JPH06322798A - Method and device for utilizing water in closed space - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain water, required for a closed space, as circulating water instead of the feed of water from the outside by using a high moisture absorption heat-sensitive high molecular gel prepared in a way that the surface of a heat-sensitive high molecular gel is impregnated with a material to promote absorption of steam and/or the material is kneaded and fixed at the inside. CONSTITUTION:A high moisture absorption heat-sensitive high molecular gel (reinforced gel) 3 prepared such that the surface of a heat-sensitive high molecular gel is impregnated with a material to promote absorption of steam and/or the material is kneaded and fixed at the inside is installed in a closed space 1. When, during the night, an outside air temperature is reduced to a value lower than the phase transition temperature of the reinforced gel 3, steam 4 is hydrated and contained in the reinforced gel 3. When, during a daytime, the outside air temperature is increased and the temperature of a gas phase part in the closed space 1 is increased to a value higher than the phase transition temperature of the reinforced gel 3, a moisture content held by the reinforced gel 3 produces water 5 being liquid, phase separation from the reinforced gel 3 is effected, and the water is fed to soil 7 and a steam divergent substance 6. This method and constitution facilitate formation of a water circulation system in the closed space.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to water vapor used to sustain life in a closed space where water cannot be supplied from outside or cannot be supplied sufficiently, and water vapor emitted from living organisms into the vapor phase. The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for circulating and utilizing water, which is collected from a highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel as a medium and is supplied to living organisms in the closed space.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, there is a strong demand for the formation of a water circulation system in a closed or quasi-closed space, and further, there is a strong social demand for the formation of a water circulation system from the viewpoints of global environment conservation, resource saving, and energy saving. .

The closed space referred to in the present invention is, for example, a shelter provided inside the space capsule orbiting the earth or on the moon,
It means a sterile room on the earth. In addition, the semi-closed system space is, for example, a system in which it is not impossible to supply a part of component gas in the atmosphere or a part of water to be used from outside the space or to discharge waste from the closed system space. It means a space, and examples of such a space include a plant factory, a bio space, and a deep sea submersible. In the present invention, the closed system space and the quasi-closed system space will be referred to as a closed system space without distinction.

[0004] Conventionally, various treatments have been proposed for liquid water in a closed system space. However, it is efficient to collect and reuse water vapor and mist caused by respiration of a living body, perspiration and transpiration in the system. There was no compact way.
This causes a loss in water use, which is an impediment to long-term activity in closed spaces.

In recent years, techniques for absorbing and dehydrating gel have been improved. As a gel having such a function, a thermosensitive polymer gel can be mentioned. Utilizing the properties of this heat-sensitive polymer gel, it is expected that a high-performance heat-sensitive polymer gel will be developed, and that a water circulation system with high efficiency and low cost can be developed with temperature difference as a driving force. ing. This heat-sensitive polymer gel is a polymer gel that swells due to hydration at low temperature, heats up to high temperature by heating, and hydrates to release water out of the gel. It is a generic term. The thermosensitive polymer gel can be synthesized by copolymerizing an acrylamide monomer and a monomer having a bifunctional group such as methylenebisacrylamide. Further, as another type of heat-sensitive polymer gel, a polymer gel can be produced by irradiating an aqueous polyvinyl methyl ether solution with γ-rays or electron beams. Of these, acrylamide-based thermosensitive polymer gels are the mainstream at the present stage, and it corresponds to the desired phase transition temperature by selecting the type of monomer to be copolymerized and appropriately setting the quantitative ratio of copolymerization. There is an advantage that a polymer can be synthesized.

The above-mentioned conventional heat-sensitive polymer gel is hydrated or dehydrated in water sensitively and in a short time on the low temperature side or high temperature side of the phase transition temperature of the polymer gel in water. However, when the conventional thermosensitive polymer gel is present in the gas phase containing water vapor, the dehydration phenomenon on the high temperature side of the phase transition temperature is performed in the same manner as in water, but on the low temperature side of the phase transition temperature. The water vapor absorption capacity, namely the hydration power, is weak because the state of molecular aggregation of water in contact with the gel surface is different from that in water, and a large amount of heat-sensitive polymer gel is required to absorb the water vapor. Become.

