US 8,858,688 B2 · Toxic gas removal and air conditioning system for human life support in enclosed refuge spaces

Abstract

An intrinsically safe, self-contained toxic gas removal and air conditioning system for use in an underground mine environment to continuously remove from air sealed in the chamber the CO2 and/or CO from exhalations of up to thirty adult occupants. The system includes an explosion-proof/fire-proof shell strong enough to withstand a 15 psi explosion outside the survival chamber in which the air-scrubbing system is installed. In the event of normal power loss, the system runs on an internal battery capable of 96+ hours of continuous operation while incapable of creating an explosion hazard. A fan motor mounted inside the external shell is driven by a fan driver circuit and is coupled to a driveshaft extending outside the external shell to drive an air scrubber fan. A fan driver/controller circuit powers the fan and detects the loss of externally-provided AC power to automatically start operation when such power loss is detected.

Claims23

Dependent claims

An intrinsically safe, self-contained toxic gas removal and air conditioning system for use in an underground mine survival chamber to continuously remove contaminant CO2 or CO or both from the air sealed in the survival chamber as introduced by the respiratory exhalations of chamber occupants, said system comprising:

an explosion proof and flame proof external shell rated to withstand a 15 psi external explosive force;
an internal battery capable of at least 96 hours of continuous operation, said battery having insufficient water to provide the lowest explosive level of hydrogen under the worst conditions;
a fan motor mounted inside said external shell and driven by a fan motor/driver control circuit, said fan motor operatively coupled to a driveshaft that extends to the outside of said external shell;
and
a power supply circuit in communication with said fan motor/driver control circuit, said power supply circuit including an AC power loss circuit to detect the loss of externally-provided AC power, and automatically starting operation of said fan motor when the loss of externally-provided AC power is detected.

2 more elements

A toxic gas removal and air conditioning system for a refuge chamber, comprising:

an explosion-proof and flame proof enclosure in which are disposed a fan driver assembly, including a fan motor, a fan motor driver/controller circuit having a wireless interface to an external wireless monitoring or control device, a rechargeable battery, and a battery charging system;
an air blower mechanically connected to said fan motor through a fan driveshaft disposed through an explosion-proof and flame-proof driveshaft bearing assembly;
a monitor wirelessly connected to said fan motor driver/controller wireless interface and having an antenna;
one or more chemical filters for removing toxic gasses, including at least carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide;
an air duct system in fluid communication with said air blower for delivering air at a proper air pressure and flow rate to drive contaminated air through said chemical filters;
an insulated heat sink reservoir including a heat exchanger;
an air duct in fluid communication with said air blower, said air duct routed through said heat sink reservoir for selectively cooling and dehumidifying air circulating through said air duct, said air duct having an air outlet for discharging cooled air into the refuge chamber;
a standby temperature maintenance system for maintaining solid-phase ice inside said heat sink reservoir during standby conditions;
an air valve for selectively directing air to said heat exchanger;
a control system having manual control means for human operator inputs and computer automated control systems for automatic monitoring of conditions inside the refuge chamber;
wherein said fan driver assembly is electrically connected to an external source of AC power and maintains said rechargeable batteries at a state of full charge, and when said fan driver assembly motor/driver controller detects a loss of external AC electrical power, said motor/driver controller automatically energizes said fan motor drive assembly.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Toxic gas removal and air conditioning system for human life support in enclosed refuge spaces

Life of this patent

Toxic gas removal and air conditioning system for human life support in enclosed refuge spaces

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23