DE10114171C1 - Method, for producing wet mixtures of gases for moistening respiratory tract, involves moving the gas to be treated over the respiratory organ through a device for moistening the gas, and further treating - Google Patents

Abstract

Method involves moving the gas to be treated over respiratory organ through a device for moistening the gas; treating the gas in two parallel paths; heating a partial stream on one path in a fluidized bed made from liquid with an embedded heat exchanger and saturating with liquid at a temperature level; saturating the other path in a fluidized bed; and increasing the moisture in the resulting gas stream by mixing with different partial stream. An Independent claim are also included for: alternative processes for producing wet mixtures of gases for moistening the respiratory tract; and a device for carrying out the process. Preferred Features: The relative moisture of the exiting gas stream is reduced by heating the unsaturated partial stream.

Description

The invention relates to methods according to the preamble of Claims 1 to 4 and a device for performing of the method according to claim 10.

It is known to the inventor that in inhalation devices medicinal agents using propellant gas in the breathing air be distributed. Whereby special measures are required to a patient in front of hydrocarbons or CFCs in the propellant to protect and to ensure an even distribution of the active ingredients to reach in the breathing air.

It is also known that breathing air from inhalation devices by spraying water with compressed air with fine Droplet is moistened, measures being required here are to saturate this breathing air with water vapor.

It is also known from air conditioning systems in the car that through the Warming dry air in the body and the respiratory tract warm car to be dried out especially in winter. And here special measures have to be observed in order to Breathing air to saturate further and at the same time one Avoid precipitation of moisture on the cold panes.

From the Venta air washers it is known that after the Evaporation principle Air sucked in over water-moist Surfaces and the humidified air is horizontal Direction is blown out. Here, further measures  are required to keep air humidified in this way not to lead into the area of the floor but this To supply respiratory passages.

It is common to the above methods that for the Body favorable humidity not in the desired uniformity and / or concentration is present in the breathing air, and that the humidified air after the treatment is not in the desired density can be provided.

The object of the invention is therefore now, when moistening of gases also saturation with the vapors of solvents to achieve and enable supersaturation, so that a Air with any moisture content can be generated for ventilation is. Such breathing air is said to be local for individuals People can be provided.

According to the invention, these objects are achieved by methods according to claims 1 to 4 and with the device according to the claim 10 solved. Further embodiments of the invention are in the Claims 5 to 9 and 11 and 12 described.

The possibility of use and the effect of a moisturized Gas flow depends on its composition and the physical properties. Unless a solvent like Water is sprayed into a gas like air, results from spraying 1 liter in one cubic meter Air at 20 ° C a change in density of 1 kg / m3 so one Total density of 2.25 kg / m3 for the air volume. One on this Humid air is heavier than the surrounding air. When it sinks, the surrounding area becomes moistened and moisture can escape in rain form.

If this amount of water evaporates at 100 ° C, about 1.8 m3 emerge as gas per kg of water. This gas is then lighter than the surrounding air, so that this air humidified with steam creates a buoyancy and will not sink down or humidifies the environment.  

A moist gas which according to the features of claims 1 to 4 is generated, so it has a stronger buoyancy as a gas generated by spraying solvent is moistened.

When moistened with water vapor as a solvent is a Buoyancy of moist, steamy air compared to pure air given that the air with a molecular weight of 28.96 compared to the molecular weight of water with 18 kg / mol more than Is 50% heavier.

This buoyancy of moist saturated air in the atmosphere can be used to measure an air volume with a certain physical state to a certain place blow and this air to a person in the "small climate" To make available. z. For example: for the climate in the car or on one Workplace. In this case, this is under "small climate" partial climate or the atmosphere that is partially in the The area of influence of breathing should be understood.

The amount and timing of air intake can vary with this Application can be controlled by the person as needed.

A different use of moist air can be done in the context of a Room humidification take place, whereby by the buoyancy of the air in Space a turbulence and a circulation in a certain Direction can develop.

In the described applications, this is an advantage see that steam-humid air locally as needed Person at work (car or desk) can be fed. While the entire indoor air is humidified, the colder The surrounding area, including the windows and furniture, steam up become.

