Patent Publication Number: US-2020289858-A1

Title: Process and apparatus to preclude unfiltered atmospheric gases and human respiration products including carbon-dioxide with carbon-14 from entering controlled greenhouse atmospheric gases

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS: 
     application Ser. No.: 16/030,734 Filing Date: Jul. 9, 2018 
    
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH: None. 
     SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM: None. 
     BACKGROUND 
     This invention relates to a process and apparatus to preclude unfiltered atmospheric gases and the products of human respiration including carbon-dioxide (CO 2 ) with carbon-14 ( 14 C) from contaminating greenhouse atmospheric gases which has utility in growing agricultural products with a reduced abundance of  14 C. Agricultural products with reduced radioactive  14 C content can be grown in controlled environments such as a greenhouse for the benefit of reducing harmful damage to human DNA that is unavoidable with our current food chain, due to the natural abundance of  14 C in atmospheric gases. Radioactive  14 C decay to nitrogen-14 with the release of 156 KeV has long been known to have biological effects (Purdom, C. E.). Sequencing of the human genome has identified 6.1 billion base pairs in human DNA, with 119 billion carbon atoms in the DNA of each nucleated cell (Lander, E. S., and Genome Reference Consortium (GRC) Human Genome Assembly build 38 (GRCh38)). Recent quantitative analysis of human tissues has estimated 3 trillion nucleated cells in the human body (Sender, R., Fuchs, S., &amp; Milo, R.). Given the natural abundance and half-life of  14 C and composition of our genome (i.e., a mean of roughly 6.0×10 9  base pairs with 19.5 carbon atoms each), in the average human this decay is occurring once per second in human DNA, resulting in potential bond ruptures, DNA strand breakage, and nitrogen substitution in canonical bases (Sassi, M., et. al.). This cumulative damage has been positively correlated to cancer diagnoses (Patrick, A. D., &amp; Patrick, B. E.), and may have other yet-to-be-quantified effects on human tissues as we age. In fact, no mammal has yet lived without this cumulative damage, so the qualitative benefits of precluding this genetic alteration are yet-to-be-quantified. To preclude this cumulative damage and genetic alteration, it is necessary to perform isotope separation on large volumes of atmospheric gases to remove  14 C from agricultural products and their derivatives in the food chain. This requires an economical means for the filtration of atmospheric gases and the growth, maintenance, and harvesting of agricultural products in controlled environments, such as greenhouses, as well as a means for humans to work in and maintain these environments without contaminating the atmospheric gases and agricultural products therein with respiration products containing radioactive  14 C. 
     BACKGROUND-PRIOR ART 
     In commercial applications, control of the inflow and outflow of human respiratory gases has most commonly been applied in therapeutic applications, such as with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) masks, or to limit particulate contamination in cleanrooms. To-date, respiratory masks and processes to control the inflow and outlet of gases from human respiration have not been utilized for greenhouse applications. Greenhouses differ from cleanrooms because they are full of organic compounds, debris, and particulates resulting from emissions from agricultural products, materials, and organic processes. In the case of agricultural production in greenhouses with the filtration of atmospheric gases to preclude  14 C contamination, any human respiration in such controlled environments would currently result in contamination of said controlled environment and products. The removal of CO 2  with  14 C in human respiration products from humans in greenhouse atmospheric gases has not been demonstrated in prior art. 
     McAuley, et. al, in U.S. Pat. No. 10,034,994, shows that a mask can be used to provide a CPAP to humans with a diffused outlet of gases into the ambient air. The diffused outlet of gases likely is beneficial in therapeutic applications for reducing the sound produced by the airflow, but in our desired application, this diffusion would contaminate the controlled environment with respiratory products containing  14 C. 
     Edwards, et. al., in U.S. Pat. No. 8,627,821, shows that diagnostic device for measuring particulate production from respiration in cleanroom environments. The use of a particle counter to measure human respiration products has utility for cleanroom applications, but this patent has no ability to measure the presence of radioactive  14 C in CO 2  which would be measured as a normal atmospheric gas rather than a particulate contamination. The accurate measurement of  14 C in the CO 2  of human respiration products remains an unresolved technical challenge this invention is not addressing, as it would require an atomic mass spectrometer and a sufficient sample size for accurate measurement. 
     Lewin, et. al., in U.S. Pat. No. 10,173,082, demonstrates a combined exhale and inlet valve for a respirator. While this invention is useful for limiting the assemblies connecting to a mask worn by a respirating human, this is unrelated to the environment a mask may be worn within or any contaminants that may be passing in or out of the mask. 
     Wruck, Norbert, in U.S. Pat. No. 10,179,221, demonstrates a device and method for providing a stream of gases for respiration that contain therapeutically active substances. While this is useful in therapeutic applications, this is unrelated to agricultural production in greenhouses, and has provides no control over the outflow of gases or contamination of the environment the outflow is diffused into. 
     Lithgow, et. al, in U.S. Pat. No. 10,201,676, shows a device that can provide a breathable gas supply for therapeutic purposes. Again, while this is useful for therapeutic applications, this is unrelated to agricultural production in greenhouses, and has provides no control over the outflow of gases or contamination of the environment the outflow is diffused into. 
     Thomas, et. al., in U.S. Pat. No. 10,166,360, shows a system and method for controlling gas flow during exhalation to detect occurrences of disordered breathing events. Again, while this is useful for therapeutic applications, this is unrelated to agricultural production in greenhouses. 
     Barnes, et. al., in U.S. Pat. No. 9,901,703, shows a system provide mask pressure regulation to assist respiration to pressurize a mask and maintain a sustainable constant airflow in a mask. While this is useful for maintaining comfortable respiration for humans, it is independent of agricultural production in greenhouses or the subsequent contamination of environments from respiration products. 
     Nolan, Clay, in U.S. Pat. No. 8,776,796, shows a method for improving assisted ventilation for medical patients with devices position in the trachea or esophagus. While this is useful in medical circumstances, it is independent of agricultural production in greenhouses or useful in the removal of  14 C contaminated CO 2  products of human respiration. 
