Method and device for producing ice having confined hydrogen gas, and ice having confined hydrogen gas

Abstract

[Problem] To provide: a method and device for producing ice having hydrogen gas confined therein; and ice having hydrogen gas confined therein. [Solution] Particulate ice 100 held in a cylinder 1 having one end closed with a stopper member 2 is formed into a three-dimensional ice by injecting hydrogen gas into the cylinder 1 from a hydrogen-gas introduction pathway 5 formed in the stopper member 2 and (simultaneously or successively) compressing the ice 100 with a piston 8 having a gas escape passage 10 from the other end of the cylinder 1 toward said one end. In this production device, the hydrogen-gas introduction pathway 5 is formed in the stopper member 2, and the the gas escape passage 10 is formed in the piston 1, and a filter 13 covering a gas inflow port 11 of the gas escape passage 10 is attached to the piston 1. The ice formed into the three-dimensional shape by compressing the particulate ice 100 has voids in which hydrogen gas is sealed.

Description

Method and apparatus for producing ice containing hydrogen gas, and ice containing hydrogen gas

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing ice in which hydrogen gas is sealed, and ice in which hydrogen gas is sealed.

[0002] In recent years, there has been growing interest in taking in hydrogen gas to maintain and improve health. Inhaling hydrogen gas into the body is said to remove active oxygen species such as hydroxyl radicals, which are deeply involved in many diseases such as aging, cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure, and it is being incorporated into advanced medical treatments.

[0003] In order to take in hydrogen gas into the body, hydrogen water, which is made by dissolving hydrogen gas in water, is taken in as a drink, and is expected to have effects such as anti-aging, beauty effects, and fatigue recovery, and has been sold commercially as health water. Hydrogen water is also known for its use as cleaning water for semiconductor devices.

[0004] Methods for producing hydrogen water include supplying pressurized hydrogen gas to water and dissolving it, electrolyzing water, and reacting water with metals such as Ca and Mg or metal hydrides. However, at room temperature and pressure (20°C, 1 atmosphere), the amount of hydrogen gas that dissolves in water is, at best, about 1.8 ml per 100 ml of water. Moreover, hydrogen gas escapes quickly, dissipating into the atmosphere over time, and the amount of hydrogen gas dissolved in water decreases rapidly.

[0005] Therefore, one method for retaining hydrogen gas has been proposed, in which hydrogen gas-containing water is frozen to seal the hydrogen gas (Patent Document 1). As mentioned above, hydrogen gas has low solubility in water, and its diffusibility is very high. Therefore, hydrogen gas separates from water during cooling to form ice, and the amount of hydrogen gas remaining in the resulting ice is significantly reduced. Therefore, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, raw hydrogen water containing supersaturated fine-bubble hydrogen gas is brought into contact with liquid nitrogen to be flash-frozen to produce ice.

[0006] Here, "fine-bubble hydrogen gas" refers to minute hydrogen gas bubbles with diameters on the micron order (1 to 100 μm) or nanon order (1 μm or less). "Supersaturation" refers to a state in which more gas is present in a liquid than the theoretical solubility of the gas in the liquid. It is considered preferable to remove gas species other than hydrogen contained in the raw water, particularly dissolved oxygen, in order to increase the amount of hydrogen gas contained in the water.

[0007] According to an example of the invention described in Patent Document 1, the amount of residual hydrogen in the thawed raw hydrogen water, which was supplied to an aluminum pouch with a volume of 200 to 400 mL and frozen, was 1.2 ppm (paragraph

[0059] of Patent Document 1). In order to obtain the benefits of hydrogen gas, such as anti-aging, beauty, and fatigue recovery, it is considered desirable to take in about 40 mL of hydrogen gas per day.

[0008] Patent No. 6982869

[0009] In view of these circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a method and apparatus for producing ice that traps a larger amount of hydrogen gas than conventional ice, and also to provide ice that traps a larger amount of hydrogen gas than conventional ice.