In a life-sustaining device such as a closed space, for example, a biosphere, a biospace or a biocapsule, the conventional thermosensitive polymer gel can be used for maintaining the water supply to the living body. However, it was not easy to form a water circulation system because it was necessary to use a large amount of gel in a large amount. Furthermore, at the present time, there is no thermosensitive polymer gel capable of strongly hydrating water vapor in the gas phase below its phase transition temperature, and therefore, there is no water circulation system in a closed space using this gel as a medium.

[0008]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned deficiencies of the prior art, and provides the water required in a closed space as circulating water without externally supplying the water. And to provide a device.

[0009]

The above-mentioned object can be achieved by the method and apparatus for utilizing water circulation in a closed system space of the present invention by a highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel.

That is, (1) using a highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel obtained by immobilizing a substance that promotes absorption of water vapor on the surface of the heat-sensitive polymer gel and / or kneading and immobilizing it. After the temperature of the highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel is kept below the phase transition temperature, the moisture in the gas phase of the closed system space is retained as a liquid in the highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel, and then the highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel is obtained. A method of utilizing water circulation in a closed system space, wherein the temperature of is set to be equal to or higher than the phase transition temperature and is discharged as liquid water outside the highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel and supplied to a point of use. (2) An adjusting device for holding a highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel obtained by immobilizing a substance which promotes absorption of water vapor on the surface of the heat-sensitive polymer gel and / or kneading the mixture inside, and the adjustment. An air supply device for guiding the gas phase of the closed system space to the device, a temperature adjusting means for maintaining or changing the temperature of the highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel in the adjusting device, and a highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel An apparatus for circulating water in a closed space, comprising a supply device for supplying liquid water to a point of use. (3) The substance that promotes the absorption of water vapor is Zn or C
an oxide or sulfate of a metal selected from a, Mg, Cu and Fe, or a cross-linked polymer containing an acrylic acid unit, or an oxide or sulfate of the polymer and the metal. The mixture according to (1) above, wherein the base material of the thermosensitive polymer gel is a polymer of an acrylamide resin or a polyvinyl methyl ether resin alone or with a bifunctional monomer. How to use water circulation in closed space. (4) The substance that promotes the absorption of water vapor is Zn or C
an oxide or sulfate of a metal selected from a, Mg, Cu and Fe, or a cross-linked polymer containing an acrylic acid unit, or an oxide or sulfate of the polymer and the metal. The mixture according to (2) above, wherein the base material of the thermosensitive polymer gel is a polymer of an acrylamide resin or a polyvinyl methyl ether resin alone or with a bifunctional monomer. Water circulation utilization device in closed space.

In the present invention, the temperature change of the above-mentioned adjusting device, that is, the temperature of the gel inside the adjusting device is an important factor. The phase transition temperature of the highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel is preferably in the range of 5 to 80 ° C. The temperature change is achieved by the temperature adjusting means. The modes of these temperature adjustments are generally the following three modes.

That is, a temperature change naturally and inevitably occurs in the closed system space. For example, in an artificial satellite, temperature changes inevitably occur inside the satellite (closed system space) due to temperature changes day and night. In addition, even in the example on the earth, with a moving diving system or a volcano researcher,
The relative movement of the device with respect to the heat source necessarily causes a temperature change inside the device. A heating and / or cooling device is provided to artificially and forcibly change the temperature. Use artificial means together to promote or mitigate natural and inevitable temperature changes. Is.

The adjusting device used in the present invention must be made of a material which does not allow light rays to pass through the highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel contained in the device, or an ultraviolet deterioration preventing material such as an ultraviolet absorber. This is because the highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel of the present invention deteriorates in performance due to light rays such as ultraviolet rays.

In the present invention, a highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel is used to maintain a living body in a closed system space or a quasi-closed system space, so that the water vapor existing in the gas phase is maintained at a low temperature. Hydrated, kept at high temperature in the next step, taken out of the gel as liquid water, and circulated by phase-converting water into gas → liquid → gas to effectively use water for living organisms It is a water circulation utilization system in space. In the present invention, the temperature difference given to the highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel, that is, the phase transition temperature is maintained at a temperature below the phase transition of water vapor to liquid water, and the temperature above the phase transition temperature is maintained within the gel. The temperature difference for causing the polymer gel to perform the action of releasing the retained water as liquid water outside the gel will be referred to as a temperature difference.

The highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel used in the present invention will be specifically described. In producing the highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel of the present invention, among substances that promote absorption of water vapor added when copolymerizing the thermosensitive polymer gel-constituting monomers each having a functional group, 1) Slow water vapor Inorganic absorbents are Zn, Ca, Mg,
Among the metal oxides such as Al, Cu and Fe and the sulfates, these are powders which are insoluble in water and their weight is 5
It is mixed with the monomer in a range not exceeding 0%, preferably homogeneously mixed. 2) Superabsorbent polymer gel as an organic substance is, for example, commercially available Sunwet IMI1000 (Sanyo Chemical Co., Ltd. Starch polyacrylic acid), Igetagel P (Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. vinyl alcohol polyacrylic acid sodium) or ALASORP G / KR713 ( Powder such as polyacrylic acid manufactured by Arakawa Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) or a granular form, which are appropriately selected and mixed with the monomer in a range not exceeding 50% of the total weight of the monomers, and preferably homogeneously mixed. To do. Here, the inorganic substance of 1) and the organic substance of 2) can be added individually or as a mixture of both. Even when mixed, the total amount of additives does not exceed 50% by weight.

The copolymer composition of the thermosensitive polymer gel-constituting monomer is made to correspond to the desired phase transition temperature. A substance that promotes the absorption of water vapor is mixed in the monomer, and when the copolymerization of the monomer is completed, the polymer is irradiated with γ-rays or electron beams to cross-link the polymers with each other, and finally the high moisture absorption and high heat sensitivity are obtained. Obtain a molecular gel. Furthermore, the absorption of water vapor by adsorbing an inorganic absorbent, which is a substance that promotes the absorption of water vapor, an adsorbent or a superabsorbent polymer gel with a constant thickness on the surface of a conventional heat-sensitive polymer gel, by adsorption. The capacity can be enhanced and gels of this kind are also contemplated by the invention and do not preclude their application.

On the other hand, the so-called heat-sensitive polymer gel (hereinafter abbreviated as conventional gel), which is a base material of the highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel (hereinafter abbreviated as reinforced gel), is desired to be an acrylamide monomer, for example. The conventional gel is formed by selecting the type corresponding to the phase transition temperature to be set, appropriately setting the quantitative ratio of the copolymerization, and adding a monomer having a bifunctional group such as methylenebisacrylamide thereto. Further, a substance that promotes absorption of water vapor is added to a mixture of these acrylamide-based monomers and bifunctional monomers and copolymerized to form a reinforced gel. Further, a chain polymer containing no bifunctional group monomer can also be produced as a reinforced gel by irradiating it with γ-rays or electron beams. Furthermore, conventional polyvinyl methyl ether type gels and reinforced gels are manufactured in accordance with the above.

The synthesis method of the reinforced gel is summarized as follows. However, in order to make the explanation easy to understand, the addition of a substance that promotes the absorption of water vapor was omitted. 1. The phase transition temperature of the reinforced gel is set by copolymerizing a plurality of monomers having different homopolymer phase transition temperatures. A thermosensitive polymer gel is obtained by adding methylenebisacrylamide as a crosslinking agent to about 1% of the thermosensitive polymer gel base monomer. 2. Further, the reinforced gel base polymer synthesized by copolymerization is formed into a predetermined shape and irradiated with γ-rays or electron beams to be crosslinked to synthesize a reinforced gel.

The highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel of the present invention may be in the form of an amorphous lump, but it may be in various shapes such as fibrous, beaded, prismatic, cylindrical or encapsulated. However, it is preferable to use a composite material in order to further promote and accelerate the hydration function of the gel. Although the water vapor in the gas phase can be sufficiently captured by the reinforced gel according to the present invention, for example, as described in the means for solving the problems, a porous plate having pores before the water vapor in the gas phase portion contacts the reinforced gel, A composite material shape in which a highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel is brought into contact with a plastic molded product having a fiber bundle or sponge structure whose surface has a hair-like fine structure, or the porous plate and the surface are fluffed by fine fibers. , A woven or non-woven fabric having a large surface area, or a composite material obtained by contacting a reinforced gel with a plastic molding such as a sponge-like three-dimensional structure polyurethane foam (PUF) in a plate shape First, water vapor condenses on the transparent surface due to the temperature difference, and liquid water is gradually hydrated into the reinforced gel.

