FR3046549A1 - PORTABLE OR TRANSPORTABLE DEVICE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF OXYGEN-DEPLETED AIR FOR THE TRAINING OF SPORTS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a portable or transportable device for producing a depleted oxygen air comprising adjusting means (3) for adjusting or selecting, directly or indirectly, a desired oxygen content of less than 21% by volume; means for producing oxygen-depleted air (4) for producing oxygen-depleted air; control means (5) cooperating with the adjustment means (3) and controlling the means for producing oxygen-depleted air (4); and channeling means (6) for collecting and conveying at least a portion of the oxygen-depleted air produced by the oxygen-depleted air generating means (4).

Description

The invention relates to a portable or transportable device for producing air depleted of oxygen or enriched in nitrogen, that is to say containing less than 21% by volume of oxygen, from air atmosphere, and intended for the training of sportsmen, and an oxygen-depleted air supply installation comprising such a device. The training of athletes at altitude, for example in the mountains, allows, thanks to the reduced amount of air (reduced pressure) and therefore the least amount of oxygen, to increase their sports performance due to a production of increased red blood cells.

Currently, an athlete can either train by providing physical exertion at altitude, or recover altitude of his efforts, or combine training and / or recovery at sea level and altitude.

But, in any case, the presence at altitude of the athlete is necessary, which is not always very practical or simple to organize, and necessarily entails significant costs of transportation, accommodation ...

To remedy this, it has been proposed to simulate the effects of altitude through the establishment of an oxygen-depleted or nitrogen-enriched atmosphere, the so-called "hypoxiated atmosphere". To do this, the athlete must stay in a room or a kind of tent whose atmosphere is hypoxia or static and stationary breathe hypoxia atmosphere

However, if this way of proceeding avoids a stay in the mountains, the fact remains that its implementation is expensive and requires specific devices rather bulky or bulky, especially a tent or a dedicated room and requires the athlete to remain static in the room hypoxia atmosphere or connected to a machine of production of said atmosphere.

The problem that arises is to propose an improved device making it possible to produce air depleted of oxygen or enriched in nitrogen, that is to say containing less than 21% by volume of oxygen, from air atmosphere , which is small in size and compact, and reasonable cost, that is to say a device that does not have the aforementioned drawbacks, including a mobile device that the athlete can carry with him.

The solution of the invention is based on a portable device, i. e. portable, or transportable to produce an oxygen-depleted or nitrogen-enriched air from atmospheric air, which air depleted of oxygen (<21% in vol.) can be for example delivered to the patient during his sleep or his phases of recovery after sports effort, using a suitable nasal or oral interface, for example of the respiratory mask, cannula, glasses ...

More specifically, the present invention thus relates to a portable device, i. e. portable or transportable device for producing an air depleted of oxygen comprising: - adjusting means for adjusting or selecting, directly or indirectly, a desired oxygen content of less than 21% by volume, - means for producing air oxygen depleted to produce oxygen-depleted air; - pilot means cooperating with the control means and controlling the means for producing oxygen-depleted air; and channeling means for collecting and conveying at least one oxygen-depleting air. part of the oxygen-depleted air produced by the means for producing oxygen-depleted air.

In the context of the present invention, the terms "nitrogen enriched air", "oxygen depleted air" or "hypoxiated atmosphere" are used interchangeably to designate a gaseous flow obtained from ambient air whose oxygen content is lower. to that of the ambient air, that is to say less than 21% by volume, that it was obtained by diluting ambient air with a gas preferably containing nitrogen or other inert gas such as argon, or by removing some of the oxygen from ambient air.

