WO2008060175A1

WO2008060175A1 - Method for producing a hypoxic gas mixture used for hypoxitherapy

Info

Publication number: WO2008060175A1
Application number: PCT/RU2006/000595
Authority: WO
Inventors: Simon Naumovich Basovich
Original assignee: Simon Naumovich Basovich
Priority date: 2006-11-13
Filing date: 2006-11-13
Publication date: 2008-05-22

Abstract

The invention relates to medicine, sports and agriculture, in particular to methods and devices for hypoxically stimulating the organism (hypoxitherapy) by effecting the respiratory system thereof with the aid of hypoxic gas mixtures and to the use of gas-vapour fuel combustion products in the form of a raw material for producing a hypoxic gas mixture used for hypoxitherapy. The inventive method for producing a hypoxic gas mixture used for hypoxitherapy consists in extracting a part or the totality of the gas-vapour fuel combustion products, in removing excessive toxic agents and/or moisture from the thus extracted gas-vapour fuel combustionproducts, in cooling said products and in mixing them with atmospheric air at a control of an oxygen sensor. The examples of devices for carrying out said method are also disclosed. Said invention makes it possible to reduce the cost of the produced hypoxic gas mixture, the power consumption by a process for the production thereof and to improve the mass/volume characteristics of the devices used for carrying out the inventive method.

Description

METHOD FOR PRODUCING A HYPOXIC GAS MIXTURE FOR HYPOXYTHERAPY

The present invention relates to medicine, sports and agriculture.

More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and devices for ripoxic stimulation of the body by exposure to its respiratory system using air with a low oxygen concentration. This kind of effect is called “hypoxytherapy” in the literature and means, in a broad sense, treatment, rehabilitation, prophylaxis, adaptation, hypoxic stimulation, hypoxic training of the human body or, in general, any living organism.

A decrease in oxygen concentration in the inhaled air is a means of increasing the nonspecific resistance of the body, i.e. acts as a therapeutic factor. Such a physiological effect of air with a reduced partial pressure of oxygen ("mountain air") has long been known. This physiological effect is used in mountain resorts. It is also used by athletes traveling to the mountains in preparation for the competition. The most widely this physiological effect is used in medical institutions.

For hypoxic therapy, a hypoxic gas mixture is produced, i.e. nitrogen-oxygen mixture, the oxygen concentration in which is less than in atmospheric air, i.e. less than 21%. The use of a hypoxic gas mixture with an oxygen concentration in the range of 9-18% is described, but the most common use of a concentration of 10-14%, see, for example, "Normobaric hypoxytherapy", Methodological recommendations of the Ministry of Health of the USSR and Russia, editions 1985, 1988, 1992, 1994, 2001

Several methods have been proposed for generating a hypoxic gas mixture for hypoxic therapy.

The earliest known method of producing a hypoxic gas mixture for hypoxic therapy was to mix balloon nitrogen with balloon oxygen (Gurevich MO, Sumskaya AM, Khachaturian AA Experience in the treatment of depression with hypoxemia. Neurology and Psychiatry, 1941, v. X, v. 9-10, p. 3-10). Patients were inhaled from a hypoxic gas mixture from Douglas bags filled with hypoxic gas mixtures with different oxygen concentrations. A similar method for generating a hypoxic gas mixture is described in US Pat. No. 5,860,857, where the entire room was filled with a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen (US Pat. No. S860857, 454/338, F24F 007/007, 1999).

This method requires a large operating costs.

A method for producing a hypoxic gas mixture for hypoxic therapy is also proposed, which consists in mixing atmospheric air with nitrogen from cylinders. This method has been recommended in the official publication: Non-Specific Enhancement Method

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) organism resistant ™ using normobaric ripoxic stimulation. Methodical recommendations of the Ministry of Health of the USSR. Approved April 4, 1985 Moscow, 1985

In the USSR copyright certificates NSNS1470002, 1526688, 1801440, in Russian patents N-Ns 2004261, 2019199, 2070063, 2074742, 2128524, 2158610, in US patents Ns 5207623, 5383448, 5850833, 6009870 describes devices for the production of hypoxic gas, toxic gas mixture using semipermeable membranes (USSR copyright certificate Ns 1470002, F25D 17/06, 1993; USSR copyright certificate NsI 526688, A61G 10/00, 1989; USSR copyright certificate NS1801440, A61G 10/00, 1993; Russian patent Ns2004261, A61M 16 / 00, 1993; Russian patent Ns 2019199, A61M 16/00, A61G 10/00, 1994; Russian patent Ne2070063, A61M 16/00, 1996; Russian patent Ns2074742, A61M 16/00, 1997; patent Russia N22128524, A61M 16/00, 1999; Russian patent N ° 2158610, A61M 16/00, 2000; US patent Ns 5207623, HK 482/61, MK A63B 069 / 16,1993; US patent Ns 5383448, HK128 / 205.11, MK A62B 007/10, 1995; US patent NS5850833, HK 128 / 202.12, MK A61G 010/00, 1998; US patent Ns6009870, HK 128 / 202.12, MK A61G 10/00, 2000).

