Apparatus for the generation of gases

Abstract

The instant application provides apparatus and methods for the generation of gas, preferably chlorine dioxide. The methods and apparatus of the invention use a removable reaction chamber for the reaction of precursor chemicals, e.g., chlorite salt and an acid. The methods and compositions of the invention provide gas for a number of personal and commercial applications.

1 . A reaction chamber for the generation of a gas comprising:
 a first chamber;   a second chamber; and   an interface between the first chamber and the second chamber, the interface allowing a contents of the first chamber to enter the second chamber at a desired time.   
   
   
       2 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 1  wherein the gas is chlorine dioxide. 
   
   
       3 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 an inlet to the first chamber.   
   
   
       4 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 3  wherein the inlet comprises a check valve. 
   
   
       5 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 3  wherein the inlet comprises a membrane that is mechanically ruptured when the reaction chamber is inserted in a generator. 
   
   
       6 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 3  wherein the inlet comprises a membrane that is ruptured by a change in pressure. 
   
   
       7 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 3  wherein the inlet comprises a septum that is punctured when the reaction chamber is inserted in a generator. 
   
   
       8 . The reaction chamber of  claim 7 , wherein the reaction chamber is resealable. 
   
   
       9 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 an outlet from the second chamber.   
   
   
       10 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 9  wherein the outlet comprises a check valve. 
   
   
       11 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 9  wherein the outlet comprises a membrane that is mechanically ruptured when the reaction chamber is inserted in a generator. 
   
   
       12 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 9  wherein the inlet comprises a membrane that is ruptured by a change in pressure. 
   
   
       13 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 9  wherein the outlet comprises a septum that is punctured when the reaction chamber is inserted in a generator. 
   
   
       14 . The reaction chamber of  claim 13 , wherein the reaction chamber is resealable. 
   
   
       15 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 1  wherein the interface is a check valve. 
   
   
       16 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 1  wherein the interface is a membrane that opens under pressure. 
   
   
       17 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 1  wherein the interface is a membrane that is mechanically ruptured when the reaction chamber is inserted in a generator. 
   
   
       18 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 1  wherein the first chamber comprises water and the second chamber comprises a chlorite salt and an acid. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the chlorite salt is selected from the group consisting of sodium chlorite, lithium chlorite, barium chlorite, calcium chlorite, magnesium chlorite, and potassium chlorite. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the chlorite salt is sodium chlorite. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein acid is selected from the group consisting of boric acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, maleic acid, malic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, sulfamic acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, phosphoric anhydride, a sulfuric anyhdride and citric acid. 
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the acid is citric acid. 
   
   
       23 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 18  wherein the chlorite salt and the acid are in a loose form. 
   
   
       24 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 18  wherein the chlorite salt and the acid are in a dissolvable membrane. 
   
   
       25 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 18  wherein the chlorite salt and the acid are physically separated. 
   
   
       26 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 18  wherein the sodium chlorite is stored in a first structure and the acid is stored in a second structure. 
   
   
       27 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 1  wherein the first chamber comprises water and acid, and the second chamber comprises a chlorite salt. 
   
   
       28 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 1  wherein the first chamber comprises water and a chlorite salt, and the second chamber comprises an acid. 
   
   
       29 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 28  wherein the acid is a liquid. 
   
   
       30 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 1  wherein the first chamber comprises an acid and the second chamber a chlorite salt. 
   
   
       31 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 1  wherein the first chamber comprises a chlorite salt and the second chamber comprises and acid. 
   
   
       32 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 1  further comprising a neutralizing agent. 
   
   
       33 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 32  wherein the neutralizing agent is an ascorbate salt. 
   
   
       34 . The reaction chamber of  claim 33 , wherein the ascorbate salt is sodium ascorbate. 
   
   
       35 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 32  wherein the neutralizing agent is sodium sulfite. 
   
   
       36 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 32  wherein the neutralizing agent is sodium bisulfite. 
   
   
       37 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 32  wherein the neutralizing agent stored in a dissolvable structure. 
   
   
       38 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 32  wherein the neutralizing agent is mechanically released at a desired time. 
   
   
       39 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 1  wherein the reaction chamber accommodates ice formation within the reaction chamber. 
   
   
       40 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 an additive for inhibiting the formation of contiguous pieces of ice.   
   
   
       41 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 an additive for decreasing the freezing temperature of a solution.   
   
   
       42 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 an air dispersal device for creating bubbles.   
   