Depending on the case, the device of the invention may comprise one or more of the following technical characteristics: it comprises at least one pressure sensor making it possible to measure the oxygen concentration of the oxygen-depleted air produced by the means of oxygen-depleted air production. it furthermore comprises display means making it possible to display the desired oxygen content and / or the oxygen content in the oxygen-depleted air produced by the means for producing oxygen-depleted air. the means for producing oxygen-depleted air comprise at least one adsorption receptacle containing at least one adsorbent material making it possible to adsorb at least a portion of the oxygen contained in supply air supplying said at least one an adsorber. the means for producing oxygen-depleted air comprise several adsorption containers arranged in parallel. alternatively, the means for producing oxygen-depleted air comprise at least one gas separation membrane. alternatively, the means for producing oxygen-depleted air comprise at least one nitrogen source containing a nitrogen-rich gas formed of at least 50% by volume of nitrogen, and mixing means making it possible to produce a nitrogen-rich gas. oxygen-depleted gas stream by mixing the nitrogen-rich gas from the nitrogen source with ambient air. the gas rich in nitrogen contains between 80 and 100% of nitrogen, preferably more than 90% of nitrogen (% by vol.). the nitrogen-rich gas is formed of nitrogen or an air highly enriched in nitrogen. the gas rich in nitrogen is stored in gaseous form at a pressure greater than 1 bar, typically greater than 5 bar, or in liquid form. - The adjustment means can directly adjust or select a desired oxygen content of between 7 and 20% by volume, preferably between 8 and / or 18% by volume. the adjustment means make it possible to adjust or indirectly select a desired oxygen content by selecting a given altitude (in meters for example) corresponds to a desired oxygen content, preferably a latitude between 0 and 5000 meters. - The oxygen depleted air production means, the control means and the channeling means are included in a housing. the control means comprise an electronic card. - The channeling means comprise at least one gas conduit and / or at least one valve. at least one adsorption container contains an adsorbent material of zeolite, alumina or activated carbon type. at least one adsorption container operates in a PSA or VSA type cycle. the adjustment means make it possible to adjust or select a given oxygen content or a given altitude corresponding to a given oxygen content. - The adjustment means, oxygen-depleted air production means and / or the control means are supplied with electric current, preferably via a mains connection cable delivering a current at a voltage of between 110 and 230 V - The channeling means comprise at least one valve, such as a solenoid valve, arranged on at least one gas conduit. the housing comprises an air inlet in fluid communication, on the one hand, with the ambient atmosphere, and, on the other hand, to the means for producing oxygen-depleted air. the casing constitutes an outer shell of the device. - It includes a carrying handle allowing the user to carry or transport the device. it comprises at least one data storage memory. - The adjustment means comprise at least one rotary or finger-pressable button, a translational cursor or an alphanumeric keyboard so as to allow the user to select, adjust or choose a desired oxygen content or a given altitude. it comprises at least one power-up means, in particular an activation button, making it possible to authorize or stop a power supply for the device. it comprises at least one screen or display for displaying and / or displaying information, in particular one or more values of oxygen content or altitude. the oxygen-depleted air production means comprise an air compressor (or the like, such as a turbine, micro-fan, etc.) making it possible to generate an air flow at a pressure greater than 1 bar, that is, greater than atmospheric pressure, typically between 1.1 and 10 bar. the weight of the device of the invention is less than 10 kg, preferably less than 5 kg, advantageously between 1 and 3.5 kg. The invention also relates to an oxygen depleted air supply installation comprising a device according to the invention, in particular as described above, a flexible conduit for conveying the gas and a patient interface fluidly connected to said device by said flexible conduit, preferably the patient interface is a respiratory mask or goggles or respiratory cannulas. The invention will now be better understood thanks to the following detailed description, given by way of illustration but without limitation, with reference to the appended figures in which: FIG. 1 is a diagram of the operating principle of a device and a According to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of an adsorption air separation system that can be used in the device of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 schematizes a permeation air separation system that can be used in the device of FIG. Figure 1, and - Figure 4 shows a system for producing oxygen-depleted air by dilution with nitrogen that can be used in the device of Figure 1

Figure 1 is a diagram of the operating principle of a device 1 according to the present invention for producing a depleted oxygen air and a plant implementing it.

