VALIDATION OF THERMAL BALANCE EQUATION OF DIVER IN HYPERBARIC ENVIRONMENT AT SATURATION WITH HELIOX

I presented the validation of diver thermal balance equation in subsea hyperbaric environment at diving with air, in a previous paper. The same equation was validated, at saturation diving using Heliox breathing mixture, in the simulator of Laboratory Hyperbaric Diving Center. The subjects were separated into two groups of four: the first group dived in saturation with Heliox at 60msw “stage depth” and the second one at 30msw. I calculated, with equation (1.1), theoretically temperatures divers, after sinking into warm water (20 0C) and into cold water (17 0C). At the end diving temperatures were measured each subject, for each scenario diving (depth, water temperature, stationary time, thickness suit, etc.). Theoretically temperatures were compared with those obtained experimentally and the differences between theoretical and real values were 1 0C. The mathematical proposed model is valid for Heliox saturation diving in wet hyperbaric environment, up to 60 msw.