[0010] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following measures: [1] A method for producing ice containing hydrogen gas, comprising: injecting hydrogen gas into powdered ice contained in a cylinder whose one end is blocked by a stopper member through a hydrogen gas inlet passage formed in the stopper member, and compressing the ice from the other end of the cylinder toward one end with a piston having a gas release passage, thereby forming the ice into a three-dimensional shape; [2] A method for producing ice containing hydrogen gas, comprising: injecting hydrogen gas into powdered ice contained in a cylinder whose one end is blocked by a stopper member through a hydrogen gas inlet passage formed in the stopper member, and then compressing the ice from the other end of the cylinder toward one end with a piston having a gas release passage, thereby forming the ice into a three-dimensional shape. [3] An apparatus for producing ice containing sealed hydrogen gas, comprising: a cylinder for storing granular ice; a stopper member inserted into one end of the cylinder to close said end; a piston inserted into the other end of the cylinder and driven toward said end; and a hydrogen gas supply source, wherein the stopper member is formed with a hydrogen gas inlet passage through which hydrogen gas from the hydrogen gas supply source is introduced; the piston is formed with a gas release passage and is fitted with a filter covering the gas inlet of the gas release passage; and the apparatus for producing ice containing sealed hydrogen gas by compressing granular ice into a three-dimensional shape. [4] Ice containing sealed hydrogen gas, characterized in that granular ice is compressed into a three-dimensional shape to form numerous voids, and hydrogen gas is sealed in the voids. [5] The ice described in [4], characterized in that hydrogen gas is sealed in the ice containing numerous voids formed by compressing granular ice into a three-dimensional shape to form numerous voids, at a ratio of at least 10 mL of hydrogen gas per 100 mL of ice containing the numerous voids.

[0011] In the method and apparatus for producing ice containing hydrogen gas of the present invention, powdered ice contained in a cylinder is compressed by a piston having a gas release passage formed therein to form three-dimensional ice. This makes it easy to produce three-dimensional ice containing hydrogen gas, and also makes it possible to seal a relatively large amount of hydrogen gas in the three-dimensional ice.

[0012] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a cylinder containing powdered ice; 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the cylinder in a state where the contained powdered ice is being compressed and molded onto the piston; 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the cylinder in a state where the contained powdered ice has been compressed and molded by the piston; and 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the cylinder in a state where the compressed ice has been pushed out from the lower end by the piston.

[0013] The hydrogen gas-entrapped ice of the present invention is basically produced by supplying hydrogen gas to granular ice contained in a cylinder, then compressing the granular ice to form a three-dimensional shape, and enclosing hydrogen gas (molecular hydrogen) in the voids formed inside the ice that has been formed into the three-dimensional shape.

[0014] Granular ice refers to ice in the form of particles of 1 mm or less in diameter, and includes ice that has been shaved or crushed into a cotton-like or powdery form, such as that used in shaved ice, a frozen dessert topped with syrup, etc. Granular ice also includes not only ice made from water, but also frozen beverages that contain water as the main component, such as frozen fruit juice, milk, coffee, tea, and black tea, as well as frozen fruit and frozen pudding.

[0015] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a method and apparatus for producing ice containing hydrogen gas will be described with reference to the drawings. Figures 1 to 4 show the steps leading up to the creation of three-dimensional ice containing hydrogen gas, along with the production apparatus. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4, the cylinder is installed perpendicular to the installation surface (i.e., the axis of the cylinder is vertical), but it may also be installed horizontally (i.e., the axis of the cylinder is horizontal) or at an angle.

