Patent ID: 6565624
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: A61G,A63B,B01D,F24F,Y02A,Y02B,Y02C

Abstract:
An apparatus for providing an enclosed environment wherein the enclosed environment is different from an outside ambient environment, comprising:one or more oxygen concentrators or nitrogen generators for changing a concentration of oxygen in said enclosed environment; a CO2 scrubber for reducing a concentration of CO2 in said enclosed environment; an oxygen sensor for sensing a concentration of oxygen in said enclosed environment; a CO2 sensor for sensing a concentration of CO2 in said enclosed environment; a controller for: (i) receiving oxygen concentration input from said oxygen sensor, and for receiving CO2 concentration input from said CO2 sensor, and (ii) outputting activation signals to at least one of: said oxygen concentrators and said CO2 scrubber when at least one of said oxygen concentration input and said CO2 concentration input is outside of a predetermined range; a predictor for predicting at least one of a concentration of oxygen and a concentration of CO2 in said enclosed environment, wherein said predictor uses one or more of: (1) data indicative of a volume of said enclosed environment; (2) data indicative of a number of persons or animals expected to occupy said enclosed environment; (3) data indicative of an oxygen removal or supply rate of said oxygen concentrators; (4) data indicative of a nitrogen addition or supply rate of said nitrogen generators; (5) data indicative of a rate of oxygen removal in said enclosed environment; (6) data indicative of a number of said nitrogen generators; (7) data indicative of a per-person oxygen consumption rate; (8) data indicative of a per-person carbon dioxide production rate; (9) data indicative of an initial oxygen concentration in said enclosed environment; (10) data indicative of a concentration of CO2 in said enclosed environment; (11) data indicative of a CO2 concentration in the outside ambient environment; (12) data indicative of a airflow rate through said CO2 scrubber; (13) data indicative of an efficiency of said CO2 scrubber at removing CO2 from air in said enclosed environment; (14) data indicative of an air exchange rate in said enclosed environment expected to be provided by a fan; and (15) data indicative of an air exchange rate through an enclosure having said enclosed environment therein.