Hypoxia training device

A method of controlling the level of oxygen in an air stream during pilot hypoxia training comprising:

• providing a device to a pilot during hypoxia training that comprises:
• one or more electrochemical cells each comprising:
• a cathode and an anode separated by a proton exchange membrane, each of the anode and cathode in communication with an input and an output, wherein the input of the cathode is in fluid communication with ambient air, wherein the input of the anode is in fluid communication with a source of liquid water, and wherein oxygen is removed from the ambient air during contact with the cathode when hydrogen ions are separated from liquid water by a catalyst on the anode;
• one or more recirculation pumps to recirculate air from which oxygen has been removed back to the cathode;
• a power supply connected to the one or more electrochemical cells;
• and
• a mask in fluid communication with the output from the cathode of the one or more electrochemical cells;
• and
• setting an altitude set-point, wherein the altitude set point is used to determine a current to the one or more electrochemical cells;
• and
• modulating the amount of oxygen output from the device during operation.

A method for training a pilot for hypoxia, the method comprising:

• providing a device to a pilot during hypoxia training that comprises:
• one or more electrochemical cells each comprising:
• a cathode and an anode separated by a proton exchange membrane, each of the anode and cathode in communication with an input and an output, wherein the input of the cathode is in fluid communication with ambient air, wherein the input of the anode is in fluid communication with a source of liquid water, and wherein oxygen is removed from the ambient air during contact with the cathode when hydrogen ions are separated from liquid water by a catalyst on the anode;
• one or more recirculation pumps to recirculate air from which oxygen has been removed back to the cathode;
• a power supply connected to the one or more electrochemical cells;
• and
• a mask in fluid communication with the output from the cathode of the one or more electrochemical cells and setting an altitude set-point, wherein the altitude set point is used to determine a current to the one or more electrochemical cells;
• modulating the amount of oxygen output from the device during operation;
• and
• displaying instructions to the pilot to change one or more parameters selected from at least one of breathing depth, breathing frequency, breathing cadence, muscle tension, suit pressure, or provision of oxygen from a non-ambient source.

A device for reducing the amount of oxygen in ambient air comprising:

• one or more electrochemical stacks comprising:
• a cathode electrocatalyst, a proton exchange membrane, and an anode electrocatalyst, wherein when power is provided to the one or more electrochemical stacks, the anode electrocatalyst electrolyzes water into protons and oxygen, the protons traverse the proton exchange membrane, and the cathode electrocatalyst reacts the protons with oxygen in ambient air to form water, thereby reducing the amount of oxygen in the ambient air;
• and
• one or more recirculation pumps to recirculate air from which oxygen has been removed back to the cathode electrocatalyst.

A method for reducing the amount of oxygen in ambient air comprising:

• electrically powering one or more electrochemical stacks that comprise:
• a cathode electrocatalyst, a proton exchange membrane, and an anode electrocatalyst;
• electrolyzing water at the anode electrocatalyst into protons and oxygen, wherein the protons traverse the proton exchange membrane by attraction to the cathode electrocatalyst;
• reacting oxygen in ambient air with the protons at the cathode electrocatalyst to form water, thereby reducing the amount of oxygen in the ambient air;
• and
• recirculating the air in which oxygen has been reduced back to the cathode electrocatalyst using one or more recirculation pumps.

A method for generating gas comprising:

• electrically powering one or more electrochemical stacks that comprise:
• a cathode electrocatalyst, a proton exchange membrane, and an anode electrocatalyst;
• and
• electrolyzing water at the anode electrocatalyst into protons and oxygen, wherein the protons are eliminated by traversing the proton exchange membrane by attraction to the cathode and pure oxygen is generated;
• and
• recirculating air in which oxygen has been reduced at the cathode back to the cathode using one or more recirculation pumps.