   
       43 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 1  wherein the reaction chamber comprises a material having low water permeability. 
   
   
       44 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a fragrance.   
   
   
       45 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 1  wherein the first chamber comprises a fragrance. 
   
   
       46 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 1  wherein the second chamber comprises a fragrance. 
   
   
       47 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 1 , further comprising a substance which changes color in the presence of the gas. 
   
   
       48 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 1 , further comprising a substance which changes color in the presence of a neutralizing agent. 
   
   
       49 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 1 , further comprising a colored neutralizing agent. 
   
   
       50 . The reaction chamber according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 machine readable identification information.   
   
   
       51 . A system for the generation of a gas comprising:
 an air flow source;   a reaction chamber comprising:
 a first chamber; 
 an inlet connected to the first chamber; and 
 a second chamber connected to the first chamber by an interface, the interface allowing a contents of the first chamber to enter the second chamber at a desired time; 
 an outlet connected to the second chamber. 
   
   
   
       52 . The system of  claim 51 , further comprising a fitting for connecting the air flow source to the inlet. 
   
   
       53 . The system of  claim 52 , further comprising a regulator for controlling air flow. 
   
   
       54 . The system of  claim 51  wherein the gas is chlorine dioxide. 
   
   
       55 . The system according to  claim 51  further comprising:
 a water source connected to the inlet, the water source providing water to the reaction chamber.   
   
   
       56 . The system according to  claim 51  wherein the fitting comprises an O ring. 
   
   
       57 . The system according to  claim 51  further comprising:
 a sensor selected from the group consisting of: a gas concentration sensor, a chlorine dioxide sensor, a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the reaction chamber, a temperature sensor for sensing the outlet temperature of gas, an relative humidity sensor, and an ambient temperature sensor.   
   
   
       58 . The system according to  claim 57  wherein the system stops air flow if the sensor reports a value beyond a threshold. 
   
   
       59 . The system according to  claim 57  wherein the system adjusts air flow based on a value generated by the sensor. 
   
   
       60 . The system according to  claim 57  wherein the system adjusts air temperature based on a value generated by the sensor. 
   
   
       61 . The system according to  claim 51  further comprising:
 a heater for heating air before entry into the reaction chamber.   
   
   
       62 . The system according to  claim 51  further comprising:
 neutralizing agent dispersal means.   
   
   
       63 . The system according to  claim 51  further comprising:
 a light source.   
   
   
       64 . The system according to  claim 63  wherein the light source emits ultraviolet light. 
   
   
       65 . The system according to  claim 51  further comprising:
 an air filter for removing chlorine dioxide from ambient gas.   
   
   
       66 . The system according to  claim 65  wherein the filter is an activated carbon filter. 
   
   
       67 . The system according to  claim 51  wherein the reaction chamber further comprises a mixer and the system further comprises a driver. 
   
   
       68 . The system according to  claim 67  wherein energy is magnetically transferred from the driver to the mixer. 
   
   
       69 . The system according to  claim 67  wherein the mixer and the driver are mechanically coupled. 
   
   
       70 . The system according to  claim 50  wherein the reaction chamber further comprises a mixer driven by air flow from the inlet. 
   
   
       71 . The system according to  claim 51  further comprising:
 an external sensor for detecting a concentration of a gas.   
   
   
       72 . The system according to  claim 71  wherein the external sensor is in communication with the regulator. 
   
   
       73 . The system according to  claim 51  further comprising:
 a detachable display.   
   
   
       74 . The system according to  claim 73  wherein the system is configured to begin gas generation at a defined interval from the removal of the detachable display from the system. 
   
   
       75 . The system according to  claim 73  wherein the detachable display indicates an amount of time remaining in a gas generation cycle. 
   
   
       76 . The system according to  claim 51  further comprising:
 a gas dispersal device connected to the outlet.   
   
   
       77 . The system according to  claim 76  wherein the gas dispersal device is a fan. 
   
   
       78 . The system according to  claim 76  wherein the gas dispersal device is a mister. 
   
   
       79 . A system for the generation of a gas comprising:
 a water source;   a reaction chamber comprising:
 an inlet; 
 an outlet; and 
 dry precursor chemicals; and 
   a fitting for connecting the water source to the inlet.   
   
   
       80 . The system according to  claim 79  further comprising:
 a water filter connected to the water source and the inlet.   
   
   
       81 . The system according to  claim 79  further comprising:
 a water heater for heating water received from the water source.