Another part of the task is an improved one Effect that is achieved with the humidified air. in the It is the area of air conditioning and a microclimate beneficial, the natural moisture balance between Objects (people / furniture / plants) and the air to avoid drying out and if necessary one  To allow moisture transport from the air to the objects. If the moisture is in the form of droplets, it is local to the first contact with the objects isolated or local dejected. This means that furniture is left locally and from the breathing air the moisture is already in the throat is separated and dry air arrives in the lungs. Air enriched with steam, on the other hand, has the advantage that the moisture is equalized according to the steam pressures and uniform moistening z. B. in furniture over a Condensation from the vapor phase can be achieved. So that at slow moistening can be achieved with old furniture. During ventilation, the steamy air can reach the lungs be carried out, where then also on the large surface can balance or balance the moisture. If this air with temperatures above body temperature is supplied arithmetically due to the condensation Moisture absorption in the body via the lungs. This effect is amplified when the water vapor partial pressure z. B. by Salts in the body is lowered according to Raoult's law. As is well known, the air can only reach up to about about saline solutions a humidity of 75%. At these steam pressures 25% of the original moisture on the large surface of the lungs. If so in this gas Medicines / active ingredients can be integrated with the substance transport of the vapors a distribution of active substances in the Lungs can be reached.

The humidification of gases with the vapors of a washing liquid can be used in countercurrent washers according to the countercurrent principle and in Fluid bed exchangers realized according to a cross flow principle become. It is advantageous to have a partial flow in this Treat reactors and the other part of the gas in one parallel stage, for example, and / or with a To provide active ingredient. The re-merging of the Partial streams are used to according to the properties of moist air, according to one of the features of claims 1 and 3, in  the mixture the appearance of aerosols and the loss of moisture to adjust specifically to the later use of the gas. Aerosols would prefer to mix in such a mixture form the active substances stored in the air.

The distribution of gas flows and their parallel treatment another advantage that that for gas transportation required delivery pressure only for one of the treatment stages, which is to be provided with the greater pressure loss. Thereby it is possible to blow the gas by means of fans or through the To promote suction of the lungs. In addition, the Space requirements of the area and the air volume in the Humidity level determined and a parallel treatment of Partial flows can result in a smaller construction volume.

It is also envisaged to add active substances during the moistening evaporate. While spraying according to the example above of water, one liter max, to be distributed over a cubic meter can, the same amount of water results from evaporation at 40 ° C a volume of 19 m3 water vapor. This has one Task of active ingredients has the advantage that they are in the vapor form be distributed much better and more evenly in the room air and are therefore better available especially for ventilation.

From the air conditioning and sterilization of operating rooms in hospitals it is known that indoor air is preferred is guided vertically from top to bottom to accommodate To avoid germination and the circulation of the same in the room.

Similar considerations apply to air humidification in others Make sure that the moist air does not sweeps along dirty ground before entering the airways Seat or working height reached.

When the air is humidified by evaporation, room air can escape from 25 ° C and a relative humidity of 50% to 100% humidity be saturated. The air cools down by approx. 7 ° C. By reducing the volume, there is approximately one  2% higher density of humidified air. One this way humidified air moves along the floor and takes in Contact with the floor and street clothing for health harmful germs before they enter the Height of the respiratory tract.

The water vapor absorption and heating of the humidified air increase the buoyancy and, based on the air humidifier, turbulence and circulation of the room air can be achieved. The following operating data result from the following example for a heated room:
Room temperature: 22 ° C
Input moisture: 50%
H ₂ O-content in the i, x-diagram: 8.5 g H ₂ O / kg air
Desired humidity: 70%
H ₂ O content, in the i, x diagram: 12 gH ₂ O / kg air
Associated dew point: 16.5 ° C with 12 g / kg air

The volume of air treated at 22 ° C is approx. 1.8%. This creates the desired buoyancy of the clean air reached.

So much heat can be added in the humidification stage that the humidified air at the desired temperature, according to the above example, at 16.5 ° C. About these Temperature measurement will limit upper humidity content in a room. The emerging mixed air can by heating the untreated gas stream to a Temperature of 22 ° C or higher can be set. The Evaporation performance of the humidifier can start from the time be turned off when generating the water dew point of 16.5 ° C no more electrical heating power is required; where the cleaning effect on the room air through the operation of the fluid bed is preserved.