The device 1 is adapted to and designed to produce a stream of air depleted of oxygen, that is to say containing less than 21% oxygen volume so as to reproduce the existing conditions at altitude, or even at high altitude, where the oxygen content of the ambient air is lower than that at sea level.

This device 1 comprises a housing 2 forming an outer shell, for example of polymer or the like, and carrying adjustment means 3 for adjusting or selecting a desired oxygen content of less than 21% by volume, for example a rotary or activatable knob. by digital pressure, a translational cursor or an alphanumeric keyboard allowing the user to select, set or choose a desired oxygen content or a given altitude.

Means for producing oxygen-depleted air 4 make it possible to produce air depleted of oxygen, that is to say containing an oxygen content of less than 21% by volume, typically between 10 and 20% by volume, for example of the order of 12 to 17%, the remainder being essentially nitrogen. The ambient air enters the device 1 via an orifice or inlet passage 16 in fluid communication, via a suitable gas conduit, with the supply inlet of the oxygen-depleted air production means 4.

Various means for producing oxygen-depleted air 4 are detailed below and illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, in particular an adsorption gas separation system, a membrane system or a system for diluting ambient air. with nitrogen or a gas rich in nitrogen.

Piloting means 5, such as an electronic card or the like cooperating with the adjusting means 3, control, in response to the selection of the desired oxygen content set or selected by the user by action on the adjustment means 3, starting or activating the means for producing oxygen-depleted air 4 so as to produce oxygen-depleted air containing the desired oxygen content.

This gaseous stream depleted in O2 is collected and conveyed by channeling means 6, in particular a gas conduit, to the level of an orifice or outlet passage 15 of the device 1 at which a flexible conduit 9 serving is fluidically connected. transporting the gas to a patient interface 10, such as a breathing mask or the like, to deliver it to the airways of an individual, typically an athlete.

A sensor 7 is arranged on the internal duct 6 so as to measure the oxygen content in the flow produced by the oxygen-depleted air generation means 4. The signals collected by this sensor 7 are transmitted to the control means 5 where they can be compared to the set user-set oxygen content value, so as to ensure that the product gas is in accordance with the settings made via the adjustment means 3. Otherwise, the means 5 can act correctively on the oxygen-depleted air production means 4 and / or activate an audible and / or visual alarm, or even display information to the user on the display means 8.

The various components of the device, in particular the oxygen-depleted air production means, the display 8, the sensor 7 and / or the control means, are supplied with electric current via suitable connectors. A connection cable 12 and a connection socket 13 allowing the electrical connection of the device 1 to the sector which delivers an electric current at a voltage of between 110 and 230 V.

Power-up means, in particular an activation button 14, for enabling or stopping the power supply of the device 1.

If need be, the channeling means 6 may comprise at least one valve, such as a solenoid valve, arranged on the gas conduit internal to the device 1 which makes it possible to convey the flow of gas produced by the means for producing oxygen-depleted air. 4 to outlet 15.

To facilitate its transport or its movement by the user, the device 1 is preferably provided with a handle 11 of transport. In addition, to make it easily portable / portable or transportable, it ensures that its weight is as low as possible, preferably less than 5 kg, typically between 1 and 3.5 kg.

The adjustment means 3 thus serve as a man / machine interface by allowing the user to select either a desired oxygen content of the air less than 21% by volume, or a given altitude, and thus reproduce a content of oxygen corresponding to the altitude at which it wishes to recover. Thus, the device 1 can store, within a data storage memory, a table of correspondence between oxygen contents and altitudes. Indeed, it can sometimes be easier for an athlete to select an altitude, for example 3500 meters, an oxygen content. For information purposes, at 3650 meters altitude, the pressure is of the order of 485mmHg and the amount of O2 is only about 60% of the O2 content at sea level, or between 12 and 13% by volume.

Preferably, a filter 17 located at the level of the air inlet 16 makes it possible to rid the air of some of the atmospheric impurities it may contain, such as dust, pollen, microorganisms, spores, etc.

