of water is the decomposition of water into oxygen and hydrogen gas due to an electric current being passed through the water.-Principle:...
. This would provide plentiful amounts of breathing gas
Breathing gas
Breathing gas is a mixture of gaseous chemical elements and compounds used for respiration.Air is the most common and only natural breathing gas...
for autonomous diving operations under the Arctic ice cap.
The project suffered tax problems in Canada which caused political repercussions between the French and Canadian governments. Saga did undergo successful sea trials in 1991 but without the intended nuclear power plant. Underwater propulsion was provided by a Stirling engine
Stirling engine
A Stirling engine is a heat engine operating by cyclic compression and expansion of air or other gas, the working fluid, at different temperature levels such that there is a net conversion of heat energy to mechanical work....
and surface propulsion by a diesel engine. The project was abandoned and Saga was laid up at Marseille.