GB2394281A - Carbon dioxide detector for life support systems - Google Patents

Carbon dioxide detector for life support systems Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2394281A
GB2394281A GB0220379A GB0220379A GB2394281A GB 2394281 A GB2394281 A GB 2394281A GB 0220379 A GB0220379 A GB 0220379A GB 0220379 A GB0220379 A GB 0220379A GB 2394281 A GB2394281 A GB 2394281A
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United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
carbon dioxide
sensor
dioxide gas
gas
partial pressure
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0220379A
Other versions
GB0220379D0 (en
Inventor
Andrew Wieczorek
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ingenion Design Ltd
Original Assignee
Ingenion Design Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ingenion Design Ltd filed Critical Ingenion Design Ltd
Priority to GB0220379A priority Critical patent/GB2394281A/en
Publication of GB0220379D0 publication Critical patent/GB0220379D0/en
Publication of GB2394281A publication Critical patent/GB2394281A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63CLAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
    • B63C11/00Equipment for dwelling or working underwater; Means for searching for underwater objects
    • B63C11/02Divers' equipment
    • B63C11/18Air supply
    • B63C11/22Air supply carried by diver
    • B63C11/24Air supply carried by diver in closed circulation
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01NINVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/17Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated
    • G01N21/25Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands
    • G01N21/31Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry
    • G01N21/35Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry using infrared light
    • G01N21/3504Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry using infrared light for analysing gases, e.g. multi-gas analysis
    • GPHYSICS
    • G08SIGNALLING
    • G08BSIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B21/00Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
    • G08B21/02Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
    • G08B21/12Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
    • G08B21/14Toxic gas alarms
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A62LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62BDEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
    • A62B9/00Component parts for respiratory or breathing apparatus
    • A62B9/006Indicators or warning devices, e.g. of low pressure, contamination
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63CLAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
    • B63C11/00Equipment for dwelling or working underwater; Means for searching for underwater objects
    • B63C11/02Divers' equipment
    • B63C2011/021Diving computers, i.e. portable computers specially adapted for divers, e.g. wrist worn, watertight electronic devices for detecting or calculating scuba diving parameters

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  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Emergency Management (AREA)
  • Pulmonology (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analysing Materials By Optical Means (AREA)

Abstract

A carbon dioxide detector for use in self-contained breathable atmospheres is used to detect an increase of carbon dioxide gas caused by inadequate ventilation or scrubbing. The electronic system consists of a sensor to detect carbon dioxide gas plus other sensors to compensate the measurement for the effects of pressure and temperature and the effects of other gases. The system can be used in breathable habitats or with self-contained breathing apparatus in wide variations of ambient pressures. The detector raises alarms in response to increasing levels of the gas and optionally can control and reduce the levels of carbon dioxide hazardous to health.

