Hydrogen Gas Dilution for Safe Medical Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional apparatuses for supplying high-concentration hydrogen gas to living organisms are unsafe due to hydrogen concentrations exceeding explosion limits, making them unsuitable for medical or home use.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus that generates hydrogen gas and dilutes it with a diluent gas to maintain concentrations below the detonation or explosion limits, using an electrolytic cell with a diluent gas supplier to blow the diluent gas to the cathode surface, ensuring safe hydrogen gas supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If air mixer is attached to conduit pipe to mix air with generated hydrogen gas, then hydrogen gas concentration can be arbitrarily set, but hydrogen gas concentration exceeds explosion limit making apparatus unsafe
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by introducing diluent gas to the cathode surface before hydrogen gas accumulation can reach dangerous concentrations. This proactive dilution at the source prevents the formation of explosive mixtures in the conduit pipe, resolving the safety issue while preserving concentration control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a diluent gas as an intermediary substance between the hydrogen gas generation source and the output. This intermediary dilutes the hydrogen concentration at the cathode surface, preventing explosive conditions while allowing flexible concentration adjustment, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and safety.
2Reliability
If diluent gas is blown to cathode surface, then hydrogen gas concentration is maintained below explosion limit, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the diluent gas supplier serve multiple functions: it controls hydrogen concentration to prevent explosions, enables flexible concentration adjustment, and maintains safe operating conditions throughout operation. This multi-functionality justifies the added component by eliminating the need for separate safety systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the concentration parameter dynamically by controlling diluent gas flow to the cathode surface. This allows continuous adjustment of hydrogen concentration within safe limits, providing both safety and flexibility without requiring complex mechanical concentration control mechanisms.
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
Enables the safe use of high-concentration hydrogen gas for health benefits in medical practices and at home by consistently maintaining hydrogen concentrations below the lower limits of detonation or explosion.
Implementation Method 1
an electrolytic cell 1; a direct-current power source 2 that applies a direct-current voltage to electrode plates 14 and 15 in the electrolytic cell 1
Implementation Method 2
a diluent gas supplier 3 for diluting hydrogen gas generated from the electrode plate 14 or 15 that is to be a cathode
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes an electrolytic cell having an electrolytic chamber to which subject raw water is introduced, at least one membrane that separates inside and outside of the electrolytic chamber, and at least one pair of electrode plates provided in the inside and the outside of the electrolytic chamber so as to sandwich the membrane, the electrode plate in the outside of the electrolytic chamber being provided to be in contact with the membrane; a direct-current power source that applies a direct-current voltage to the pair of electrode plates; and a diluent gas supplier for diluting hydrogen gas generated from the electrode plate that is to be a cathode, wherein the apparatus blows diluent gas supplied from the diluent gas supplier to the cathode thereby to constantly maintain a hydrogen gas concentration in the vicinity of the cathode during electrolysis at lower than 18.3 vol % so that mixed gas comprising the hydrogen gas and the diluent gas and having a hydrogen gas concentration of 0.1 to 18.3 vol % is supplied to a living organism.