As the most preferable shape of the composite material, if a sponge-like molded article is dipped in a solution and crosslinked before the reinforcing gel is crosslinked, not only a member having a large surface area but also the reinforcing gel can be integrated. The hydration effect is also remarkable. A composite material can also be obtained by graft-polymerizing a heat-sensitive monomer on these fiber aggregates or plastic molded products.

When the system of the present invention is applied in a natural environment, the weather conditions (temperature) fluctuate inevitably, and the reinforced gel that plays a central role in the system is extremely dry or wet. Feared to be exposed to. Therefore, it is desirable that the system of the present invention is supplementarily provided with a device and means for heating and / or cooling, and that the present system always maintains a steady state.

Further, when a plant is cultivated in the closed system space of the present system, a specific element is added to a culture medium (mainly in soil or water) by selective absorption of the nutrient substance by selective adsorption of the nutrient substance of the plant. Deviation and accumulation in the plant not only hinder the healthy growth of the plant, but also cause death. In order to eliminate this kind of obstacle, in the present invention, it is desirable to provide means for removing a specific element (salt) from the closed culture medium.

(Operation) The operation of the present invention will be described.
The present invention installs a reinforced gel in a closed system space having various water vapor emissive bodies in accordance with the space volume and the amount of water present, and utilizes the temperature difference in the space, for example, the temperature difference between day and night to create a space. The phase of the water existing inside is changed, that is, gas → liquid →
It is a water circulation system that makes it possible to repeatedly circulate water in a closed space such as a space capsule by converting gas. Further, even in a plant factory or the like, water vapor emitted from the plants in the house can be efficiently collected by using the temperature difference between day and night through the reinforced gel and efficiently supplied to the plants.

That is, according to the present invention, a conventional gel, which is a kind of stimuli-responsive polymer gel, is kneaded or affixed to the surface with various inorganic and organic substances having a strong water vapor absorption capacity to give a new water vapor absorption capacity. This is the development of an excellent reinforced gel.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples. First, in FIG. 1, a closed system space 1 for maintaining the life of an organism such as a human, an animal, or a plant, such as a biosphere, a biospace, or a biocapsule, is assumed.
In this closed system space 1, there is a soil 7 that serves as a base 7 for maintaining life forms, water 5 and the like, and humans, animals, plants and microorganisms live or inhabit as diffusers 6 of water vapor 4, and drainage and disposal. There is a material processing device. Further, in this closed system space 1, life and production activities such as food production, wastewater treatment, and waste recycling are performed. As a result of these activities, water vapor 4 is emitted from the emissive body to the gas phase portion of the closed system space 1.

At night, when the outside temperature decreases and the temperature falls below the phase transition temperature of the reinforced gel, water vapor 4 hydrates the reinforced gel 3.
It is included. The water retention capacity of this reinforced gel 3 is usually 30-
It is preferable to adjust to a range of 100 gH ₂ O / g gel, and a large amount of water vapor 4 can be stored as liquid water 5. Next, when the outside air temperature rises in the daytime and the temperature of the gas phase portion of the closed system space 1 becomes equal to or higher than the phase transition temperature of the reinforced gel 3, the water retained in the reinforced gel 3 becomes liquid water 5. Phase separation from the reinforced gel 3, the separated water 5 is supplied to the soil 7 and the water vapor diffuser 6 naturally by an appropriate transportation means such as gravity, or with the aid of a centrifugal or suction pump for life and production activities. Used.

