Vortex: A non-powered active CO2 scrubber for mine refuge chambers
100,000
2015-10-01 to 2016-11-30
GRD Proof of Concept
A mine refuge chamber is an underground shelter used in emergencies where evacuation is no
longer safe or practical, & must prevent CO2 build-up that could lead to suffocation or
poisoning. Currently, mine refuge chambers use passive CO2 absorbing curtains, as there will
often be no means of powering an active CO2 scrubbing system in an emergency. The
curtains rely on natural airflow to remove the CO2. In low airflow, typical of enclosed spaces,
the morphology of the curtains means that only 60% of the scrubbing compound can react
before the end of their lifecycle, reducing their lifetime. Furthermore, they generally use
lithium hydroxide (LiOH) which is toxic & can cause burns, & the reaction between CO2 and
LiOH often causes the chamber to exceed temperatures of ~35°C which can lead to stress,
dehydration, nausea & fainting.The curtains are large & cumbersome & have to be rolled out
& hung up which can waste precious time in a life or death situation.
To address the problems & take advantage of the mkt opportunity, Molecular Products
Limited are proposing a non-powered, active CO2 & CO draft tube reactor system (Vortex).
The system will use latent heat from the scrubbing reaction to create its own airflow &
actively remove the CO2 from the air. Advantages over curtains:
- Lifetime is increased by over 30% - Vortex will use 85-90% of the available reactant & will
self-regulate due to the active airflow, increasing lifetime by at least another 6 hours.
- Vortex will produce ~25% less heat energy - uses non-toxic, less exothermically reactive
Sofnolime®, so ambient temperature will be significantly lower.
- The forced airflow will allow Vortex to retain a more consistent CO2 removing capability
over its lifetime, similar to powered systems.
- 1/5 the volume of a curtain – making easier storage & saving space when in use.
- As well as removing CO2 from the atmosphere, the draft tube will also contain Moleculite®,
so will remove CO.
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