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BUILDING AN UNDERWATER BASE
Written by Acidous
25. December 2002
Disclaimer: I hereby take no responsibility for what
you may do with the instructions within
this file. Everything you do will be your
own decision, and you must alone take the
fall for it.
Introduction
The underwater base is one of the safest base types
when hiding, but of course, there is a chance it will
have leaks and get filled with water, so there are some
risks included when using it. But a well built underwater
base will be as safe as a base on base land.
Building The Base
There are some important factors that MUST be included
in this underwater fortress.
The material which is used should be strong. Plastic is
not recommended since it easily will be destroyed.
Metals, on the other hand, is highly recommended. You might
think that the metal will rust, but that is where you are
wrong. The metal will not rust(perhaps just a little, but that
is over a very long time) because there is no air present.
So iron or steel is good, but even better is a strong type
of aluminium(which doesnt rust at all), but it is slightly more
expensive than iron and steel.
Mainly, you will need two(2) parts. One main part where you will
be staying when down there, and one airlock.
The Airlock
The airlock is very important if you want to get into the base
without flooding it. It must be a box which is big enough to get
a grown person in it, but also so that you may move around in it.
You must construct two(2) doors, one where you get into the airlock
and one where you go out of the airlock and into the main area.
They are easy to make, it's only a metal(use a no-rust metal this time)
door with gaskets(those rubber bands) around it to make sure no water
comes through. You will also need two(2) fans and two(2) pipes.
The fans must be electrical fans and well protected from water, each
of the fans are to be placed in the pipes. One of the pipes will
work as a drainage, and is put in the bottom of the airlock, and the
other pipe will go from the main area to the top of the airlock.
The pipe with the fan in the bottom will push the water out, and
since the fan on the top pushes fresh air in, the water won't come
back. When all the water is gone, open the door to the main area
and walk in. Remember to close the door behind you in case someone
else is entering the base later. A faster way of draining is to have
a hatch in the bottom which you can open and close. So that when you
turn the airlock switch to ON it will open, and all the water will
fall down to anoter room below, and then be sucked out from there.
The Main Module
This is the biggest of the areas, and the most important. This is
where you will be when staying in your base. It has to be higher
than you are tall, so that you may walk straight(otherwise you may
get an injury).
Fresh air is a very important matter here. You will need two(2) pipes
and at least two(2) fans here too. One of the pipes will be an exhaust
pipe, and the other will supply you with fresh air. The amount of
fans needed is determined by the strength of the fans, and how long the
pipes are. If you have long pipes and weak fans, you may need several
fans down the pipe to get the airstream all the way down.
The exhaust pipe is more important than you might think. If you only
have an air pipe, you might experience pressure inside the base,
something which we do not want in this case.
The fans must be placed so that they push the air down the pipes,
they must not suck it, that is because sucking air is very limited
and needs much power(ie. it is impossible to suck anything farther than
10 meters).
The air and exhaust pipes should also come up on separate places, so that
you do not breathe the same air over and over again, it is also wise to let
them come up on places where there is no people(ie. under piers or docks).
It is important that you check the air pipes before you go down into the
underwater base, so that you do not die from lack of air.
Lack of air is perhaps one of the most dangerous factor in the base.
That is because you cannot see it, if there is a leak, then you can see
it. But there are some ways to protect yourself from breathing CO2, or not
breathing anything at all. You may have a lit candle. When the candle goes
out, and you are unable to light it again, that is when you do not have
any more air left, then the only thing you will have to do is to get out.
Other things you may find very useful is some portholes(those round
windows you often see on movies) to look out through. The reason they
are round is that when it is round, it does not have any weaker points,
the strength is divided evenly over the whole glass, something which is
not the case with square windows. The portholes should be made of thick
plastic or plexi glass and have gaskets on both sides to make sure no
water comes through. Hold them in place with bolts.
You could also have searchlights on the outside of the module, so that
you may be able to see if something, or someone, is coming.
You should also have lights inside the main module so that you are able
to see what is going on.
Calculating The Construction Strength
The strength and thickness of the material used to build the modules
is very important. You do not want a module to collapse while you are
in it.
Not many people know, but when at same height as the sea, there will
be an incredible weight put on everything, but it is something which
you do not feel, because the human body is grown in that environment,
and is therefore made for being in it.
We usually use the following for how much pressure is put on you.
A 1x1 meter surface will have a pressure of 1 ton on it. This weight
is caused by the air-pillar which is above it(yes, air also weights
some - O2 alone weights 32 g/mol, and N2 weights about 46 g/mol).
It is also a fact that for every 10 meter you go down in the water,
you will have an pressure raise of 1 atmospheric pressure.
Something which means that if you are 20 meters beneath the surface,
you will have a 3 ton pressure over a surface of 1 square meter.
To be on the safe side, you should add about 1 ton more than the
lowest limit.
Electricity
As you might have understood, this underwater base requires electricity
to run things like the fans, electric lights and other things.
