Gas separation system
AssigneeIGR Enterprises, Inc.
InventorArnold Z. Gordon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A solid state electrolytic cell for separating oxygen or nitrogen from the air which employs a flexible, ductile ceramic composite as the solid electrolyte is provided. The ductile ceramic composite solid electrolyte comprises a continuous, ordered, repeating, interconnected ductile metallic array substantially surrounded by and intimately integrated within a ceramic matrix. The cell is connected to a power supply so when current is passed through the cell, oxygen or nitrogen is separated from the air passing through the cell.
Claims26
An oxygen generator comprising an oxygen separator module, air intake means, oxygen egress means and spent air egress means, said oxygen separation module comprising:
- a first solid electrolyte composite cell, said cell having a center sheet of a flexible, ductile solid electrolyte composite, said flexible, ductile solid electrolyte composite comprising a ceramic phase and a ductile metallic phase, said metallic phase extending substantially throughout the body of said ceramic phase, said metallic phase composed of a regular, ordered, continuous, repeating array of ductile interconnected metallic ligaments in intimate contact with and substantially surrounded by an ionically conductive ceramic matrix;
- said flexible, ductile composite sheet having an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, a layer of electronically conductive, gas porous material coating said upper and lower surfaces of said composite sheet whereby a cathode is formed on one of said surfaces and an anode is formed on the opposing surface of said cell;
- a power source in cooperative association with said oxygen separation module whereby when air is passed through said oxygen separation module, the air is separated into oxygen and oxygen depleted air.
A portable oxygen generator adapted for use by an individual requiring oxygen comprising:
- an oxygen separation module, air intake means, oxygen egress means and depleted air egress means, said oxygen separation module comprising a first solid electrolyte composite cell, said cell having a center sheet of a flexible, ductile solid electrolyte composite, said flexible, ductile solid electrolyte composite comprising a regular, ordered, continuous, repeating array of ductile interconnected metallic ligaments in intimate contact with and substantially surrounded by an ionically conductive ceramic matrix;
- said flexible, ductile composite sheet having an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, a layer of electronically conductive, gas porous material coating each of said surfaces of center sheet whereby a cathode is formed on one of said surfaces and an anode is formed on the opposing surface of said cell;
- a housing having said oxygen separator module therein;
- means for providing power to said oxygen separation module whereby when air is passed through said oxygen separation module, the air is separated into oxygen and depleted air.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.