With such a washing method with an air throughput of 10 m ³ / h (moist), the contents can be circulated once from a room of 20 m ² and 3 m height in 6 hours. Mixing the dry air creates a larger volume flow, which improves the suction of the untreated air and the distribution of the humidified air.

This has the following advantages:

• - keeping breathing air away from the ground,
• - cleaning the indoor air,
• - Control of heat supply and air humidity via one Temperature measurement,
• - artificial air circulation with a cleaned, moist Air.

For the operation and the determination of the operating data and Gas flow rates become the validity of the i, x diagram for moist Air or gases used as a basis. This applies in particular to the physical dependency that the 2 partial flows from the Treatment levels and the mixture of these in the i, x diagram same straight line.

The method for humidifying gases with vapors of solvents is by way of Fig. 1 to Fig. 4 described. Show:

Fig. 1 2 treatment stages of a gas connected in parallel;

FIG. 2 shows the preparation of a saturated air;

FIG. 3 shows the production of saturated air;

Fig. 4 shows the production of unsaturated air.

For the description of FIG. 1

An air stream 1 to be treated is sucked in via a fan 2 and divided into the partial streams 3 and 4 . The stream 3 is fed to a heat exchanger / humidifier 5 . This humidifier 5 consists of a housing 6 with a liquid reservoir 7 and one in this liquid, for. B. water, heating element 8 , via which heat is supplied to evaporate water. It is provided that the gas to be treated, in this case the air, be blown into the liquid via at least one nozzle 9 and thereby intensify the heat and mass exchange around the heating element 8 by building up a fluidized bed 10 . The upper end of the fluidized bed 10 is marked by the line 11 , above it is a freeboard 12 , a gas space in which the flow is calmed before the humidified gas escapes via the nozzle 13 .

The temperature in the gas or in the fluidized bed 10 can be measured via a temperature measuring point 14 . A potentiometer 16 is arranged in one of the supply lines 15 to the heating element 8 , by means of which the heating power can be reduced or switched off to a specific value when a specific temperature value is reached. From this point on, the gas stream 3 can continue to be washed in the fluidized bed 10 without the addition of heat.

The other sub-stream 4 can be fed via a heat exchanger / air heater 17 together with the treated stream 3 to a mixing device 18 . In this mixing device, both partial flows are z. B. mixed intensively by a coaxial task of one of the currents. In the case of room air humidification, the partial stream 4 in the air heater can be heated to temperatures above room temperature. The total flow 19 is then discharged from the mixing device and can be blown into a room.

When generating saturated inhalation air, the humidified partial stream 3 can be saturated at temperatures above 30 ° C. In this case, the operation of the air heater 17 can be dispensed with. By admixing a cold amount of air in the mixing device 18 , one part of the evaporated water will fail, so that fine aerosols will occur in the gas stream 19 .

It is possible to supply solid or liquid substances to the inhalation air 19 via a dosing container 22 for medicinal active substances. A metering possibility of active substances is specified via the ventilation valve 23 . With a tight seal of the container 22 , the active ingredient can be in a different way, for. B. can be introduced via a sliding cover designed as a cylinder in the container 22 or by a repeated compression.

Continuing after the collecting line 19 , a pipeline 20 is shown which leads to a mouthpiece 21 . Via this mouthpiece 21 , the inhalation air can be sucked in by breathing and according to a feature of claims 1 and 2. In this special case of inhalation, the installation of the ventilator 2 for maintaining the gas transport can be dispensed with, especially in the case of small facilities. The humidifier / heat exchanger 5 is shown schematically in the view from the side. As a handheld device, an inhaler in this form can be designed comparable to a flat liquor bottle, whereby a certain height for the freeboard 12 must be observed. The path of the washing liquid will be explained in connection with FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

The air heater 17 , which is shown schematically in FIG. 1, can be designed similarly to the humidifier 5 shown when room air is humidified to a certain relative humidity. In this case, the fluidized layer 10 is not formed by a liquid 7 , but rather by a bulk material, such as fine aluminum oxide or sand. The heating power is transferred to gas flow 4 , first to the bulk material and then to the gas flowing through it.

