Nitric Oxide Generation via Low Oxygen Gas Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for generating nitric oxide in mobile applications suffer from significant formation of toxic nitrogen oxides, particularly nitrogen dioxide, which requires costly and complex purification steps, making direct use of the gas challenging, especially in home care settings.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a process gas with a low oxygen content, heated to a sufficient temperature, is used to generate nitric oxide, minimizing the formation of nitrogen oxides in higher oxidation states by ensuring oxygen is largely converted to nitric oxide, thus avoiding the need for extensive purification and allowing direct administration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional methods are used to generate nitric oxide by electric gas discharge, then nitric oxide can be produced, but toxic nitrogen oxides in higher oxidation states are formed requiring complex purification steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the oxygen content in the process gas to ≤5 vol-% and optimizing the temperature range for the reaction. This parameter optimization ensures that nitric oxide is produced while minimizing the formation of toxic nitrogen oxides in higher oxidation states, thereby resolving the contradiction between production quantity and harmful byproduct formation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a nitrogen-rich atmosphere as an inert environment to suppress the formation of nitrogen dioxide. By maintaining low oxygen concentration and using nitrogen as the primary gas component, the inert atmosphere prevents further oxidation of nitric oxide to toxic nitrogen dioxide, eliminating the need for complex purification steps
2Productivity
If oxygen content in process gas is increased to improve nitric oxide yield, then more nitric oxide is formed, but nitrogen dioxide formation increases requiring purification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the oxygen content parameter to ≤5 vol-%, finding the optimal balance point where sufficient nitric oxide is produced while nitrogen dioxide formation is suppressed. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by identifying the precise oxygen concentration range that maximizes productivity without generating harmful byproducts
3Object-affected harmful factors
If purification steps are added to remove nitrogen dioxide, then gas safety is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by controlling the reaction conditions (oxygen content ≤5 vol-% and temperature) in advance to prevent the formation of nitrogen dioxide before it occurs. This preventive approach eliminates the need for subsequent purification steps, resolving the contradiction between gas safety and system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of oxygen (which could form toxic nitrogen dioxide) into a benefit by precisely controlling its concentration to promote nitric oxide formation while suppressing nitrogen dioxide. The low oxygen content that would normally be seen as limiting becomes the key to producing safe, purification-free nitric oxide
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 prevents the formation of toxic nitrogen oxides, enabling the direct use of nitric oxide for therapeutic applications without additional purification steps, ensuring a therapeutically effective concentration and reducing energy consumption and system complexity.
Implementation Method 1
heating the process gas to a temperature which is sufficiently high to enable a reaction of oxygen and nitrogen to form nitric oxide
Implementation Method 2
heating the process gas to a temperature which is sufficiently high to enable a reaction of oxygen and nitrogen to form nitric oxide, thereby forming a gas which comprises nitric oxide
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for generating nitric oxide, in particular for therapeutic applications, which comprises the steps of: guiding a process gas into a reaction chamber 3, wherein the process gas comprises nitrogen and oxygen, heating the process gas to a temperature which is sufficiently high to enable a reaction of oxygen and nitrogen to form nitric oxide, thereby forming a gas which comprises nitric oxide, and extracting the nitric oxide comprising gas from the reaction chamber 3, wherein oxygen is present in the process gas in the reaction chamber in an amount of <5 vol-%.