Electrochemical Nitrogen Generator for Atmospheric Pressure Preservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for preserving oxygen-sensitive items, such as food and artifacts, are inadequate as they either require costly nitrogen storage, lead to vacuum-induced contamination, or are limited by the size of containers due to the limitations of existing electrochemical oxygen extraction systems.
Innovation Solution
An Electrochemical Nitrogen Generator System and Method that sequentially extracts oxygen from containers while maintaining atmospheric pressure, allowing for the replacement with nitrogen through fractional steps or continuous flow, enabling the creation of a nitrogen-rich environment in containers of various sizes without the need for rigid containers or costly absorbents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electrochemical oxygen extraction is applied to small containers, then oxygen reduction to 0.1% is achieved, but the system cannot be applied to larger containers due to power supply limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the oxygen extraction process into multiple sequential extraction cycles. Each cycle extracts a portion of the oxygen, and the process is repeated until the desired oxygen concentration is achieved. This allows the same electrochemical cell to effectively handle larger container volumes by accumulating extraction over time rather than requiring a single high-power extraction event.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic extraction cycles where the electrochemical cell operates intermittently rather than continuously at high power. By cycling the extraction process and allowing atmospheric pressure to be maintained throughout, the system reduces peak power demands while achieving the same cumulative oxygen removal effect, enabling application to larger containers.
2Measurement precision
If vacuum is applied to remove oxygen, then oxygen concentration is reduced, but chemicals distill from the items and rigid containers are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operating parameters by maintaining atmospheric pressure throughout the oxygen extraction process, rather than creating a vacuum. This parameter change eliminates the harmful effects of vacuum-induced chemical distillation and container leakage while achieving the same oxygen concentration reduction through electrochemical extraction at constant pressure.
3Measurement precision
If absorbent materials are used to bind oxygen, then oxygen removal is achieved, but large amounts of absorbents are required making the approach cost-prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical/chemical approach of using large quantities of absorbent materials with an electrochemical extraction method. By applying electrical energy to drive the oxygen extraction reaction, the system achieves efficient oxygen removal without requiring bulk absorbent materials, thereby reducing material costs and simplifying the preservation system.
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
This approach effectively reduces oxygen concentrations to levels that prevent oxidative degradation, is cost-effective, and can be applied to a wide range of container sizes without creating a vacuum, thus protecting sensitive items over long durations.
Implementation Method 1
electrochemical extraction of oxygen from medical vials
Data Source
AI summary
An Electrochemical Nitrogen Generator System and Method. The system and method provide the ability to create a nitrogen-rich environment in containers of a variety of sizes. The system and method are able to extract the oxygen from the air within the container without reducing the internal pressure substantially below atmospheric. A version of the method is provided to reduce the oxygen content and replace it with nitrogen through a series of sequential fractional steps. In another form, the system and method will provide a “streaming” approach of bleeding off oxygen-containing contents of the container, while continuously replacing it with air until such time as the percentage of oxygen within the container is below the desired level. In yet another version, the system and method operate under pressure, thereby injecting pressurized air, either in sequential fractional steps or via continuous flow, whereby at the end of the process, the internal contents of the container are in a pressurized nitrogen environment, and the oxygen expelled from the container during the process is also under pressure.