The same method is described in the official publication: Normobaric hypoxytherapy. A method of increasing the body's resistance using intermittent ripoxic stimulation. Methodical recommendations of the Ministry of Health of the USSR. Approved October 27, 1988 Moscow, 1988

US Pat. No. 5,924,419 describes devices for generating a hypoxic gas mixture for hypoxytherapy based on the use of short-cycle adsorption (US Pat. No. 5,924,419, HK128 / 205.11, MK A62B 007/00, 1999). Devices based on the same principle are described in the official publication: Normobaric hypoxytherapy. Guidelines for aviation doctors. Moscow, 2002

US Pat. Nos. 5,799,652, 5,887,439, and 5,964,222 describe devices for generating a hypoxic gas mixture for hypoxic therapy, using either membrane technology or short-cycle adsorption (US Pat. No. 5,799,652, HK 128 / 205.11, MK A63B 023/18, 1998; US Pat. Ne 5887439 , HK 62/78, MK A61L 009/00, 1999; U.S. Patent NS5964222. HK 128 / 205.26, MK A61G 10/00, 1999).

These methods of generating a hypoxic gas mixture for hypoxic therapy are expensive, energy-intensive, and the apparatus implementing the method has large overall dimensions.

The objectives of the present invention are to reduce the cost of producing a ripoxic gas mixture, the energy intensity of the process of generating a ripoxic gas mixture, and weight and size indicators that implements the method of apparatus.

According to the proposed invention, these goals are achieved by using gas-vapor products of fuel combustion as a raw material for the production of a hypoxic gas mixture for hypoxic therapy. This makes it possible to achieve your goals.

The proposed invention is illustrated by drawings, which depict:

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) in FIG. 1 is a diagram of a device for implementing the proposed method in the case where the power device serving as a source of combined-gas products of fuel combustion is a boiler house or a cogeneration plant; in FIG. 2 is a diagram of a device for implementing the proposed method in the case where the power device serving as a source of combined-gas products of fuel combustion is an automobile power plant with low-temperature hydrogen-air fuel cells.

The grounds of the proposed method are as follows. Most power plants that produce thermal, electrical, or mechanical energy operate by burning fuel. The process of burning fuel is the process of its oxidation with atmospheric oxygen. The oxygen of the air supplied to the furnace of a power plant enters the oxidation reaction there with fuel and related substances in the furnace. As a result, thermal energy is generated in the furnace. Since the generation of thermal energy occurs due to the oxidation by oxygen of the air entering the furnace, the oxygen concentration in the stream of gas-vapor combustion products (flue gases, flue gases) exiting the furnace will be less than the oxygen concentration in atmospheric air, i.e. less than 21%. In most power plants, the coefficient of excess air used in heat engineering, i.e. the ratio of the mass of air entering the furnace to the mass of air theoretically necessary for complete combustion of the fuel, to maximize the efficiency, is maintained close to unity. Therefore, the concentration of oxygen in the exhaust flue gas is significantly lower than the concentration of oxygen in the atmospheric air, which facilitates the further development of hypoxic gas mixtures for hypoxic therapy.

The use of exhaust gas-vapor products of fuel combustion as a raw material for the production of a hypoxic gas mixture for hypoxic therapy is the basis of this invention.

When burning fuel in the furnace, substances such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, water vapor, etc. may be formed, depending on the ecological purity of the fuel. To implement the proposed method, it is necessary to clean these impurities. The complexity of cleaning depends on the environmental cleanliness of the fuel used.

In the simplest case, when there is a power plant with low-temperature hydrogen-air fuel cells, hydrogen is used as fuel, and as a result of its flameless combustion (oxidation), only water vapor and water are formed. In this case, toxic impurities are not formed, and purification from them is not needed.

In the case of a power plant using environmentally friendly hydrocarbon fuels such as dimethylether or natural gas, the gas-vapor products of fuel oxidation are water, carbon dioxide (carbon dioxide) and

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) relatively small amounts of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. In this case, purification of the above-mentioned gas products of fuel oxidation is required. As devices for cleaning can be used known devices, for example, adsorbers with replaceable filter media from activated carbon, zeolites, etc.