For the description of FIG. 2

An air flow 31 to be treated is announced via a fan 32 and divided into the partial flows 33 and 34 and fed to two humidification stages 35 and 36 . In the example shown here, the same liquid is used in the humidification stages 35 and 36 . In the humidification stage 36 , a heating element 38 is inserted into the fluidized bed 37 formed from water, by means of which the air can be heated to temperatures above 40 ° C. The partial stream 34 is blown into the heated fluidized bed from above and saturated.

In the lower humidification stage 35 , the air is saturated at lower temperatures without a heating element. Then both air streams are brought together in the freeboard of stage 36 via line 39 . This mixture of moist, warm and cold gases results in intensive aerosol formation, which can be used for inhalation purposes.

The path of the solvent or of water leads from a feed container 40 into the warm fluidized bed. This has an overflow pipe 41 at the other end, through which excess liquid can get into the cold fluidized bed of stage 35 . From there, the cooled and used liquid passes via an overflow weir 42 into the sump 43 of the multi-stage moistening device.

This continuous flow of liquid has the advantage that the liquid after use, no longer with breathing air comes into contact and the pollutants with the liquid are continuously removable.

For the description of FIG. 3

The humidification of an air stream 50 can be seen from the diagram shown in FIG. 3. This air flow is conveyed to the treatment stages 52 and 53 via a compressor unit 51 and blown into a liquid bed 55 via a distribution system 54 . The height of the fluidized layer can be limited via an overflow weir 56 . The liquid in the treatment stage 52 is heated via an electrical heating element 57 . The treatment stages 52 and 53 are separated by a partition 58 with insulation 59 . There is a connection on the liquid side via an underflow 60 . The differently treated gases are brought together and mixed via the connecting line 61 . The temperature 62 in the moist exhaust gas flow can be regulated via a potentiometer 63 in the electrical supply line.

The liquid and / or the active ingredient can be supplied via a reservoir 64 . A part of the supplied liquid is evaporated for moistening, another part can escape as droplets from the fluidized layer and the rest reaches the sump 65 of the device described as used waste. The liquid in the sump can be contaminated. Disposal together with dirty water is possible. Example:
Gas flow: 10 m ³ / h at 20 ° C
Base of the fluidized bed: 90 cm ²
heated layer: 60 cm ²
unheated layer: 30 cm ²
Humidified air temperature: 40 ° C
Distribution of gas flows, ratio: 2/1
free discharge opening for the gases
in the distribution system 54 : approx. 1-1.5 cm ²

In treatment stage 53 , cold air is saturated with liquid. With comparable guidance of the gases, it is also possible to generate air for room air conditioning. For this purpose, treatment stage 53 is to be equipped as an air heater with a bulk fluid-like, heated fluid bed. The air flow in stage 52 must be humidified at room temperature for this purpose. In this case, the humidified mixed air is not saturated and can be used to humidify / air-condition rooms. At the same time, the air in the liquid layer is washed.

The resulting changes are shown in Fig. 4. Dry air is therefore heated in treatment stage 66 . A heating element 68 is thus arranged in the fluidized bed 67 made of bulk material, via which heat can be transferred to the room air.

In the treatment stage 52 , the room air 50 is saturated and heated up to a certain temperature. The humidified air flow 69 is not saturated in this case. If people prefer to be in a certain (seated) place in a room, the used air can be extracted from the floor and fresh air takes up this space from above. The distant corner of the room can then be selected as the installation location for a humidifier according to FIG. 4.

The selected representation in FIGS. 3 and 4 belongs to a rectangular arrangement. This does not rule out that the fluidized bed stages 52 and 53 or 66 are accommodated in a round housing.

More details on the execution of the proposed Heat exchangers are under "Facilities for heat and Mass transfer processes "described under DE 100 48 516 A1.

