Vortex: A non-powered active CO2 scrubber for mine refuge chambers

矿井避难室是在紧急情况下使用的地下避难所，疏散不再安全或实用，并且必须防止可能导致窒息或中毒的二氧化碳积聚。目前，矿井避难室使用被动二氧化碳吸收窗帘，因为在紧急情况下，通常没有办法为主动二氧化碳洗涤系统供电。窗帘依靠自然气流来去除二氧化碳。在低气流，典型的封闭空间中，窗帘的形态意味着只有60%的洗涤化合物可以在其生命周期结束之前发生反应，从而缩短了它们的使用寿命。此外，他们通常使用有毒且可能导致烧伤的氢氧化锂（LiOH），二氧化碳和LiOH之间的反应经常导致舱室温度超过~35°C，这可能导致压力，脱水，恶心和昏厥。窗帘又大又笨重，必须展开并挂起来，这在生死关头会浪费宝贵的时间。为了解决这些问题并利用市场机会，Molecular ProductsLimited提出了一种无动力，主动CO2和CO尾水管反应器系统（Vortex）。该系统将利用洗涤反应产生的潜热来产生自己的气流，并主动从空气中去除二氧化碳。与窗帘相比，优点：-寿命增加了30%以上- Vortex将使用85-90%的可用反应物，并将根据主动气流进行自我调节，寿命至少再增加6小时。- Vortex将减少约25%的热能-使用无毒，放热反应性较低的ofnoolime®，因此环境温度将显著降低。-强制气流将使Vortex在其使用寿命期间保持更一致的二氧化碳去除能力，类似于动力系统。-窗帘体积的1/5，使用时更容易储存和节省空间。-除了从大气中去除二氧化碳外，尾水管还将含有Moleculite®，因此可以去除CO。

A mine refuge chamber is an underground shelter used in emergencies where evacuation is nolonger safe or practical, & must prevent CO2 build-up that could lead to suffocation orpoisoning. Currently, mine refuge chambers use passive CO2 absorbing curtains, as there willoften be no means of powering an active CO2 scrubbing system in an emergency. Thecurtains rely on natural airflow to remove the CO2. In low airflow, typical of enclosed spaces,the morphology of the curtains means that only 60% of the scrubbing compound can reactbefore the end of their lifecycle, reducing their lifetime. Furthermore, they generally uselithium hydroxide (LiOH) which is toxic & can cause burns, & the reaction between CO2 andLiOH often causes the chamber to exceed temperatures of ~35°C which can lead to stress,dehydration, nausea & fainting.The curtains are large & cumbersome & have to be rolled out& hung up which can waste precious time in a life or death situation.To address the problems & take advantage of the mkt opportunity, Molecular ProductsLimited are proposing a non-powered, active CO2 & CO draft tube reactor system (Vortex).The system will use latent heat from the scrubbing reaction to create its own airflow &actively remove the CO2 from the air. Advantages over curtains:- Lifetime is increased by over 30% - Vortex will use 85-90% of the available reactant & willself-regulate due to the active airflow, increasing lifetime by at least another 6 hours.- Vortex will produce ~25% less heat energy - uses non-toxic, less exothermically reactiveSofnolime®, so ambient temperature will be significantly lower.- The forced airflow will allow Vortex to retain a more consistent CO2 removing capabilityover its lifetime, similar to powered systems.- 1/5 the volume of a curtain – making easier storage & saving space when in use.- As well as removing CO2 from the atmosphere, the draft tube will also contain Moleculite®,so will remove CO.