Description

239428 1
CARBON DIOXIDE GAS DETECTOR FOR DMNG AND UNDERSEA
APPLICATIONS
The present invention relates to gas measurement of breathing gases when used in high-pressure environments such as deep-sea diving and underwater submersibles and habitat's. In particular where the life-support equipment is a diving re-breather where the breathing gases are recycled and waste gas is absorbed. More particularly the breathing gases will contain Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide, if the level of Carbon Dioxide exhaled by breathing is not controlled in a suitable manner then the level can rise and lead to poisoning and subsequent unconsciousness and death.
In the situations referred to where gas is breathed the Carbon Dioxide level as usually controlled by passing the exhaled breathing gas through a scrubber system, normally chemical based which absorbs the Carbon Dioxide gas from the exhaled air. The remaining air is resumed to the breathing loop. However the chemical absorbent removes Carbon Dioxide only during a finite period, after which the chemical is exhausted and the Carbon Dioxide gas level increases to a level which is hazardous to health.
Also exercise and activity can temporary increase the level of Carbon Dioxide build-up such that the chemical absorption is overwhelmed.
It would be of considerable advantage to be able to measure the build up of Carbon Dioxide in the breathing loop and be able to indicate in some manner that the concentration of gas is within an acceptable level and to provide an alarm signal should the concentration of gas exceed a preset point. Similarly, it would be an advantage if the concentration of Oxygen were measured within the same system so an alarm could be raised should the Oxygen concentration be reduced or exceeded from the ideal value.
It would also be an advantage if the ambient pressure or depth was measured and used to calculate the safe concentrations of Carbon Dioxide and Oxygen, as these will vary depending on the local ambient pressure.
It would also be an advantage if all the above parameters could be logged together with time to provide a warning that the consumables e.g. oxygen gas and chemical scrubber may be due to expire as some time must be allowed for the diver to come safely to the surface.
It would be an advantage if the invention as described could be fitted to existing diving breather systems and integrated into new designs to provide an enhanced level of monitoring and protection.
It would also be an advantage for the unit to be fitted to all closed circuit breathing systems that make use of the fact that Carbon Dioxide is absorbed by a scrubbing device before the remaining gases is recycled for breathing.
A Carbon Dioxide detector and alarm system in accordance with invention is able to handle such requirements and has at least one or more of the following features.
It is able to measure the concentration of Carbon dioxide in the breathing loop of a closed-loop breathing apparatus. It is able to detect the ambient pressure and correct for variations in sensor performance and variations in the safe operating concentrations, which is dependent on the ambient pressure. It can measure the partial pressure of Carbon Dioxide gas under conditions of varying external pressures and it can measure the partial pressure of Oxygen gas under conditions of varying external pressures.
It is able to measure the concentration of Oxygen in the breathing loop and correct for the variations in safe gas concentration caused by changes in the ambient pressure. It is able to perform in conditions that vary from almost zero ambient pressure to conditions, which approximate those, experienced at twenty atmospheres of pressure (200 metros salt water). It is able to display the results of these measurements in a manner, which is meaningful to the operator, and it is able to alarm the operator by various means that the safe operating limits are about to or have been exceeded.
It is able to store the information in a log so that together with the duration of the dive and the data measured a profile of the working environment can be stored for later analysis should a situation develop.
The invention is able to be battery powered and operate continuously for the required duration of the dive and requires no periodic testing before use other that being subjected to the Carbon Dioxide from normal breathing in order to check functionality. The only consumables that the invention requires are new batteries and a replacement Oxygen sensor at regular intervals. These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the embodiment described in reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing.
The Carbon Dioxide sensor and the Oxygen sensor are available commercially as off-the-shelf items, the use of these items together with the use of pressure and other sensors plus a computer program to calculate the interactions and outputs of the sensors are the essence of this invention.
The sensors are exposed to the ambient gas stream so that the breathing gas flows (1) past and covers all the sensors. Valves (2) and (3) ensure the breathing gases go round the breathing loop and pass through the absorber chemical (4) The Carbon Dioxide sensor (5) the Oxygen sensor (6) the Ambient pressure sensor (7) and the Temperature sensor (8) are all electrical sensors that are read and conditioned by electronic circuits.
The embodiment described in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawing is one way in which the invention may be realised.
The Carbon Dioxide sensor (9) is provided with a pulsed infrared emitter (10) which results in a output which contains a pulsed voltage signal(11) this signal is amplified and conditioned before being passed through a
synchronous detector(12) which results in a signal which being filtered is proportional to the level of Carbon Dioxide presented to the detector. A similar second output on the Carbon Detector (13) provides a reference signal, which allows variations in emitter output and detector themmal stability to be compensated for. This signal is also passed through a synchronous detector (14) The reference signal is used as the reference input to a analogue to digital decoder (ADC)(15) in such a manner that the output from the ADC is a ratio of the Carbon Dioxide signal divided by the reference signal. An Oxygen sensor (16) and a Pressure sensor (17) and a Temperature sensor (18) provide signals which are conditioned and amplified and passed to a separate (ADC) (19) A electronic computer or micro controller which uses software to (20) read the signals from the ADC elements and computes the level of Carbon Dioxide Gas and the level of Oxygen gas in the breathing loop. The computation is non-linear and the exact form of the computation depends on the nature of the Carbon Dioxide sensor type used, However the algorithm required is discovered by the reading of various concentrations of carbon dioxide gas in a pressure vessel with this equipment. By applying the information derived in a lookup table or a mathematical calculation which presents the gas partial pressure concentration in a linearform, the resulting information once computed can be displayed (21) or used to provide an alarm with could be acoustic signal or a light signal (22)
The software in the micro-controller also caused the data to be stored in memory, which could be battery, backed of non-volatile (23) for later use once a mission or dive had been completed. Extraction of the data is by connection to a local surface computer or other data storage device.
The partial pressure concentrations of Carbon Dioxide gas measured in this way ranges from zero to levels which would cause unconsciousness and death in a short time if exposure was under conditions of ambient pressure.
Additionally Oxygen levels are measured at concentrations from zero to above those which would result in unconsciousness and depth in a short time. It will be apparent that a Carbon Dioxide monitor in accordant with the invention is not limited in use to a diving or undersea vehicle application.
Separate units performing the same functions as those described in the embodiment may be substituted for those described. For example, omer types of Carbon dioxide gas sensor may be employed from that described.
Although the Carbon Dioxide monitor has been specifically described in relation to its use for monitoring Carbon Dioxide gas partial pressure concentrations that are a hazard to life. It will be appreciated that it may be used in other applications, both alone or as part of a system in association with other measuring instruments which monitor the ambient atmosphere from zero pressure to great pressure and also to provide a measurement of the quality of breathable atmosphere under those conditions.
In addition, the Carbon Dioxide monitor may be used in conditions where in conjunction with other equipment it would be use in pressurised or low pressure environments where the concentrations of venous gases need to be measured and monitored or transmitted to remote reading stations.
Additionally other gases may be measured and used to provide information as to the suitable nature of the surrounding atmosphere especially in conditions where the ambient pressure can vary depending on location or circumstance.