A way to solve this problem is to take electricity from the local area
electricity network(which runs above ground). You may hook up with a wall
socket in a house and use an extension cord to lead it down to your base,
this is the most recommended way. You should bury the cord, so that no
one will notice, and your underwater base will stay hidden from others.
You could of course also use batteries, but batteries go flat, and then
will have a problem with the air.
Remember to always have ALL electric devices and item insulated and
also connected to earth to make sure you will not get killed by
electricity.
Heating:
Since you are under water, it will be very cold. If you have ever
swimmed in the summer, and dived a little down, you will have felt
how cold it will become. That is exactly how cold it will be inside
your underwater base unless you install some proper heating.
You should only use electric ovens. Any fossil-based fuel produce
CO and CO2 gasses among many other which will sufficate you without
you even knowing it.
Electric panel ovens from houses are fine, but of course, any other
type of electrical oven will work just fine.
Safety And Crisis Plans
Your safety in this is the far most important issue concerning this
base. That is one of the reasons the base must be properly built.
If you do not have a crisis plan, you might hesitate, something
which may cause you to die.
To make sure you will get air even if there is something wrong
with the electric system, someone pulls the plug or the likes, you
should use an electro magnetic switch. It is very easy to make, and
will not cost you much.
The following is the most basic way one of these works.
You have two(2) metal plates which lead electricity. They are placed
on a insulating base. One of them is attached to the base, and the
other is put on rails and with a weak spring which pushes it so
that it gets in contact with the other metal plate. Behind the plate
with the spring, there is an electro magnet which holds the plate
from getting in contact with the other. This electromagnet is ran
by power from the main electricity network. Once the power goes off,
the two(2) metal plates slam together and the circut is ended.
Of course, you will have to connect one of the poles on a battery to
the plate. The other pole goes through all the equipment which needs
electricity and to the metal plate which is attached to the base.
You should use the kind of batteries which is used in cars, that
is because they are strong, and last for a long time.
An escape pod could be really useful if the base is being flooded or
you do not have time to get up. It should be as rounded as possible
and the front should have a cone or the likes for a tip. There should
be at least 4 BIG bags filled with air, or some other kind of gas on
the escape pod. You might have these bags inflate themselves by using
the same method which is used in airbags for cars. They use gunpowder,
which creates a lot of gasses when burned, to inflate the bags.
You could place the escape pod on a set of strong springs for good
ejection. You pull a handle inside the escape pod, and the springs
is released and you shoot out towards the surface. When you see/feel
that you are not moving any more, inflate the bags/balloons to make
sure you will reach the surface. It would be good to have a porthole
in the escape pod too, so that you know for sure when you are not moving
any more and to see if there is something in the way.
If sleeping down in the base, you should have a friend or other person
who would stay awake when you sleeped to make sure nothing goes wrong.
You should change so that he sleeps and you stand guard too.
If alone, make a good alarm system. If the power goes and the battery
starts, make an alarm go off, a loud continous alarm sound so that you
will wake up. You could also use the heat from the candle to make an
alarm. When the candle is put out, the heat disappeares, and something
which is held up by the heat may fall down and set off the alarm.
Always check the air and exhaust pipes before you go down into the
base, it would also be smart to check it with fixed intervals.
Camouflage
Camouflaging the base may be smart if you do not want everyone to
snoop around, and in, your underwater base. Cover it with
sea leaves, and different plants which naturally grow in the area
around your base location.
Anchoring
Since the modules mainly are filled with air, it will most probably
float. That is when you need anchors. Strong anchors which is bolted
to the main module and the airlock. these MUST be strong, or your
underwater fortress may get loose and float of, with you inside it.
Big metal anchors will do, but you chould also using chains, which is
bolted both to the modules and the surface which the base is put on.
This is perhaps the most safe way, but harder to get loose if you
decide to relocate.
Rusting/Oxidation
As long as it is beneath water, it will not rust/oxidize because of
the lack of oxygen. It can not rust without oxygen.
That is why you must watch yourself if taking it up from the water.
When you take the modules out of the water, and into fresh air, is
when the rusting begins. And it rusts very fast. There are a few ways
to stop it from rusting. One of the ways is to use an sacrificial anode,
paint it with anti-corrosive paint or use an non-corrosive metal.
The sacrificial anode is a "weaker" metal which is placed on the
outside of the modules. By weaker, it is not meant that you can bend it
easier, but that it corrodes easier. An example of a commonly used
industrial sacrifical anode is zinc(Zn). You should ask around, or
check the tension chart over which metals oxidize the easiest.
The anti-corrosive paint is easy to use. All you have to do is to
paint the modules with this, it is very important that you paint
everthing, do not leave any spots open.
It works in the way that the paint is non-corrosive, and therefore
protects the metal from corroding.
Non-corrosive metals will also work fine, but are often much more
expensive than normal metal, and will therefore raise your costs
drastically. I would not recommend using this unless you have
a lot of money.
Using The Underwater Base
The underwater base may be used for many different purposes, and
will prove very useful for many things.