As long as there is a continuous system of water vapor 4 or liquid water 5 between the water vapor diffuser 6 and the reinforced gel 3 and the adjusting device 2 for the reinforced gel 3 has a temperature difference between day and night, for example. , The water 5 in this system is phase-converted from gas → liquid → gas and circulates semi-permanently and repeatedly, and the system of the present invention is effectively utilized for the maintenance of life even if water is not transported or supplied from the outside. You can do it. In addition, in order to adjust the temperature when the temperature difference between the night and day is not sufficiently secured in the closed system space 1 and to prevent the function of the reinforced gel 3 from deteriorating, the water circulation system of the present invention always functions normally and becomes steady. Closed space 1 to maintain the condition
It is preferable to install a temperature controller 8 outside and add a function of supplementarily heating or cooling the temperature in the adjusting device 2 of the reinforced gel 3.

Further, since the reinforced gel 3 usually has weak resistance to ultraviolet rays and infrared rays in sunlight, the adjusting device 2 of the reinforced gel 3 may be covered with a protective body that absorbs or reflects rays of these wavelengths. desirable.

FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. The temperature difference between day and night in nature varies considerably depending on, for example, the position from the sun in a closed or quasi-closed space. In the improved system shown in FIG. 2, a part or all of the adjusting device 2 for the reinforced gel 3 is closed in order to maintain a proper temperature difference regardless of the conditions of the closed system space 1. It is provided outside the space 1 to maintain the required working temperature range of the reinforced gel 3. In FIG. 2, the diagram on the left side is a night state in which the temperature of the adjusting device 2 becomes low, and the water vapor 4 from the water vapor diffuser 6 reinforces the reinforced gel 3
The state on the right side shows a state in which the temperature of the adjusting device 2 is high, and the liquid water 5 absorbed by the reinforcing gel 3 is supplied from the reinforcing gel 3 to the soil 7. Is shown.

The closed system space referred to in the present invention is not limited to a sterile room on the ground, a life support device such as a plant factory or a bio space, and a space capsule or a space that will be realized in the future. Includes stations as well. For example, when a heat ray from the sun is periodically fluctuated due to the rotation and revolution of the earth like a space capsule, one side becomes hot and the other side becomes cold depending on the relative positional relationship with the sun. Relationships are repeated. As described above, the temperature difference between the two surfaces of the space capsule that is inevitably created is a suitable condition for applying the water circulation utilization system in the closed space in which the reinforced gel is interposed. In this case, the temperature adjusting means is not necessary. Further, for example, in the case of a shelter or a sterile room provided on the moon, the temperature of the storage area of the highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel can be surely controlled by auxiliary heating and auxiliary cooling.

Conventionally, in order to secure water for use in the space capsule, solar energy is converted into electric energy by a solar cell, and this electric energy electrolyzes water to secure oxygen and hydrogen, and further air and hydrogen are used as fuel. Water is produced by reacting with a battery and converting it to electric energy again, and is used as drinking water and domestic water. However, this mechanism is extremely sophisticated and complicated, and a high level of maintenance and management technology is required. However, by applying the present invention, the system for ensuring water in the completely closed system space is significantly simplified. In weightless areas such as outer space,
Even if the gel undergoes a phase transition, it may be difficult to separate water. In this case, a means such as centrifugal separation or suction can be used as an auxiliary.

[0032]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. (Example 1) A method for producing a highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel. (1) iron oxide is absorbent of water vapor in the N-n-propyl acrylamide monomer (Fe ₂ O _3), or aluminum oxide (Al ₂ O ₃₎ is added in a range not exceeding 50% of the monomer weight, both Mix evenly. Next, azobisisobutyronitrile was added to it as a polymerization initiator, and they were reacted in a polymerization reactor to generate a precursor of Nn propyl methacrylamide.

Further, 1% of a methylenebisacrylamide monomer, which is a cross-linking agent, was added to the precursor and cross-linked three-dimensionally to obtain a highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel shown below. Iron oxide reinforced highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel Aluminum oxide reinforced highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel This highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel has a phase transition temperature of 27 to 2
The water retention capacity at 8 ° C. was 30 to 100 g H ₂ O / g gel.