     Lampotang, et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,571, shows an apparatus and system for ventilation and the delivery of anesthesia for therapeutic purposes enabling the delivery of clinical gases with a positive and negative pressure loop. This is useful in medical circumstances where the interface to the patient is critical, such as a variable size orifice or endotracheal tube, as well as alternating pressures to inflate and deflate a patient&#39;s lungs to assist respiration. Like other pneumatically assisted ventilators, this is very useful in medical situations, but not useful for agricultural production in greenhouses that require the removal of contaminants in human respiration products. 
     Miekka, et. al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,896, shows a method for growing plants in a controlled environment with a lower than natural abundance of  14 C. While this identifies an essential method for the production of agricultural products with a lower than natural abundance of  14 C, it does not provide a means for humans to access or operate in such environments for either the maintenance of equipment used to grow plants or for the harvesting of agricultural products from such environments. 
     In conclusion, no method or process has been formerly developed for precluding the contamination of greenhouses with human respiration products including CO 2  with  14 C. Similarly, no apparatus or systems have been formerly developed with the specific intent to efficiently and economically preclude CO 2  with  14 C as a product of human respiration from entering the atmospheric gases of greenhouses. 
     SUMMARY 
     A process to grow agricultural products with a reduced abundance of radioactive  14 C will have health benefits by reducing harmful damage to human DNA, which has been correlated to cancer. Other benefits of reduced cumulative genetic damage over long periods of time have yet to be quantified. To-date, removal of  14 C from agricultural products on has been complicated by a lack of a means for humans to respire in greenhouses with controlled atmospheric gases without contaminating said gases with respiration products containing CO 2  with  14 C. An airlock provides for the filtration of atmospheric gases that can enter a greenhouse while a respiratory mask with air supply and return systems, including valves, blowers, solenoids, and vents can enable one or more humans to respire within a greenhouse without contaminating the gases or agricultural products therein with CO 2  containing  14 C. This is unlike typical applications, since normally additional CO 2  would be desired in greenhouse environment because it is food for plants. However, unfiltered atmospheric gases and respiration products from humans eating food chain products from natural atmospheric gases would constitute a source of contamination for this application. This is also unlike typical applications because rather than only being focused on the essential supply of fresh air for human respiration, with disregard for general destination of the respiration products, this application is equally concerned about removing respiration products from the greenhouse to prevent contamination of the agricultural products. Entry into the greenhouse of a human without the surrounding respiratory products is also a factor, and valves are utilized to provide air supply and returns within an airlock connected to the greenhouse to enable the venting of gases prior to entry and the replacement of those gases with filtered gases lacking CO 2  with  14 C. The ability to directly filter atmospheric gases to remove CO2 with  14 C is outside the scope of this invention, but this ability is needed to provide a supply of atmospheric gases for both the greenhouse and the airlock prior to entry to the greenhouse. This invention provides an efficient and economical means to enable the filtration of atmospheric gases that can enter a greenhouse through an airlock and for human respiration inside a greenhouse intended to grow agricultural products with low 14C content without contamination of said products with respiration products containing CO 2  with  14 C. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS-FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a System Diagram for Precluding Unfiltered Atmospheric Gases and Human Respiration Products Including CO 2  with  14 C from Entering Greenhouse Atmospheric Gases. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1 . is a system diagram for precluding unfiltered atmospheric gases and human respiration products including CO 2  with  14 C from entering greenhouse  1  atmospheric gases in accordance with the process designs and claims within the invention. An air blower  2  pulls atmospheric gases through an air filter  3  and into the air supply line  4  at a rate between 2.2 and 2.6 cubic feet per minute for each human respirator mask  5 . This fresh air supply can be accessed for respiration by connecting a flexible air supply tube  6  to an air supply valve  7  which may be located outside, in the airlock  8 , or within  1  at optionally a plurality of locations to support a plurality of either work sites or workers with  5  simultaneously. After human respiration, the exhaled respiration products are vented out of  5  into the flexible air return tube  9 , through an air return valve  10 , and into the air return line  11 . The respiration products are then either pushed out by air pressure created by  2  or vented out with the assistance of an optional vent blower  12  and exits through an exhaust vent  13  into atmospheric gases. The respiring human wearing  5  may connect to outside vents  14  to test the systems before opening the airlock door  15  and entering  8 . After entering  8  and connecting  6  and  9  to the airlock valves  16 ,  15  is closed and the airlock blower  17  is activated, providing filtered atmospheric gases lacking CO 2  with  14 C (see related patent application number 16/030,734), while the inflow control valve  18  and outflow control vent  19  are opened, and 17 vents any human respiratory products in  8  out through the airlock exhaust vent  20 . After the air in  8  is evacuated, the user opens the greenhouse door  21  and connects  6  and  9  to  7  and  10  in  1 , also labeled as greenhouse valves  22  which may be singular or plural depending on the needs to service  1 . After connecting to  22 ,  21  may be closed. Finally, normally closed air supply solenoid valve  23  in  4  and an air return solenoid valve  24  in  11  can be used to prevent any valve leaks at  7  or  10  from causing gases to either enter or exit  1  unintentionally. 
     DRAWINGS-REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
           1  greenhouse 
           2  air blower 
           3  air filter 
           4  air supply line 
           5  respirator mask 
           6  flexible air supply tube 
           7  air supply valve 
           8  airlock 
           9  flexible air return tube 
           10  air return valve 
           11  air return line 
           12  vent blower 
           13  exhaust vent 
           14  outside valves 
           15  airlock door 
           16  airlock valves 
           17  airlock blower 
           18  airlock inflow control valve 
           19  airlock outflow control valve 
           20  airlock exhaust vent 
           21  greenhouse door 
           22  greenhouse valves 
           23  air supply solenoid valve 
           24  air return solenoid valve 
           25  circulation control system 
           26  airlock control system 
       
