Method of heating and heating apparatus

Abstract

Method of heating and heating apparatus. According to one embodiment, the heating apparatus is designed for warming infusion fluids and includes a pair of catalytic heaters positioned around a cartridge containing the infusion fluid. Each catalytic heater includes a pair of frames jointly defining a cavity. One of the frames per heater is positioned proximate to the cartridge and includes an input port for receiving a liquid solution of methanol. The other frame per heater is positioned distal to the cartridge and includes an input port for receiving oxygen gas and an output port for exhaust gases. A first fluid diffusion medium is positioned within the methanol frame, and a second fluid diffusion medium is positioned within the oxygen frame. Sandwiched between the two diffusion media are a pervaporation membrane facing the first diffusion medium and a porous metal catalyst facing the second diffusion medium. Methanol in liquid form is supplied to the pervaporation membrane, which then transports the methanol in vapor form to the catalyst, where combustion occurs. Heat from the combustion reaction is then conducted through the heater to the cartridge containing the infusion fluid.

1 . A method of heating a material to be warmed, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a porous metal catalyst suitable for catalyzing the combustion of a gaseous fuel in the presence of oxygen;   (b) supplying the porous metal catalyst with the gaseous fuel and with oxygen, whereby the gaseous fuel is combusted and heat is generated; and   (c) transferring the heat generated to the material to be warmed.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the porous metal catalyst comprises an unsupported porous metal. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the porous metal catalyst comprises a porous metal deposited on an oxygen-inert support particulate sinter or metal. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the porous metal catalyst comprises a noble metal. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the noble metal comprises a platinum group member. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the porous metal catalyst comprises a non-noble metal. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the non-noble metal comprises a transition metal member. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said supplying step comprises providing a pervaporation membrane, said pervaporation membrane having an input face and an output face, the output face being in proximity to the porous metal catalyst, and supplying the input face of said pervaporation membrane with a fluid fuel, whereby the pervaporation membrane transports the fluid fuel from said input face to said output face in vapor form so that the fluid fuel exits said pervaporation membrane at said output face as the gaseous fuel. 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said pervaporation membrane has a pore size ranging from 0 to 400 nm. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said pervaporation membrane has a pore size ranging from 100 to 300 nm. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said pervaporation membrane comprises a solid ion-conductive polymer electrolyte membrane. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said pervaporation membrane comprises a fluorocarbon-based polymer. 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said pervaporation membrane comprises a hydrocarbon-based polymer. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the fluid fuel is supplied to the pervaporation membrane in liquid form. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the fluid fuel is supplied to the pervaporation membrane in gaseous form. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the gaseous fuel comprises a hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the gaseous fuel comprises an alcohol. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the gaseous fuel comprises methanol. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the oxygen supplied to the porous metal catalyst is supplied as ambient air. 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the oxygen supplied to the porous metal catalyst is supplied as a high purity oxygen gas. 
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said transferring step comprises using a heat exchanger to transfer heat to the material to be warmed. 
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said transferring step comprises using a heat pipe to transfer heat to the material to be warmed. 
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the material to be warmed comprises at least one gas. 
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the at least one gas comprises at least one gas selected from the group consisting of air, nitrogen, oxygen, an anesthetic gas, an analgesic gas, and an inert gas. 
     
     
         25 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the material to be warmed comprises at least one liquid. 
     
     
         26 . The method as claimed in  claim 25  wherein the at least one liquid is selected from the group consisting of water, glycols, and oils. 
     
     
         27 . The method as claimed in  claim 25  wherein the at least one liquid comprises an infusion fluid. 
     
     
         28 . The method as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the infusion fluid is selected at least one fluid selected from the group consisting of crystalloid, saline, whole blood, plasma, packed red cells, platelets, and artificial blood. 
     
     
         29 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the material to be warmed is selected from the group consisting of a warming mattress, a warming pad, a warming blanket, a warming clothing, and a thermal management device. 
     
     
         30 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the material to be warmed is selected from the group consisting of a solid, a gel, and a semi-solid. 
     
     
         31 . An apparatus for heating a material, said apparatus comprising:
 (a) a porous metal catalyst suitable for catalyzing combustion of a gaseous fuel in the presence of oxygen;   (b) a pervaporation membrane, the pervaporation membrane having an input face and an output face, the output face being in sufficient proximity to the porous metal catalyst to supply the porous metal catalyst with fuel in vapor form;   (c) means for supplying the input face of the pervaporation membrane with a fluid fuel, whereby the fluid fuel travels from the input face of the pervaporation membrane to the output face of the pervaporation membrane and is emitted from the output face of the pervaporation membrane in vapor form;   (d) means for supplying the porous metal catalyst with oxygen; and   (e) means for transferring heat generated by combustion of the gaseous fuel to a material to be warmed.   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 31  wherein the porous metal catalyst comprises an unsupported porous metal. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 31  wherein the porous metal catalyst comprises a porous metal deposited on an oxygen-inert support particulate sinter or metal. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 31  wherein the porous metal catalyst comprises a noble metal. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 34  wherein the noble metal comprises a platinum group member. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 31  wherein the porous metal catalyst comprises a non-noble metal. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 36  wherein the non-noble metal comprises a transition metal member. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 31  wherein said pervaporation membrane has a pore size ranging from 0 to 400 nm. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 38  wherein said pervaporation membrane has a pore size ranging from 100 to 300 nm. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 31  wherein said pervaporation membrane comprises a solid ion-conductive polymer electrolyte membrane. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 31  wherein said pervaporation membrane comprises a fluorocarbon-based polymer. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 31  wherein said pervaporation membrane comprises a hydrocarbon-based polymer. 
     
     
         43 . An apparatus for heating a material, said apparatus comprising:
 (a) a catalytic heater, said catalytic heater comprising:
 i. a housing, the housing defining a cavity and having a fuel input port for receiving a fuel, an oxygen input port for receiving oxygen gas, and an exhaust outlet port for discharging exhaust gases, 
 ii. a first fluid diffusion medium disposed in said cavity and in fluid communication with said fuel input port, 
 iii. a second fluid diffusion medium disposed in said cavity and in fluid communication with said oxygen input port and said exhaust outlet port, 
 iv. a porous metal catalyst suitable for catalyzing combustion of a gaseous fuel in the presence of oxygen, said porous metal catalyst being disposed between said first and second fluid diffusion media and in contact with said second fluid diffusion medium, 
 v. a pervaporation membrane for supplying the porous metal catalyst with fuel in vapor form, the pervaporation membrane having an input face and an output face, the input face being in contact with the first fluid diffusion medium, the output face being in contact with the porous metal catalyst; 
   (b) means for supplying the catalytic heater with a fuel; and   (c) means for supplying the catalytic heater with oxygen gas.