[0016] FIG. 1 shows the main body of the manufacturing apparatus. The main body includes a cylinder 1 and a stopper member 2 attached to the bottom of one end of the cylinder 1 and closing the bottom of the cylinder 1. The stopper member 2 functions as a stopper (stop plug) and is composed of a base portion 3 and a stopper portion 4. The base portion 3 supports the end face of the bottom of the cylinder 1, which is one end of the cylinder 1, and the stopper portion 4 is a portion that fits into the bottom of the cylinder 1. The base portion 3 and the stopper portion 4 integrally form the stopper member 2, but the stopper portion 4 may also be fixed to the base portion 3. Powdered ice is introduced into the upper end, which is the other end of the cylinder 1, and powdered ice 100 is stored inside the cylinder 1. When the cylinder 1 is installed horizontally or at an angle, the powdered ice introduced from the other end of the cylinder 1 can be collected and stored at one end of the cylinder 1 using a means such as a pusher or screw conveyor.

[0017] A hydrogen gas inlet passage 5 is formed inside the stopper member 2, allowing hydrogen gas to be introduced into the cylinder 1. One end of the hydrogen gas inlet passage 5 is a hydrogen gas inlet 6, which in this embodiment is located on the side of the base portion 3 of the stopper member, but is not limited to the side. A short pipe (no drawing number) is attached to the hydrogen gas inlet 6, which is connected via this pipe to a hydrogen gas supply source (not shown), such as a hydrogen gas cylinder. Hydrogen gas from the hydrogen gas supply source is sent to the hydrogen gas inlet passage 5 via the hydrogen gas inlet 6. The other end of the hydrogen gas inlet passage 5 is a hydrogen gas outlet 7, from which hydrogen gas is supplied into the cylinder 1. The supplied hydrogen gas permeates the gaps between the granular ice 100 stored in the cylinder 1. To sufficiently supply hydrogen gas to the granular ice stored in the cylinder 1, it is desirable to pressurize the hydrogen gas, preferably at approximately 2 to 10 atmospheres.

[0018] As shown in Figure 2, powdered ice 100 contained in cylinder 1 is inserted from the top end, which is the other end of cylinder 1, and compressed by piston 8, which is driven toward the bottom end, which is one end of cylinder 1. A push rod 9, which can be driven up and down, is attached to the center of the top surface of piston 8. By pushing the push rod 9 downward, the powdered ice 100 is compressed by piston 8 and formed into a three-dimensional shape. When cylinder 1 is installed horizontally or at an angle, one end of cylinder 1 is supported by stopper member 2 abutting against the installation surface, such as a vertical wall or an inclined wall, and with cylinder 1 fixed horizontally or at an angle, piston 8 is inserted from the other end of cylinder 1, and push rod 9 horizontally or diagonally. The piston 8, which is driven horizontally or diagonally toward one end of cylinder 1, compresses the powdered ice 100 and forms a three-dimensional shape.

[0019] The timing for compressing the powdered ice contained in the cylinder 1 with the piston 8 may be such that hydrogen gas is injected into the cylinder 1 and the piston 8 is compressed at the same time, i.e., compression of the piston 8 is started while hydrogen gas is being injected into the cylinder 1, or hydrogen gas may be injected into the cylinder 1 and then compression of the piston 8 is started, i.e., compression of the piston 8 is started after hydrogen gas has been injected into the cylinder 1.

[0020] The granular ice 100 contained in the cylinder 1 is compressed by the piston 8 to about 1 / 10 to 3 / 10 of its volume (about 3 / 20 in the figure), but it cannot be compressed unless some of the gases, such as air and hydrogen gas, contained in the gaps between the granular ice 100 are released. For this reason, a gas release passage 10 is required to release this gas during compression molding. A control valve may be provided in the gas release passage 10 to adjust the pressure or amount of gas being released.