In the case of a power plant using such environmentally dirty hydrocarbon fuels as coal, brown coal, gasoline, diesel fuel, the amount of toxic gas oxidation products is much larger than in the previous case. Moreover, the above-mentioned cleaning devices, where it is economically feasible, can also be used, but with a more frequent change of filter media.

For the implementation of the present invention, moisture is removed from combined-gas products of fuel combustion, when applicable. This increases the comfort of breathing for the consumer. It should be noted that steam-gas products of fuel combustion can contain not only water vapor, but also steam condensate. As devices for removing moisture can be used known devices, for example, adsorbers with replaceable filter media from silica gel. You can also use other desiccants or dehumidifiers, for example, inertial type. It should be noted that if the atmospheric air in the area where the consumer is located is very dry, moisture can not be removed.

To implement the present invention, gas-vapor products of fuel combustion, when applicable, are cooled. It also improves breathing comfort for the consumer. Cooling is carried out by known methods (air, water, natural, forced, etc.). In the case of using a hydrogen power plant with fuel cells, the fuel cells and / or gas-vapor products of fuel combustion, which in this case are water vapor, are cooled.

To implement the present invention, gas-vapor products of fuel combustion are mixed with atmospheric air. This ensures the safety of the use of the method, i.e. safety of hypoxic therapy (ripoxic stimulation). If the oxygen concentration in the purified and dried fuel combustion products is below the maximum permissible value, for example, below 12%, then with prolonged use this can be dangerous for the consumer, especially suffering from heart failure. Mixing the products of fuel combustion with atmospheric air allows increasing the oxygen concentration to safe values. The concentration of oxygen in the target product produced by mixing, i.e. in a hypoxic gas mixture can be calculated by the formula:

kg = 20.9 - q (20.9 - kθ,

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) where k ₂ is the oxygen concentration in the hypoxic gas mixture,%; q is the volume fraction of fuel combustion products in the mixture; k-i - oxygen concentration in the products of fuel combustion,%.

For example, at an oxygen concentration in the fuel combustion products ki = 5% and their share q = 0.4, the oxygen concentration in the target product produced as a result of mixing, i.e. in a repoxic gas mixture, K ₂ = 14.54%.

For the implementation of the present invention, the concentration of oxygen in the r-toxic gas mixture is controlled, the process of mixing gas-vapor products of fuel combustion with atmospheric air is controlled to achieve the specified oxygen concentration in the r-toxic gas mixture. Monitoring the concentration of oxygen in a repoxic gas mixture is carried out by known oxygen sensors, for example, of the electrochemical type. The regulation of the process of mixing gas-vapor products of fuel combustion with atmospheric air is carried out by changing the supply of either atmospheric air or combustion products. In both cases, regulation is carried out until a predetermined oxygen concentration in the ripoxic gas mixture is reached.

Regulation of the oxygen concentration ensures the safety of the use of the method, since with such regulation the oxygen concentration does not fall below a predetermined limit. This regulation also ensures the efficiency of the use of the method, since the optimal concentration of oxygen for the given consumer is established.

Examples of devices that implement the proposed method are given below.

In FIG. 1 shows a diagram of a device for implementing the proposed method in the case when the energy device serving as a source of combined-gas products of fuel combustion is a boiler house or a cogeneration plant.

The chimney 1 through a pipe 2 is connected to the air conditioning unit 3. The air conditioning unit 3 consists of a cooling unit 4 and a cleaning unit δ. The cleaning unit 5 is connected to the input of the smoke exhauster 6, the output of which is connected to the first input of the oxygen concentration control unit 7. This unit consists of a mixer 8, an oxygen sensor 9, an indicator 10, a comparator 11. The output of the oxygen sensor 9 is connected to the input of the indicator 10 and to the first input 12 of the comparator 11. The second input 13 of the comparator 11 is a reference signal input (the setter itself is conditionally not yet busy). The output of the comparator 11 is connected to the control input of the mixer 8. The second input 14 of the oxygen concentration control unit 7, or, which is the same, the second input of the mixer 8, is connected to the atmosphere.