Claims (4)

( CLAIMS 1. A measuring and warning system intended to measure and record the partial pressure of carbon dioxide gas comprising an electronics assembly together with a sensor group comprising of a means of measuring carbon dioxide gas, ambient pressure, temperature, humidity, and other gases such as oxygen, helium, nitrogen, argon or neon, the electronics comprise a measuring section and alarm section, ambient pressure may range from the near vacuum of space to the pressures found in the deep ocean, the sensors are placed to be able to measure breathing gases or be in the breathing loop of a life support system, alarms can be raised as the result of an increase in partial pressure of carbon dioxide caused by expired breathing and inadequate carbon dioxide removal, the resulting gas mixture can be controlled on the results of the inputs from the various sensors, the system compensates for the changes in ambient pressure and temperature which will result from normal operation and presents the partial pressure and alarm information to the operator or operators in the form of audio or visual information. 2. The sensor as claimed in Claim 1 but simplified to use the sensor group of carbon dioxide gas, ambient pressure and temperature but including the complete electronics package. 3. The sensor and electronics as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 including a computing section to display, control, and record the partial pressure of carbon dioxide gas and the results from the other sensors. 4. A Gas monitoring package as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2 or Claim 3, which is used within or as part of another overall gas monitoring package used for control and monitoring of other gases where the partial pressure of carbon dioxide is a required measurement. 5. A Gas monitoring package as claimed in Claim 3, which is used as an addition to existing equipment or added to existing equipment as a means of measuring the partial pressure of carbon dioxide. 6. A Gas monitoring and control package as in Claim 3 where the results of the carbon dioxide gas measurement are transmitted via a umbilical or data link to a receiving station. Amended claims have been filed as follows - CLAIMS
1. A portable battery powered measuring and warning system intended to measure and record the partial pressure of carbon dioxide gas comprising an electronics assembly together with a sensor group comprising of an Infrared absorption carbon dioxide gas sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and a humidity sensor, the electronics comprise a measuring section and a computing section and an alarm section, the sensors are so placed as to be able to measure breathing gases or be in the breathing loop of a life support system, a display derived from the computing section can indicate the actual real time partial pressure of inhaled carbon dioxide gas and an alarm can be triggered by an increase in partial pressure of carbon dioxide gas caused by expired breathing and inadequate carbon dioxide gas removal, the system computes and compensates using a mathematical formulae for the pressure broadening effect of the carbon dioxide gas measurement using data derived from the basic carbon dioxide gas sensor and data from the pressure and temperature sensors to correct the errors the would arise from only using the carbon dioxide sensor data, the system allows, and compensates for, the operational changes in ambient pressure or depth and changes in temperature which result from normal operation in the intended environment and displays the actual partial pressure of carbon dioxide gas in the breathing loop plus alarm information to the operator in the form of audio or visual information.
2. The sensor as claimed in Claim I but reduced to use the sensor group of Infrared absorption carbon dioxide gas sensor, a pressure sensor, and temperature sensor, but including the complete electronics package to monitor and display the partial pressure of carbon dioxide gas.
3. A Gas monitoring package as claimed in Claim 1, or in Claim 2, which is used within or as part of another overall gas monitoring package used for control and monitoring of other gases where the partial pressure of carbon dioxide is a required measurement under conditions of elevated or changing ambient pressures
4. A Gas monitoring and control package as in Claim 3 where the results of the carbon dioxide gas measurement are transmitted via a umbilical or data link to a receiving station. r
GB0220379A 2002-09-03 2002-09-03 Carbon dioxide detector for life support systems Withdrawn GB2394281A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0220379A GB2394281A (en) 2002-09-03 2002-09-03 Carbon dioxide detector for life support systems