(2) Polyvinyl methyl ether 30
% Aqueous solution, iron oxide (Fe ₂ O ₃ ) or aluminum oxide (Al ₂ O ₃ ) or magnesium oxide (MgO) was added within a range not exceeding 50% of the polymer weight, and both were uniformly mixed. Next, the mixture was placed in a container of a certain shape, and gamma rays were applied to the container at a temperature of 38 to 40 ° C. for 10 times.
The polymer was cross-linked by irradiation with 0 to 150 kGy to generate a metal oxide-containing polyvinyl methyl ether gel. The gel had a phase transition temperature of 38 to 40 ° C. and a water retention capacity of 30 to 100 gH ₂ O / g gel.

(3) Ni-propyl methacrylamide monomer and N-i propyl acrylamide monomer, which are other types of heat-sensitive polymer, are weighed in equal amounts in a container, and ammonium peroxodisulfate as a polymerization initiator is added thereto. The reaction was carried out to form a copolymer of N-i propyl methacrylamide monomer and N-i propyl acrylamide monomer. A commercially available super absorbent polymer, Sunwet IMI-1000 (starch polyacrylic acid ... manufactured by Sanyo Kasei Co., Ltd.) was added thereto within a range not exceeding 50% of the total weight of both monomers, and both were uniformly mixed. Mixed in. About 1% of a methylenebisacrylamide monomer as a cross-linking agent was added to this mixture, and the copolymer and starch polyacrylic acid were three-dimensionally cross-linked to obtain a highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel. This highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel has a phase transition temperature of 37 to 38 ° C. and a water retention capacity of 80 gH ₂ O /
It was a g-gel.

(Example 2) Assuming that the system of the present invention is applied to cultivate plants in a closed space, a 1 m ³ closed closed space made of acrylic is simulated in a temperature-controlled room.
Fine-grained sand was deposited on the bottom surface to a depth of about 20 cm. An appropriate amount of water was sprayed on this sand sedimentary layer to ensure that the humidity in the gas phase assumed during the experiment was maintained at all times. The day and night temperatures were set to 40 ° C and 10 ° C, respectively. In this closed space, 100 g of polyurethane foam formed into a sponge shape was attached to the reinforced gel of the present invention, and this was set on a support having a saucer structure fixed to the upper part of the closed closed space,
A plurality of holes were formed in the bottom of the support so that dehydrated water could be dripped.

In the experiment, the low-temperature time zone was set to 2 hours and the high-temperature time zone was set to 1 hour, and the state of water vapor absorption and dehydration of the various highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gels produced was observed. The hydration and dehydration functions of the highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel were determined by measuring the weight increase of each tested gel (compared with the conventional heat-sensitive polymer gel). Test heat-sensitive polymer gel Conventional heat-sensitive polymer gel Iron oxide reinforced highly hygroscopic polymer gel Aluminum oxide reinforced highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel Super absorbent polymer gel reinforced highly hygroscopic polymer gel

Table 1 summarizes the conditions of day and night in this experiment.

[0039]

[Table 1]

The object was a conventional thermosensitive polymer gel, and the weight increase of each sample due to the assumed temperature difference between day and night was checked for three types of the highly hygroscopic thermosensitive polymer gel of the present invention, and this test was repeated. By doing so, the possibility of water circulation use in the closed space was verified. The results of the verification experiment are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a temperature change in the closed system space at day and night. In FIG. 4, 11
The line indicated by indicates the weight change of the gel when the conventional thermosensitive polymer gel is used, and the line indicated by 12 indicates the weight change of the gel when the iron oxide reinforced highly hygroscopic polymer gel is used, 1
The line indicated by 3 shows the weight change of the gel when the aluminum oxide reinforced highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel was used, and the line indicated by 14 used the highly hygroscopic polymer gel reinforced by the superabsorbent polymer gel. The weight change of the gel in each case is shown.

As described above, according to (Example 2), the highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel of the present invention rapidly changes the gaseous water, that is, water vapor, at a temperature below the phase transition temperature as compared with the conventional heat-sensitive polymer gel. It has been demonstrated that it has the ability to rapidly dehydrate and convert absorbed water above the phase transition temperature to liquid water. Further, by using the highly hygroscopic and heat-sensitive polymer gel of the present invention as a medium, water in the closed system space is repeatedly circulated by conversion of gas → liquid → gas, so that the water in the system can be utilized for life without limit. It was proved. The base material of the reinforced gel used in the experiment of (Example 2) was N-propylacrylamide: N-acryloylpiperidine = 8.
It was a polymer gel obtained by mixing and copolymerizing at a ratio of 5: 1.5, and the phase transition temperature was about 16 ° C.