    
     OPERATION 
     The operation for precluding CO 2  with  14 C in human respiration products and unfiltered atmospheric gases from entering the atmospheric gases in a greenhouse  1  for growing agricultural products with reduced  14 C content. 
     1. An air supply system comprising an air blower  2  which pulls air through an air filter  3  and into an air supply line  4  which has a plurality of air supply valves  7 . A normally closed air supply solenoid valve  23  is activated to enable airflow during operation and to minimize  7  leaks when not in operation. 
     2. An air return system comprising air return valves  10 , an air return line  11 , a vent blower  12 , and an exhaust vent  13 . A normally closed air return solenoid valve is activated to enable airflow during operation and to minimize  10  leaks when not in operation. 
     3. A mask assembly consisting of a respiration mask  5 , flexible air supply tube  6 , and flexible air return tube  9 , can be attached to  7  and  10  either outside  14 , in the airlock  16 , or in the greenhouse  22 . 
     4. A circulation control system  25  has a switch that when activated provides power to  2 ,  12 ,  23 , and  24 , and constitutes a means to circulate gases for human respiration from outside said greenhouse into said respiration mask, and return respiration products to outside. 
     5. An airlock  8  provides controlled access through an airlock door 15 and a greenhouse door  21 , which are not open at the same time. An airlock control system  26  has a switch that when activated provides power to Control valves  18 ,  19 , and the airlock blower  17 , which provides filtered air absent CO 2  with  14 C into the airlock (see related patent application number 16/030,734).  26  is used with a timing circuit so that it replaces the air in the airlock every time it is activated, and constitutes a means for gases in the airlock to be evacuated by simultaneously turning on said airlock blower and opening said air inflow control valve and air outflow control valve. 
     6. Entering the greenhouse: while outside the greenhouse, the human user turns on  25 , connects  9  and  6  to  10  and  7  at  14 , and then utilizes  5  for respiration. After respiration is confirmed as satisfactory, then the user opens  15  and disconnects  6  and  9  from  14  and reconnects at  16 . Then  15  is closed and  26  is activated. After the airlock has been evacuated and respiration is confirmed as satisfactory, then the user opens  21  and disconnects  6  and  9  from  16  and reconnects at  22 , and closes  21 . 
     7. Exiting the greenhouse: while inside the greenhouse, the human user opens  21 , disconnects  6  and  9  from  22 , and reconnects at  16  in  8 . 
     After respiration is confirmed as satisfactory,  21  is closed, then  15  is opened. To protect  1  from leaks from  8 ,  26  is activated. After disconnecting from  16 , the user exits  8 , closes  15 , and removes  5 . 
     REFERENCES CITED 
       