Claims (12)

1. A process for producing moist mixtures of gases which are suitable for humidifying the respiratory tract, consisting of:
Device means in which the gas in direct contact with a liquid is humidified by heat and mass transfer processes and at least partially with the supply of heat,
Device means in which a variable adjustment of the moisture content in the gas after its heating is made possible,
and suitable means for moving a gas stream through the above device means, characterized in that
the gas stream to be treated is moved through the respiratory organs by the device means,
the gas flow supplied is treated in two parallel paths,
on the one hand a partial flow in a fluidized bed of liquid is heated with a built-in heat exchanger and is saturated at the temperature level of the liquid and
the other is saturated in a fluidized bed of liquid in a second way and
the moisture in the exiting gas stream is increased by the merging and mixing of the different partial streams. 2. A process for producing moist mixtures of gases which are suitable for humidifying the respiratory tract, consisting of:
Device means in which the gas in direct contact with a liquid is humidified by heat and mass transfer processes and at least partially with the supply of heat,
Device means in which a variable adjustment of the moisture content in the gas after its heating is made possible,
and suitable means for moving a gas stream through the above device means, characterized in that
the gas stream to be treated is moved through the respiratory organs by the device means,
the gas flow supplied is treated in two parallel paths,
on the one hand a partial flow in a fluidized bed of liquid is heated with a built-in heat exchanger and is saturated at the temperature level of the liquid and
the other partial flow is heated in a second way in a heat exchanger and
the relative humidity in the exiting gas stream is determined by the combination and the mixing of the different partial streams. 3. Process for the generation of moist mixtures of gases which are suitable for the ventilation of rooms and / or for ventilation,
consisting of:
Device means in which the gas in direct contact with a liquid is humidified by heat and mass transfer processes and at least partially with the supply of heat,
Device means in which a variable adjustment of the moisture content in the gas after its heating is made possible,
and suitable means for moving a gas stream through the above device means, characterized in that
at least one fan is used to promote the gas flow,
the gas flow supplied is treated in two parallel ways,
on the one hand a partial flow in a fluidized bed of liquid is heated with a built-in heat exchanger and is saturated at the temperature level of the liquid and
the other partial stream is saturated in a fluidized bed of liquid in a second way and
the moisture in the exiting gas stream is increased by the merging and mixing of the different partial streams. 4. Process for the generation of moist mixtures of gases which are suitable for the ventilation of rooms and / or for ventilation,
consisting of:
Device means in which the gas in direct contact with a liquid is humidified by heat and mass transfer processes and at least partially with the supply of heat,
Device means in which a variable adjustment of the moisture content in the gas after its heating is made possible,
and suitable means for moving a gas stream through the above device means, characterized in that
at least one fan is used to promote the gas flow,
the gas flow supplied is treated in two parallel ways,
on the one hand a partial flow in a fluidized bed of liquid is heated with a built-in heat exchanger and is saturated at the temperature level of the liquid and
the other partial flow is heated in a second way in a heat exchanger and
the relative humidity in the exiting gas stream is determined by the combination and the mixing of the different partial streams. 5. Method according to one or more of the above Claims, characterized in that the relative humidity of the escaping gas flow through the Heating of the unsaturated partial stream is reduced. 6. Method according to one or more of the above Claims, characterized in that the humidity in the room air through the temperature and the Heating in the saturated partial flow is limited. 7. Method according to one or more of the above Claims, characterized in that the medical effect of the gas flow through the dosage of an active ingredient is increased. 8. Method according to one or more of the above Claims, characterized in that the active ingredient with the liquid intended for evaporation is abandoned. 9. The method according to one or more of the above Claims, characterized in that the humidified gas flow is blown into the area of the respiratory tract becomes. 10. Device for carrying out the method according to at least one of the preceding claims and for humidifying a room climate by treating the existing atmosphere, consisting of:
a fluidized bed heat exchanger formed from the washing liquid for carrying out heat and
Mass exchange processes and for heating an air flow, another heat exchanger for heating an air flow, the transport means for sucking in room air and their conveyance by the above heat exchangers
and piping systems for the supply and removal of air and liquid,
characterized in that
the air can be conveyed from a room with a fan through the heat exchanger,
the moisture content of the air in the washing liquid can be adjusted in a partial flow at a certain temperature,
the heat supplied to the air can be adjusted to the other partial flow by indirect heat supply, and
With the emerging mixture of treated air flows, the relative humidity of an indoor air can be increased. 11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the maximum humidity of the room air through the temperature of the Washer fluid can be limited. 12. Device according to one or more of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the humidified air is the effective area of a person's breathing ("Small climate") can be supplied.