Biphasic Hydrogen–CO2 Mixture for Safe High-Density Carbonation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The limited solubility and economical use of hydrogen-carbon dioxide mixtures in carbonation devices are hindered by the formation of two phases at higher pressures, leading to low hydrogen concentration and compliance with inflammable mixture standards.

Innovation Solution

A biphasic mixture of hydrogen and carbon dioxide is prepared under conditions allowing sufficient hydrogen concentration in the liquid phase, ensuring compliance with safety standards and maximizing CO2 content per unit volume, with extraction methods optimizing hydrogen delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If higher pressure is applied to increase CO2 content per unit volume, then the amount of CO2 stored increases, but the mixture becomes incompatible with current inflammable mixture standards due to increased hydrogen concentration requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCO2 content per unit volumeVSAvoidcompliance with inflammable mixture standards
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state parameter of CO2 from gas to liquid phase by applying pressure above the critical pressure (31.2 MPa). This parameter change allows achieving high CO2 density (8-10 times more than gas phase) while maintaining hydrogen concentration below inflammable limits, as the liquid CO2 phase can be stored at lower hydrogen concentrations while still providing sufficient hydrogen for carbonation when mixed with water.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the phase transition of CO2 from gas to liquid by storing it above its critical pressure. This phase transition enables the system to achieve high density storage of CO2 in liquid form, which resolves the contradiction by allowing high CO2 content per unit volume while the hydrogen remains in gas phase at lower concentrations that comply with safety standards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

2Productivity

If hydrogen concentration is increased to improve carbonation effectiveness, then the carbonation performance improves, but the mixture becomes inflammable according to current standards

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarbonation effectivenessVSAvoidinflammability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses water as an intermediary medium. Hydrogen is stored in the gas phase at low concentrations (below inflammable limits) in the storage device, but when water is introduced, hydrogen dissolves in water achieving high concentration for effective carbonation. The water acts as a mediator that enables high hydrogen concentration in the final product without requiring high hydrogen concentration in the storage mixture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the concentration parameter of hydrogen between two states: low concentration in the gas phase storage mixture (compliant with safety standards) and high concentration in the dissolved state in water (effective for carbonation). This parameter change is enabled by the phase transition of CO2 and the solubility of hydrogen in water under pressure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If homogeneous gas phase mixture is used to ensure safety, then compliance with inflammable standards is achieved, but the amount of CO2 per unit volume is limited to about 30-35 g per cartridge

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety complianceVSAvoidCO2 content per cartridge
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies phase transition of CO2 from gas to liquid by storing the mixture above the critical pressure of CO2 (31.2 MPa). This allows CO2 to exist in liquid phase with density approximately 8-10 times higher than gas phase, enabling storage of 400-500 g of CO2 per cartridge while hydrogen remains in gas phase at safe concentrations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite system with two distinct phases: liquid CO2 phase and gas phase containing hydrogen. This composite structure allows each component to occupy its optimal phase - CO2 in liquid form for high density storage, and hydrogen in gas form for safety compliance - while functioning together as a unified carbonation system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The biphasic mixture enables economical use by allowing up to 8-10 times more CO2 per unit volume than homogeneous gas phase mixtures, maintaining effective hydrogen concentration in beverages and ensuring safety.

Implementation Method 1

a biphasic mixture of hydrogen and carbon dioxide, in which there is a gas phase rich in hydrogen and a liquid phase rich in carbon dioxide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase separation: Phase Change

Implementation Method 2

hydrogen is distributed differently in the two phases, and the solubility of hydrogen in the liquid phase of CO2 is unknown

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas solubility in liquid: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP4101524B1Biphasic mixture of hydrogen and carbon dioxide
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 SOCIETA ITALIANA ACETILENE & DERIVATI SIAD SPA IN ABBREVIATED FORM SIAD SPA

AI summary

The present invention relates to a biphasic mixture of hydrogen and carbon dioxide for use in water or beverage carbonation devices.