Thanks to the device 1 of the invention, the atmosphere hypoxia to the desired oxygen content (<21% vol.) Is produced in situ by various techniques described hereinafter with reference to Figures 2 to 4 which propose embodiments. alternative means for producing oxygen-depleted air 4.

Thus, Figure 2 shows schematically an adsorption air separation system 20 PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption = Modulated Pressure Adsorption) or VSA (Vacuum Swing Adsorption = Modulated Vacuum Adsorption) used in the device 1 of the invention.

The PSA / VSA system here comprises two adsorption vessels or adsorbers 23, 24 arranged in parallel and operating cyclically and alternately, that is to say that one is in the production phase, while the other is in the regeneration phase, and vice versa. The ambient air is sucked by a turbine or a compressor 26 which raises the pressure above atmospheric pressure (ie> 1 bar) and is then sent via one or more pipes 21 to one or the other adsorbers 22, 23 into which it enters. The air is separated therefrom by contact with one or more beds containing one or more oxygen-selective or nitrogen-selective adsorbents, depending on the type of adsorption chosen. At the outlet of the adsorber 22, 23, a stream of a gas depleted of oxygen (<21% vol) is recovered which is then conveyed via one or more pipes 24 to the gas conveying conduit 6.

The adsorbents used are typically of the zeolite, alumina, activated carbon type or their combination, or even other adsorbents, such as silica gel or others. Preferentially, a zeolite, for example of X, Y or A type, is used, whether or not exchanged with metal cations. Thus, X zeolites exchanged at more than 88% lithium are known to properly adsorb the oxygen contained in the air.

The PSA / VSA system 20 operates according to production / generation cycles which are controlled by the control means 5 of the device, which act for example on the compressor 26 and / or on valves 27 arranged on the pipes 21, 24.

During the regeneration phases of each adsorber 22, 23, the adsorber in question is depressurized, the gaseous components, such as oxygen, retained on the adsorbent bed 25 are desorbed and released, and the oxygen-enriched gas thus produced is rejected to the atmosphere.

The operating principle of this type of PSA / VSA system is well known and will not be detailed further.

Moreover, FIG. 3 schematizes a permeation air separation system 30 that can also be used in the device 1 of the invention.

The permeation system 30 comprises one (or more) membrane module 33 containing hollow membrane fibers, such as polymer fibers, which make it possible, for example, to extract oxygen from a supply air stream. This type of fibrous membranes is well known and commonly used in the industry. Again, the ambient air is drawn in by a turbine or compressor 32 which raises the pressure above atmospheric pressure (i.e.> 1 bar). The compressor 32 is controlled by the control means 5 of the device 1. The pressurized air leaving the compressor 32 is conveyed, via one or more ducts 31, to the permeation module 33 into which it enters. The air is separated by permeation (at 8) through membrane fibers arranged in parallel with each other so as to recover, for example, from the retentate side 34, the desired oxygen depleted stream and, on the permeate side 35, a gas enriched with oxygen that can be released to the atmosphere via a dedicated conduit 37.

At the outlet of the permeation module (34), the flux of a gas depleted in oxygen (<21% vol) is thus recovered, which is then conveyed via one or more conduits 36 to the gas conveying conduit 6 of the device 1 according to the invention.

As previously the operating principle of this type of membrane permeation system is well known and will not be detailed further.

Finally, Figure 4 shows schematically a system 40 for producing air enriched in nitrogen, thus depleted in oxygen, by dilution that can be used in the device 1 of the invention.

It comprises an air compressor 41 for raising the pressure of the air above atmospheric pressure (i.e.> 1 bar). The pressurized air coming out of the compressor 41 is conveyed via a line (or lines) to a gas mixing chamber 46 where it is mixed with a nitrogen-rich gas, namely nitrogen (ie N 2 to 100 % vol), originating from a nitrogen source 44, such as a nitrogen bottle, which is fluidly connected to the mixing chamber 46, via a nitrogen feed pipe 43, which may comprise a valve, particular a solenoid valve controlled by the control means 5 of the device 1.