If you wish, you may run a crime league from it. Doing your nasty,
and then retreating to the underwater base, but this will only work
if no one sees you go to the base.
However, one of the drawbacks of the base is that you will get wet
when entering it(caused by swimming to it), but that will be no problem
if using a dry-suit, or if you have clothes to change into when safely
inside the main module. You should always have ovens or some other
way to dry clothes and other items which you need to get dry.
I will not say much more about this, since it is only your imagination
which sets the limits for the use of your underwater base.
Expanding Into Underwater Cities
If more people decide to build their own underwater bases, you might
want to place them near each other, and build passages between them.
In that way, with enough people, you will have a small underwater city.
You may build a whole society under water, with parks, stores, farms
and so on.
It is important that not all of the modules is hooked up to the same
electricity source. That is because if one should fail, and that
modules backup battery won't work, they may enter another module
which is hooked up to another powersource.
All modules should have air-tight doors which can be closed in a hurry.
This will come in handy if one module has a leak or the walls are torn
apart by one thing or another. You may then close the door to that part
and stop the water from flooding the rest of the modules.
Note that there should not be some areas which are more important than
the others. With important, it is meant that if that area is flooded, the
rest of the modules will be flooded. Such areas do only exist on films.
Parks may not be as distant as you think it is. Plant life is based
on photosynthesis, which is really an uncomplex thing. The plant
uses carbon dioxide(CO2), water(H2O) and sunlight, and it then
produces clean air(O2) and sugar(C6H12O6). Sunlight may be "faked" in
the same way they do in greenhouses, with strong artificial lights.
You may choose to build a large module with a garden of plants in.
You should not have many plants in your own module unless you keep
the light on 24 hours a day. The explanation is simple.
As long as the plants have enough sunlight, they will convert CO2 into
O2, which is clean air. But when they do not have any sunlight, they
will do it the other way around, they will use O2, and produce CO2.
So if the city has one big park module, it should either be under
constant artificial light, or the module should be shut off with
water proof doors.
Farms may be built in the same way as the parks. It must not be
used tractors driven by fossil-based fuel, or any fuel which
produces CO2 or other toxic gasses. Everything must be driven by
electricity. There should not be an overproduction of food, but
just enough to feed the people, and maintain a good backup storage.
Everyone, except those who have permanent jobs in the underwater
city, should shift on being a farmer, tending the gardens,
performing maintenance work and the likes.
The backup food storages should be in a sort of "basement", which
has no heating. This is something which will cause the food
storage to have a low temperature(4 C at the lowest) at all times.
There should be no politicians in the underwater city. But there
should be a permanent board which comes up with things which is
needed or may just be fun to do. They vote over it, and if most
of the board vote for it, it will be arranged a meeting for all
the population of the city and everyone will vote over it.
This is what seemed like the best idea to me, but you might think
otherwise.
Something else which may be good to do, is to not notify the
government about your underwater city. In that way, you will
not have to pay any taxes, and you will live free in the city
beneath the water surface. A way you may live free is to make
it look like you have died in some way.
There should be no taxes for living in the city either, except
the cost of maintaining your own modules, and a small part of
the money required for maintaining the public modules, and for
buying seeds the equipment the first time a new farm or park
module is opened.
Not everyone should be allowed to settle in the underwater city.
There should be strict regulations on not telling anyone, except
some people which may be potential citizens, about the city.
Those who wish to settle there should be checked by the board
(mentioned earlier) to see if they may fit in the society.
You can not afford to have someone who may in time sabotage the
underwater city and drown all the citizens.
See end of file for Rules suggestion.
IMPORTANT construction info:
It is very important to remember that the bigger the module is, the
more fragile is it. If it has a large surface(like a farm or park)
it will be very vulnerable for breaking on the middle. So the bigger
the surface/construction is, the stronger must the material be.
You may use steel girders to make sure it won't fall apart.
Conclusion
As you may see, an underwater base is very realistic to make.
Even underwater cities is possible to build with little
resources.
But you must be aware of the risk it is. Nothing is perfect,
and nothing will ever be perfect, so there is always a
chance of disaster. So it is best to be well prepared the
day disaster strike down on you.
I hope you enjoyed reading my file, and if you decide to build
yourself an underwater base, I hope you will enjoy both building
it and using it too.
-Acidous
E-Mail : acidous_@hotmail.com
Site : home.no.net/acidous
Rules Of Underwater City:
-Everyone is to pay their part of the money needed to maintain
the modules at an acceptable state.
-Eveyone is to pay they part of the money needed to buy seeds,
tools and materials needed to live in the underwater city.
-Everyone is to do their job as good as they are capable of.
-It is mandatory with air-tight doors in the opening of all
your modules.
-All fossil- and carbon based fuels are banned.
-It is illegal to tell anyone, except chosen persons, about
underwater city.
-Those who do not obey the rules will be tested by the board.
-There are no taxes.
-Money is not allowed. If you want something, trade it for something
you have traded with someone else, or something you have made.