Method and apparatus for controlled production of a gas
An apparatus is provided to generate a gas by mixing chemicals with water. Typically, the production of gas, particularly oxygen, by combining water with powders and other dry chemicals has not been widely employed. There have existed a number of preexisting barriers such as undesirable flow rates and yields. However, by utilizing multiple reaction chambers the flow rates and yields can be more precisely tailored for a variety of situations that may call for particular flow rates and yields. Additionally, the use of the dry chemicals would allow for a long self-life allowing the apparatus to be particularly useful in emergency situations.
1 . An apparatus for generating an oxygen-rich gas, comprising:
first and second chambers, each for containing a chemical reaction producing an oxygen-rich gas; and
a plurality of reactants within each of the first and second chambers for simultaneously producing an oxygen-rich gas within the first and second chambers at different rates.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of reactants in each of the first and second chambers is dissolved in a liquid to promote the production of an oxygen-rich gas, and wherein the rates at which at least one reactant in the first chamber and at least one reactant in the second chamber dissolve in the liquid within their respective chambers differs, thereby contributing to the simultaneous production of oxygen-rich gas in the first and second chambers at different rates.
3 . An apparatus for generating an oxygen-rich gas, comprising:
a first chamber containing a first chemical reaction generating an oxygen-rich gas stream at a first flow rate;
a second chamber containing a second chemical reaction generating an oxygen-rich gas stream at a second flow rate; and
wherein the first and second flow rates of oxygen-rich gas streams differ.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising one or more channels for directing both the oxygen-rich gas stream of the first chamber and the oxygen-rich gas stream of the second chamber to a location external to the first and second chambers.
5 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the sum or the first and second flow rates of oxygen-rich gas streams is at least ninety liters during a period of fifteen minutes.
6 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first chemical reaction initiates before the second chemical reaction.
7 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the rate of the second chemical reaction is slower than the first chemical reaction.
8 . The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a chemical additive for retarding or delaying the rate of the second chemical reaction with respect to the first chemical reaction.
9 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first flow rate of oxygen-rich gas is greater than the second flow rate of oxygen-rich gas during a first time period and wherein the first flow rate of oxygen-rich gas is less that the second flow rate of oxygen-rich gas during a second time period.
10 . An apparatus for generating an oxygen-rich gas, comprising:
a first chamber containing a first chemical reaction generating an oxygen-rich gas stream at a first flow rate;
a second chamber containing a second chemical reaction generating an oxygen-rich gas stream at a second flow rate; and
wherein at least the first chemical reaction generating an oxygen-rich gas stream comprises a powder reactant for controlling either or both the initiation and the rate of the reaction, the powder reactant further comprising:
one or more layers of a coating on at least a portion of the powder particles for slowing or delaying the chemical reaction.
11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein either or both the initiation and the rate of the first chemical reaction is related to the thickness of at least one of the coating layers on the powder reactant particles.
12 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein either or both the initiation and the rate of the first chemical reaction is related to the number of coating layers on the powder reactant particles.
13 . An apparatus for generating an oxygen-rich gas, comprising:
a first chamber containing a first chemical reaction generating an oxygen-rich gas stream at a first flow rate;
a second chamber containing a second chemical reaction generating an oxygen-rich gas stream at a second flow rate; and
wherein at least the first chemical reaction generating an oxygen-rich gas stream comprises a powder reactant for controlling either or both the initiation and the rate of the reaction, at least a portion of the powder reactant comprising powder particles having a size related to at least the rate of the first chemical reaction.
14 . An apparatus for generating an oxygen-rich gas, comprising:
a first chamber containing a first chemical reaction generating an oxygen-rich gas stream at a first flow rate, the first chemical reaction comprising at least one limiting chemical reactant;
a second chamber containing a second chemical reaction generating an oxygen-rich gas stream at a second flow rate; and
wherein the limiting reactant of the first chemical reaction limits the first flow rate of the oxygen-rich gas generated in the first chemical reaction to less than the second flow rate of the oxygen-rich gas generated in the second chemical reaction.
15 . An apparatus for generating an oxygen-rich gas, comprising:
a first chamber containing a first chemical reaction generating an oxygen-rich gas stream at a first flow rate, the first chemical reaction comprising at least one limiting reaction catalyst;
a second chamber containing a second chemical reaction generating an oxygen-rich gas stream at a second flow rate; and
wherein the limiting reaction catalyst of the first chemical reaction limits the first flow rate of the oxygen-rich gas generated in the first chemical reaction to less than the second flow rate of the oxygen-rich gas generated in the second chemical reaction.
16 . An apparatus for generating an oxygen-rich gas, comprising:
a first chemical reaction generating an oxygen-rich gas stream at a first flow rate;
a second chemical reaction generating an oxygen-rich gas stream at a second flow rate; and
wherein the first flow rate of the oxygen-rich gas generated in the first chemical reaction is less than the second flow rate of the oxygen-rich gas generated in the second chemical reaction.