PHOTOLYTIC ARTIFICIAL LUNG
The present invention is directed to a photolytic artificial lung. The photolytic artificial lung converts water to oxygen for blood absorption, regulates pH, the removes carbon dioxide, and co-produces electrical power is disclosed. The photolytic artificial lung includes a photolytic cell where all of the chemical reactions occur. The photolytic cell disclosed herein can also be used to direct chemical reactions in organs other than the lung. Also disclosed herein is a gas sorption device for removing carbon dioxide from the system by chemical sorption.
1 . A gas sorption device comprising:
a coalescence compartment comprising a gas head space and a gas coelescor connected to said gas head space; and
a gas sorber connected to said coalescence compartment, wherein gas accumulating in said gas head space moves to said gas sorber, and said gas sorber converts gas to a solution or solid.
2 . The gas sorption device of claim 1 , wherein said gas sorption device further comprises an entry point connected to said gas head space for entry of hydrogen gas.
3 . The gas sorption device of claim 1 , wherein said coelesor further comprises an outlet connected to said coelesor for the removal of said solution.
4 . A photolytic artificial lung comprising a photolytic cell and a gas sorption device,
the photolytic cell containing a light activated catalyst having the ability to convert water to oxygen upon light activation; and
the gas sorption device comprising
a coalescence compartment comprising a gas head space and a gas coelesor connected to the gas head space; and
a gas sorber connected to the coalescence compartment, wherein CO 2 gas accumulating in the gas head space moves to the gas sorber, and the gas sorber converts the CO 2 gas to a solution or solid.
5 . The photolytic artificial lung of claim 4 , wherein the gas sorption device further comprises an entry point connected to the gas head space for entry of hydrogen gas.
6 . The photolytic artificial lung of claim 4 , wherein the gas sorption device further comprises an outlet connected to the gas sorber for the removal of the solution or solid.
7 . The photolytic artificial lung of claim 4 , wherein the gas sorption device does not comprise a gas permeable membrane.
8 . The photolytic artificial lung of claim 4 , wherein the coalescence compartment is tilted to have an upper end and a lower end, CO 2 enters the coalescence compartment at the upper end, and hydrogen gas enters the coalescence compartment at the lower end.
9 . The photolytic artificial lung of claim 4 , wherein the coalescence compartment further comprises a means for controlling temperature.
10 . The photolytic artificial lung of claim 4 , wherein the gas sorber contains a sorbent which is reactive with CO 2 gas.
11 . The photolytic artificial lung of claim 4 , wherein the gas sorber contains a sorbent which is reactive with CO 2 gas.
12 . The photolytic artificial lung of claim 11 , wherein the sorbent is a solid.
13 . The photolytic artificial lung of claim 11 , wherein the sorbent is a solution.
14 . The photolytic artificial lung of claim 4 , wherein the gas sorber further comprises an outlet which is connected to the coalescence compartment for the recycling of residual hydrogen gas.
15 . The photolytic artificial lung of claim 4 , wherein the gas sorber has a plurality of 90° flow path changes.
16 . The photolytic artificial lung of claim 4 , wherein the CO 2 gas enters at one end of the gas sorber and sorbent enters at an opposite end of the gas sorber.
17 . The photolytic artificial lung of claim 4 , wherein the gas sorber further comprises a pH indicator.