It should be noted that the nitrogen-rich gas is not necessarily nitrogen for but can be formed of a gaseous mixture containing a high proportion of nitrogen, preferably more than 50% by vol. nitrogen, typically more than 80% in flight. nitrogen.

Within the mixing chamber 46, there is a dilution of the pressurized air brought by the pipe 42 with nitrogen from the nitrogen source 44, which generates a stream of air enriched in nitrogen , thus depleted of oxygen, which is then recovered and conveyed via one or more conduits 44 to the gas conveying conduit 6 of the device 1 according to the invention. Again, the operating principle of this type of mixing system is well known and will not be detailed further.

In general, the solution of the present invention has the advantages of being easily portable or transportable, and of being compact.

Thus, the user can directly breathe oxygen-poor air produced via an interface adapted to the hypoxiated atmosphere produced, such as a breathing mask, which makes it possible to avoid using a dedicated part or a device that is not practical. and cumbersome tent type.

In addition, the user can "move" or be active while following his recovery treatment by hypoxia and avoids its complete immobilization for several hours. Conversely, the user can also use the device 1 according to the invention during his sleep phases, which allows him to optimize his recovery time.

The present invention is particularly suitable for athletes who have to train by providing physical exertion at altitude, or recover altitude of their efforts, or combine training and / or recovery at sea level and at altitude, since the device of the The invention makes it possible to reproduce the conditions prevailing at altitude, in particular to mimic the oxygen contents that are found at more than 1000 meters altitude, particularly at high altitude, for example at 3000 meters or more.

Claims (14)

claims 1. A portable or transportable device for producing an air depleted of oxygen comprising: - adjusting means (3) for adjusting or selecting, directly or indirectly, a desired oxygen content of less than 21% by volume, - means oxygen-depleted air production unit (4) for producing oxygen-depleted air; control means (5) cooperating with the adjustment means (3) and controlling the air-depleted production means; oxygen (4) and - channeling means (6) for collecting and conveying at least a portion of the oxygen-depleted air produced by the oxygen-depleted air generating means (4). 2. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises at least one pressure sensor (7) for measuring the oxygen concentration of the oxygen-depleted air produced by the oxygen-depleted air production means. (4). 3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises display means (8) for displaying the desired oxygen content and / or the oxygen content in the depleted air. oxygen produced by the means for producing oxygen-depleted air (4). 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for producing oxygen-depleted air (4) comprise at least one adsorption vessel (22, 23) containing at least one adsorbent material (25) for adsorbing at least a portion of the oxygen contained in supply air supplying said at least one adsorber (22, 23), preferably the means for producing oxygen-depleted air comprise a plurality of adsorption vessels (22, 23) arranged in parallel. 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means for producing oxygen-depleted air comprise at least one membrane (33) for gas separation. 6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means for producing oxygen-depleted air comprise at least one nitrogen source (44) containing a nitrogen-rich gas formed of at least 50 % by volume of nitrogen, and mixing means (46) for producing a stream of oxygen-depleted gas by mixing the nitrogen-rich gas from the nitrogen source (44) with ambient air. 7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjusting means (3) can adjust or select a desired oxygen content of between 10 and 20% by volume. 8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for producing oxygen depleted air (4), the control means (5) and the channeling means (6) are included in a housing ( 2). 9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the channeling means (6) comprise at least one gas duct and / or at least one valve. 10. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that at least one adsorption container contains an adsorbent material of zeolite type, alumina or activated carbon. 11. Device according to one of claims 4 or 10, characterized in that at least one adsorption container operates in PSA or VSA type cycle. 12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjusting means (3) can adjust or select a given oxygen content or a given altitude corresponding to a given oxygen content. 13. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for producing oxygen depleted air (4) comprises an air compressor (26, 32, 41) for generating a flow of air to a pressure greater than 1 atm. 14. Oxygen depleted air supply installation comprising a device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, a flexible conduit (9) and a patient interface (10) fluidly connected to said device by said flexible conduit (9).