The output of the oxygen concentration control unit 7 is connected to the inputs of the valves 15, 16, 17 connected in parallel. The outputs of the valves 15, 16, 17 are connected to the inputs of the gas meters 18, 19, 20, respectively. The outputs of the gas meters 18, 19, 20 are connected to the first inputs of the respective concentration control units

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) oxygen 21, 22, 23. The second input of each unit for controlling the concentration of oxygen 21, 22, 23 is connected to the atmosphere. The output of each oxygen concentration control unit 21, 22, 23 is connected to the corresponding consumer of the hypoxic gas mixture.

This device operates as follows. From the furnace of the energy device into the chimney 1 in the direction of the arrow 24, the gas-vapor products of fuel combustion enter. Part of these products moves in the direction of arrow 25 and is released into the atmosphere. Another part of these products under the influence of the negative pressure created by the exhaust fan 5 moves in the direction of the arrow 26 and through the pipe 2 enters the air conditioning unit 3. In the air conditioning unit 3, the gas-vapor combustion products of the fuel are cooled and cleaned of moisture and toxic impurities. At the output of the air conditioning unit 3, steam-gas products of fuel combustion purified from impurities are generated, the oxygen concentration in which is not known exactly. Further, these products through the exhaust fan 6 are fed to the first input of the oxygen concentration control unit 7. An oxygen sensor 9, for example, of an electrochemical type, generates an electric voltage proportional to the oxygen concentration at the output of the mixer 8. This voltage is supplied to an indicator 10 that displays the measured oxygen concentration, and to the first input 12 of the comparator 11. The second input 13 of the comparator 11 is the input of the reference signal. This reference signal is set, for example, by the operator in the form of an angle of rotation of the handle of the potentiometer. The comparator compares the values of the signals at their inputs and, based on the result of the comparison, generates a signal to the mixer 8. According to this signal in the mixer 8, the ratio between the values of two gas flows changes: the flow of combined-gas products of fuel combustion entering the first input of the mixer 8 and the atmospheric air flow which communicates the mixer 8 at its second input 14. As a result of the negative feedback at the output of the oxygen concentration control unit 7, the target product is generated, i.e. hypoxic gas mixture with a given oxygen concentration.

The produced hypoxic gas mixture with a given oxygen concentration enters the valve line 15, 16, 17. The consumer by adjusting the corresponding valve can turn on the supply of the hypoxic gas mixture, and its quantity is taken into account by the corresponding gas meter 18, 19, 20. From the output of each gas meter 18 , 19, 20 the hypoxic gas mixture enters the first input of the oxygen concentration control unit 21, 22, 23, respectively, the second of which is connected to the atmosphere. Each of the oxygen concentration control units 21, 22, 23 is similar in structure to the oxygen concentration control unit 7. From the output of the oxygen concentration control units 21, 22, 23, the hypoxic gas mixture is supplied to the respective consumers. The oxygen concentration at the outlet of each of these blocks is set individually by the consumer using the appropriate unit for controlling the oxygen concentration 7. The consumer has the opportunity

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) use the incoming hypoxic gas mixture in your breathing zone in accordance with your needs. For example, it can fill one or more rooms with a hypoxic gas mixture. He can also use the hypoxic gas mixture in economy mode, breathing it through a mask in either continuous or intermittent mode.

In FIG. 1 shows the flow of a hypoxic gas mixture to three consumers. It should be understood that this amount is arbitrary. The number of consumers can be from one to many thousands. The latter will take place when the raw materials for the production of a hypoxic gas mixture are taken from a large energy device, for example, from a cogeneration plant, and fed into a large number of apartments of one or more houses. Hypoxitherapy as a means of maintaining health is useful for almost all people, therefore, the potential need for a hypoxic gas mixture for hypoxic therapy is great. Hypoxitherapy in the proposed form can also be used in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, health centers.

The device for implementing the proposed method shown in FIG. 1, uses as a raw material an insignificant part of the gas-vapor products of fuel combustion coming from the furnace of the energy device to the chimney 1. If the used part of gas-vapor products of combustion becomes significant, this increases the coefficient of excess air of the energy device, thereby reducing its efficiency. In order not to reduce the efficiency of the energy device, it is necessary to compensate for the outflow of combined-gas products of combustion along arrow 26 by decreasing this flow along arrow 25, for example, by putting a shutter in the way of the latter (not shown in Fig. 1). It is also possible to use not part of the combined-cycle products of fuel combustion coming from the furnace of the energy device into the chimney 1, but all of these products in full.

In FIG. 1 conditioning unit 3 performs three functions: cooling combined-gas products of fuel combustion, cleaning them from excess toxic substances and moisture. The procedure for performing these functions by the air conditioning unit 3 is not of fundamental importance.

