Fluid clathrate system for continuous removal of heavy noble gases from mixtures of lighter gases

A system for absorption of a heavy noble gas entrained in a gas stream taken from a volume of breathable air in an enclosed space, comprising:

• a reservoir coupled to a volume of breathable air in an enclosed space for containing a fluid consisting essentially of a liquid oil, the liquid oil absorbing a heavy noble gas from a first gas stream taken from the volume of breathable air, said reservoir holding the liquid oil and having an input port for receiving the first gas stream from the volume of breathable air and enabling the first gas stream to bubble through the liquid oil in said reservoir;
• and
• said reservoir further including an output port through which is passed a second gas stream decontaminated of the heavy noble gas, thereby removing a portion of the heavy noble gas from the first gas stream.

A system for absorption of a heavy noble gas entrained in a gas stream taken from a volume of breathable air present in an enclosed space which can be occupied by a person, comprising:

• a reservoir having an input port coupled to a volume of breathable air in an enclosed space which can be occupied by a person with said reservoir containing a liquid oil, the liquid oil in said reservoir absorbing a heavy noble gas in a gas stream taken from the volume of breathable air with the gas stream passed into said input port and through the liquid oil in said reservoir;
• and
• said reservoir further including an output port through which is passed a decontaminated gas stream, thereby removing a portion of the heavy noble gas present in the gas stream taken from the volume of breathable air.