[0021] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 , as shown in FIG. 2 , a hole is formed vertically penetrating the center of the piston 8, and a hole communicating with this hole is further formed in the lower end of the push rod 9 to form a gas release passage 10, with a portion of the gas release passage 10 provided in the push rod 9. The gas inlet 11 of this gas release passage 10 is provided in the center of the underside of the piston 8. The portion of the gas release passage 10 formed in the push rod 9 is formed at the axial center of the lower end of the push rod 9, but is bent laterally near the upper end of the gas release passage 10, and this gas outlet 12 is provided on the side of the push rod 9. The gas release passage 10 formed in the push rod 9 may not be bent laterally but may be formed along the axial center of the push rod 9, and the gas outlet 12 may be provided at the upper end of the push rod. Alternatively, the gas release passage 10 may be provided only in the piston 8, and the gas outlet 12 may be provided not in the push rod 9 but on the top surface of the piston 8 at a location where the push rod 9 is not present.

[0022] The gas inlet 11 of the gas relief passage 10 of the piston 8 is covered with a filter 13. This prevents powdered ice from entering the gas inlet 11 and clogging the gas relief passage 10 when the piston 8 is compressed. Therefore, the filter 13 must be able to pass gas but not powdered ice. A filter 13 with a filtration accuracy of several microns is preferred. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4, the filter 13 covers the entire underside of the piston 8 as shown in Figure 2, but it does not have to cover the entire underside. The filter 13 can be attached to the underside of the piston 8 by screws or adhesive. A sintered metal filter can be used as this filter 13. Sintered metal filters are commercially available and come in a wide range of filtration accuracy grades, from 0.1 μm to 200 μm.

[0023] When hydrogen gas is supplied to granular ice 100 contained in cylinder 1 and compressed by piston 8 as shown in Figure 2, granular ice 100 is compressed, its volume decreases, and it becomes granular ice 150 in the process of being compressed. When further compressed, the volume decreases further, and the granular ice 150 in the process of being compressed is formed into a three-dimensional shape, ice 200. During this process, many (plural) voids are formed inside the three-dimensional ice 200 that has been compressed and formed, and hydrogen gas is trapped in these voids. The voids formed inside this three-dimensional ice 200 can be thought of as being surrounded by ice walls, and the hydrogen gas trapped in the three-dimensional ice will not immediately dissipate unless the ice melts.

[0024] After the compression by the piston 8 is completed, as shown in Figure 4, when the cylinder 1 and piston 8 are pulled up, the three-dimensional ice 200 formed by compression separates from the stopper portion 3 of the stopper member 2 and is pulled up together with the piston 8 while adhering to the filter 13. Next, the stopper member 2 is removed from the end of the cylinder 1, and the piston 8 is lowered to expose it slightly from the bottom, which is one end of the cylinder 1, and the three-dimensional ice 200 formed is separated from the filter 13, yielding ice containing sealed hydrogen gas.

[0025] The compressed, three-dimensional ice 200 can be stored in a household freezer that can be set to a freezing temperature of approximately -16°C to -20°C, and it has been confirmed that even if the ice is frozen for approximately half a year in a freezer set to this temperature range, the amount of hydrogen gas released from the compressed, three-dimensional ice 200 is hardly reduced, even when compared to the three-dimensional ice 200 immediately after being compressed and molded.

[0026] The mechanism by which hydrogen gas is trapped in the three-dimensional ice 200 formed by compression with the piston 8 is not clear, but it is thought that when hydrogen gas penetrates the gaps between the granular ice contained in the cylinder 1 and pressure is applied by the piston 8, numerous voids surrounded by walls of ice are formed, and at the same time, hydrogen gas is trapped in these numerous voids.

[0027] The dimensions of the cylinder 1 of the device for producing ice containing hydrogen gas described above are not particularly limited as long as the driving force of the push rod 9 is sufficiently large and the piston can compress the granular ice contained in the cylinder 1, and it is possible to scale up the inner diameter of the cylinder 1 and the diameter of the piston 8. The cross-sectional shapes of the cylinder 1 and the piston 8 are not limited to circular, but may be square or rectangular. It is also possible to produce a relatively large, compressed, three-dimensional piece of ice 200 and then shred this ice 200 into multiple smaller three-dimensional pieces of ice. During this process, some hydrogen gas escapes, but as long as the shredded ice has a certain volume, the loss can be kept to a relatively small percentage.