[0042]

As described in detail, the present invention is an invention whose idea dimension is completely different from that of the prior art, and the present invention has the following effects. (1) Compared with conventional thermosensitive polymer gels, it is possible to hydrate water vapor in the gas phase at a temperature below the phase transition temperature rapidly and in a short time, and rapidly at a temperature above the phase transition temperature. Dehydration is performed. (2) Using the highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel according to the new invention as a medium, it is possible to reliably capture water vapor in the gas phase, which could not be captured or collected in the conventional closed space and semi-closed space. Therefore, valuable water can theoretically be used infinitely in the system by dehydrating it due to the temperature difference in the gas phase. (3) By applying this system, the lives of humans and animals can be maintained in a completely closed system space without the supply of water from outside the system.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 Diagram of water circulation using reinforced gel as medium in a closed system space

FIG. 2 is a migration diagram of water vapor during daytime (right) and nighttime (left) using a reinforced gel as a medium when a part of the adjusting device in the closed system space is exposed to the outside.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing temperature changes in a closed system space.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing changes in weight of various reinforced gels in a closed space with temperature changes.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Closed system space 2 Regulator 3 Highly hygroscopic thermosensitive polymer gel (reinforced gel) 4 Water vapor 5 Water 6 Water vapor emissive body 7 Life support base (soil etc.) 8 Temperature control device 9 Desalination device 11 Weight change of conventional gel 12 , 13, 14 Weight change of reinforced gel

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hisao Ichijo 1-1, Higashi Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, Institute of Materials Technology (72) Inventor Yasunori Toya 6-27 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo Ebara In Infilco Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takeshi Kobayashi 1-6-27 Konan Minato-ku, Tokyo Ebara Infilco Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A highly hygroscopic thermosensitive polymer gel obtained by impregnating and immobilizing a substance which promotes absorption of water vapor on the surface of a thermosensitive polymer gel and / or kneading the mixture inside the thermosensitive polymer gel to obtain the above-mentioned high moisture absorption. After the temperature of the heat-sensitive polymer gel is kept below the phase transition temperature, the moisture in the gas phase of the closed system space is held as a liquid in the highly moisture-absorbent heat-sensitive polymer gel, and then the temperature of the highly moisture-absorbent heat-sensitive polymer gel is adjusted. A method for utilizing water circulation in a closed system space, characterized in that it is discharged as liquid water outside the highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel at a temperature not lower than the phase transition temperature and supplied to a point of use. 2. An adjusting device for holding a highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel obtained by immobilizing a substance which promotes absorption of water vapor on the surface of and / or kneading the surface of the heat-sensitive polymer gel. An air supply device for guiding a gas phase in a closed system space to the adjustment device,
A temperature adjusting means for maintaining or changing the temperature of the highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel in the adjusting device, and a supply device for supplying the liquid water released from the highly hygroscopic heat-sensitive polymer gel to the point of use are provided. A device for utilizing water circulation in a closed space, which is characterized by: 3. The substance that promotes absorption of water vapor is Z
An oxide or sulfate of a metal selected from n, Ca, Mg, Cu and Fe, or a crosslinked polymer containing an acrylic acid unit, or an oxide of the polymer and the metal, or 2. A mixture of sulfates, wherein the base material of the thermosensitive polymer gel is a polymer of an acrylamide resin or a polyvinyl methyl ether resin alone or with a bifunctional monomer. Of water circulation in closed space in Japan. 4. The substance which promotes absorption of water vapor is Z
An oxide or sulfate of a metal selected from n, Ca, Mg, Cu and Fe, or a crosslinked polymer containing an acrylic acid unit, or an oxide of the polymer and the metal, or 3. A mixture of sulfates, wherein the base material of the thermosensitive polymer gel is a polymer of an acrylamide resin or a polyvinyl methyl ether resin alone or with a bifunctional monomer. Device for water circulation in a closed system space.