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0220379A GB2394281A (en) 2002-09-03 2002-09-03 Carbon dioxide detector for life support systems

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0220379D0 GB0220379D0 (en) 2002-10-09
GB2394281A true GB2394281A (en) 2004-04-21

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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010005343A2 (en) * 2008-07-08 2010-01-14 Marat Vadimovich Evtukhov Rebreather respiratory loop failure detector
GB2463308A (en) * 2008-07-09 2010-03-17 Alexander Roger Deas Rebreather respiratory loop failure detector incorporating a carbon dioxide sensor
GB2479183A (en) * 2010-04-01 2011-10-05 Alexander Roger Deas Rebreather apparatus having a sol-gel oxygen sensor
US20140014098A1 (en) * 2012-07-11 2014-01-16 Be Aerospace, Inc. Aircraft crew member protective breathing apparatus

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2208203A (en) * 1987-07-03 1989-03-15 Carmellan Research Limited Diving system
US5789660A (en) * 1996-07-15 1998-08-04 Novametrix Medical Systems, Inc. Multiple function airway adapter
EP1145740A1 (en) * 2000-04-10 2001-10-17 John E. Lewis System and method for air time remaining calculations in a self-contained breathing apparatus
WO2002036204A2 (en) * 2000-10-31 2002-05-10 Marat Vadimovich Evtukhov Integral life support system

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2208203A (en) * 1987-07-03 1989-03-15 Carmellan Research Limited Diving system
US5789660A (en) * 1996-07-15 1998-08-04 Novametrix Medical Systems, Inc. Multiple function airway adapter
EP1145740A1 (en) * 2000-04-10 2001-10-17 John E. Lewis System and method for air time remaining calculations in a self-contained breathing apparatus
WO2002036204A2 (en) * 2000-10-31 2002-05-10 Marat Vadimovich Evtukhov Integral life support system

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010005343A2 (en) * 2008-07-08 2010-01-14 Marat Vadimovich Evtukhov Rebreather respiratory loop failure detector
WO2010005343A3 (en) * 2008-07-08 2010-07-15 Marat Vadimovich Evtukhov Rebreather respiratory loop failure detector
GB2463308A (en) * 2008-07-09 2010-03-17 Alexander Roger Deas Rebreather respiratory loop failure detector incorporating a carbon dioxide sensor
GB2479183A (en) * 2010-04-01 2011-10-05 Alexander Roger Deas Rebreather apparatus having a sol-gel oxygen sensor
US20140014098A1 (en) * 2012-07-11 2014-01-16 Be Aerospace, Inc. Aircraft crew member protective breathing apparatus
US9498656B2 (en) * 2012-07-11 2016-11-22 B/E Aerospace, Inc. Aircraft crew member protective breathing apparatus
US10046184B2 (en) 2012-07-11 2018-08-14 B/E Aerospace, Inc. Aircraft crew member protective breathing apparatus

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Publication number Publication date
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