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 10,201,676 
                 February 2019 
                 Lithgow, et. al. 
                 1/1 
               
               
                 10,179,221 
                 January 2019 
                 Wruck, et. al. 
                 1/1 
               
               
                 10,173,082 
                 January 2019 
                 Lewin, et. al. 
                 1/1 
               
               
                 10,166,360 
                 January 2019 
                 Thomas, et. al. 
                 1/1 
               
               
                 10,034,994 
                 July 2018 
                 McAuley, et. al. 
                 1/1 
               
               
                 9,901,703 
                 February 2018 
                 Barnes, et. al. 
                 1/1 
               
               
                 8,627,821 
                 January 2014 
                 Edwards, et. al. 
                   128/205.22 
               
               
                 6,131,571 
                 April 1997 
                 Lampotang, et. al. 
                   128/204.21 
               
               
                 5,956,896 
                 September 1999 
                 Miekka, et. al. 
                      47/58.1R 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     OTHER PUBLICATIONS 
     
         
         Genome Reference Consortium (GRC) Human Genome Assembly build 38 (GRCh38), 24 Dec. 2013. 
         Lander, E. S. et al., Initial sequencing and analysis of the human genome, Nature 409, 860-921 (2001). 
         Patrick, A. D., &amp; Patrick, B. E., Carbon 14 decay as a source of somatic point mutations in genes correlated with cancer diagnoses, Stable Isotope Foundation, Grants Pass, Oreg., USA (2017). 
         Purdom, C. E., Biological hazards of carbon-14, New Sci. 298, 255-257 (1962). 
       
    
     Sassi, M., et. al., Carbon-14 decay as a source of non-canonical bases in DNA, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1840 526-534 (2014). 
     Sender, R., Fuchs, S., &amp; Milo, R., Revised estimates for the number of human and bacteria cells in the body, PLoS Biol 14(8): e1002533(2016).