[0028] When hydrogen, which is said to be good for health, is ingested through methods such as hydrogen water, the hydrogen gas concentration is so small as 1 to 1.6 ppm, and no effect can be expected. However, with the ice formed into a three-dimensional shape of the present invention, it has been confirmed that hydrogen gas can be sealed in at a ratio of 10 to 20 mL per 100 mL of ice, and at least 10 mL of hydrogen gas can be sealed in at a ratio of 10 mL per 100 mL of ice. If the specific gravity of ice is 0.92 and the density of hydrogen is 0.0899 g / L, thawing 100 mL of ice will result in 92 g of water, so 10 mL of hydrogen gas per 100 mL of ice is equivalent to 9.7 ppm (10 x 10 －３ × 0.0899 / 92 = 9.7 × 10 －６ = 9.7 ppm). Thus, compared to conventional methods of freezing hydrogen gas-containing water and sealing it in, it is possible to seal in at least 10 times as much hydrogen gas. High-concentration hydrogen gas is a dangerous substance, and generally, when the concentration exceeds 4% by volume in air, it is prone to explosion or fire, making it unrealistic to inhale it. However, the ice formed into a three-dimensional shape of the present invention slowly melts, releasing hydrogen gas in small amounts, eliminating this risk.

[0029] The ice formed into a three-dimensional shape according to the present invention can be stored for a long period of time in the freezer compartment of a home refrigerator, and can be cut into suitable sizes, crushed, and consumed directly in the mouth or added to drinking water, milk, juice, coffee, tea, whiskey, shochu, liqueur, etc.

[0030] 1: Cylinder 2: Stopper member 3: Base portion (of stopper member) 4: Stopper portion (of stopper member) 5: Hydrogen gas inlet path 6: Hydrogen gas inlet 7: Hydrogen gas outlet 8: Piston 9: Push rod 10: Gas release passage 11: Gas inlet (of gas release passage) 12: Gas outlet (of gas release passage) 13: Filter ... 100: Granular ice 150: Granular ice being compressed 200: Three-dimensional ice formed by compression

Claims

1. A method for producing ice containing hydrogen gas, comprising the steps of: injecting hydrogen gas into a cylinder, one end of which is sealed with a stopper member, into the cylinder through a hydrogen gas inlet passage formed in the stopper member; and compressing the ice from the other end of the cylinder toward one end with a piston having a gas release passage, thereby forming the ice into a three-dimensional shape.

2. A method for producing ice containing hydrogen gas, comprising the steps of: injecting hydrogen gas into a cylinder, one end of which is sealed with a stopper member, through a hydrogen gas inlet passage formed in the stopper member; and then compressing the ice from the other end of the cylinder toward one end with a piston having a gas release passage, to form ice into a three-dimensional shape.

3. A device for producing ice with hydrogen gas sealed in, comprising: a cylinder for storing granular ice, a stopper member inserted into one end of the cylinder to close said end, a piston inserted into the other end of the cylinder and driven toward one end of the cylinder, and a hydrogen gas supply source, wherein the stopper member is formed with a hydrogen gas inlet passage through which hydrogen gas is introduced from the hydrogen gas supply source, and the piston is formed with a gas release passage and is fitted with a filter covering the gas inlet of the gas release passage, characterized in that the device for producing ice with hydrogen gas sealed in comprises compressing granular ice and forming it into a three-dimensional shape.

4. Ice containing hydrogen gas, which is ice made by compressing and molding powdered ice into a three-dimensional shape to form numerous voids, and which is characterized in that hydrogen gas is trapped in the voids in the ice.

5. The ice described in claim 4, characterized in that the ice powder is compressed and molded into a three-dimensional shape to form a large number of voids, and hydrogen gas is sealed in the ice at a ratio of at least 10 mL of hydrogen gas per 100 mL of ice having a large number of voids.

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