Device and method for exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide between a gas and an aqueous liquid
OwnerWilliam J. Van Horne, Kerry Kringinventors
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Abstract
An apparatus for exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide between a gas and an aqueous liquid, usually fresh water or sea water, using a plurality of hollow fiber gas permeable membranes. Oxygen is extracted from a surrounding liquid into the fibers and carbon dioxide is diffused from the fibers into the surrounding liquid. The oxygen rich gas within the membranes is distributed through a breathing device to a user.
Claims22
A device for extracting dissolved oxygen from a liquid, comprising:
- a hollow fiber membrane having a generally cylindrical outer wall, the hollow fiber membrane having a first end, a second end, and an internal lumen, wherein the hollow fiber membrane allows dissolved oxygen to pass through the outer wall and into the lumen;
- an input fitting coupled to the first end of the hollow fiber membrane;
- an output fitting coupled to the second end of the hollow fiber membrane;
- and
- a passageway for directing the liquid across the surface of the hollow fiber membrane and thereby allowing oxygen to be extracted into the lumen of the hollow fiber membrane.
A gas exchange device, comprising:
- a housing having an internal chamber, the housing having an inlet port and an outlet port for circulating a liquid containing dissolved oxygen throughout the internal chamber, the housing further comprising a gas inlet and a gas outlet;
- a plurality of hollow fiber membranes each having a first end, a second end, and an internal lumen extending from the first end to the second end, wherein each of the first ends are coupled to the gas inlet and each of the second ends are coupled to the gas outlet;
- wherein the plurality of hollow fiber membranes extract the dissolved oxygen within the liquid into the lumens when the liquid passes across the plurality of hollow fiber membranes.
A device for extracting dissolved oxygen from a liquid, comprising a gas exchange module, the gas exchange module comprising a plurality of hollow fiber membranes having a generally cylindrical outer wall, the plurality of hollow fiber membranes having a first end, a second end, and an internal lumen extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the plurality of hollow fiber membranes are adapted to allow dissolved oxygen to pass through the outer wall and into the lumen.
A method of extracting dissolved oxygen from a liquid, comprising:
- providing a plurality of hollow fiber membranes having an internal lumen, and an outer wall with a pore size adapted to allow dissolved oxygen contained in the liquid to pass through the outer wall;
- passing the liquid across the plurality of hollow fiber membranes;
- and
- extracting a portion of the dissolved oxygen from the liquid.
An underwater breathing device, comprising:
- water circulation means for circulating water within a housing;
- means for extracting dissolved oxygen from the circulating water;
- and
- means for distributing the extracted oxygen to a user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.