In FIG. 2 shows a diagram of a device for implementing the proposed method in the case where the power device serving as a source of combined-gas products of fuel combustion is an automobile power plant with low-temperature hydrogen-air fuel cells. The power plant located in the car 27 includes a hydrogen source 28 connected to the hydrogen input of the fuel cell unit 29. The air outlet 30 of the fuel cell unit 29 is connected to the input of the moisture separator 31, the output of which is connected to the input of the air distributor 32. One output of the air distributor 32 is directed into the car interior (upward in Fig. 2), the second output of the air distributor 32 is directed (in Fig. 2) downward, outward of the car, and ends with the exhaust pipe 33. Entrance

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) air 34 of the fuel cell unit 29 is connected to the output of the fan 35, the input of which is connected to the output of the control unit 36. The control unit 36 includes an oxygen sensor, a comparator and an indicator, similar to the oxygen concentration control unit in FIG. one.

This device operates as follows. From the hydrogen source 28, hydrogen is supplied to the hydrogen input of the fuel cell unit 29. This unit generates electrical voltage used to power the car’s electric motors. The near-cathode space of the fuel cell unit 29 is connected to the air outlet 30 and the air inlet 34 and is a furnace and at the same time a mixer of the fuel cell unit 29. Air is supplied to the near-cathode space of the fuel cell unit 29 by a fan 35. In this space, hydrogen is oxidized by atmospheric oxygen, i.e. reaction of flameless combustion of hydrogen fuel. As a result of the near-cathode space, gas-vapor products of fuel combustion are formed, which in this case are water vapor and air with a reduced oxygen concentration.

Next, the gas-vapor combustion products of the fuel enter the dehumidifier 31, from the output of which the air purified from excess moisture passes to the inlet of the air distributor 32. The air entering the inlet of the air distributor 32 is a hypoxic gas mixture, i.e. target product. The consumer, at his request, controls the switching of the air directional valve 32, depending on which the ripoxic gas mixture can either enter the consumer in the passenger compartment of the car 27 (up arrow) or be emitted into the atmosphere through exhaust pipe 33. The oxygen concentration in the ripoxic gas mixture entering the consumer is measured by an oxygen sensor located in the control unit 36. The output signal of the control unit 36 controls the performance of the fan 35, which controls the mixing process in the near-cathode space the fuel cell unit 29. The larger the desired oxygen concentration is set, the greater the fan capacity 35 is set. Thanks to the negative feedback, the consumer can set any desired oxygen concentration within the capacity of the source of the repoxic gas mixture. The control unit 36, the fan 35 in combination with the near-cathode space of the fuel cell unit 29 can be considered as a variation of the oxygen concentration control unit 7 shown in FIG. 1. It should be understood that the use in an automobile of an oxygen concentration control unit in such a structural form as in FIG. 1 is also possible.

The use of a ripoxic gas mixture by a consumer in a car can be different; a rpoxic gas mixture can fill the entire premises of a car or a fenced part of this premises. The hypoxic gas mixture may also be supplied to vehicle passengers through masks, caps, or bells.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) The oxygen concentration in the supplied hypoxic gas mixture should be safe. If the consumer does not have serious deviations from the cardiovascular system, then an oxygen concentration of about 14% can be considered practically safe even with prolonged continuous breathing of a hypoxic gas mixture. An additional way to ensure safety during ripoxitherapy is to gradually adapt to a low oxygen concentration. In the proposed invention, this is achieved by measuring and regulating the concentration of oxygen in the hypoxic gas mixture supplied to consumers for respiration. At the beginning of the application of this method, you can establish a knowingly safe large concentration of oxygen, for example, 18%, and then gradually, over the course of days, weeks or even months, reduce this concentration. An adaptation option is also possible due to a gradual transition from short-term inhalation of a hypoxic gas mixture to longer inhalation.

In the case of using the proposed method in a car, it should be borne in mind that hypoxytherapy has a calming, sedative effect, which is good as a therapeutic and prophylactic effect, but because of this effect, the driver can become sleepy. For this reason, the effect of the hypoxic gas mixture on the driver should be limited.

From the above description it is seen that the use of combined-cycle products of fuel combustion as a raw material for the production of a hypoxic gas mixture for ripoxitherapy allows to achieve all the above objectives of the present invention.

Although this invention has been described with examples of both methods and devices for implementing the invention, it should be understood that various changes can be made in the form and details of the invention without departing from the meaning and scope of the claimed invention.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)

Claims

Claim

The use of combined-cycle products of fuel combustion as a raw material for the production of a hypoxic gas mixture for hypoxytherapy.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)