Oxygen enrichment of indoor human environments

Abstract

This invention provides systems and methods of supplying oxygen-enriched air to an enclosed space or compartment. The systems and methods may distill oxygen from ambient air by a molecular sieve pressure cycle mechanism, such as a pressure swing absorption, may generate oxygen from water using electricity or may use oxygen enriched air produced by membrane filtration. The invention helps people improve their wellness, productivity and comfort, improve performance of mental and/or physical tasks, increase their alertness, quality of life and pleasure, reduce their drowsiness, and aid in curing and preventing disease by increasing the percentage of oxygen in the enclosed space to a beneficial and safe level.

1 . A system for supplying oxygen-enriched air to an enclosed space, said system comprising: 
 a) means for producing oxygen-enriched air;    b) a conduit for flowing said oxygen-enriched air into said enclosed space;    c) one or more sensors for measuring and maintaining an oxygen concentration of air in the enclosed space within a safe range; and    d) an automatic shutoff system, wherein said automatic shutoff system prevents oxygen from being directed into the enclosed space when the oxygen concentration exceeds said safe range.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said means for maintaining the oxygen content of the air in said enclosed space comprises a sensor for measuring the oxygen content of said oxygen-enriched air and a regulator for regulating the flow of oxygen-enriched air into said enclosed space to commence the flow of oxygen when the oxygen content in said enclosed space falls below a first pre-selected level and to stop the flow when the oxygen content in said enclosed space rises above a second pre-selected level.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said first pre-selected level is about 21% oxygen by volume.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said second pre-selected level is about 40% oxygen by volume.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said oxygen concentration of the air in said enclosed space is maintained at any percentage between 21-40% oxygen by volume.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein any percentage between 21-40% oxygen by volume is determined and maintained by an oxystat.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said system further comprises an oxygen battery.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said oxygen battery rapidly increases the oxygen concentration of an enclosed space within a safe range.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said oxygen battery is a refillable container.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said oxygen battery is filled by said oxygen producing means.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said enclosed space is selected from the group consisting of: residence, room, house, apartment, building, theater, shopping center, hotel, office, industrial facility, commercial facility and commercial venue.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said means for producing oxygen-enriched air comprises a molecular sieve pressure cycle mechanism.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said molecular sieve pressure cycle mechanism is a pressure swing adsorption apparatus.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said means for producing oxygen-enriched air comprises a cryogenic separation mechanism.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said means for producing oxygen-enriched air comprises an electrolyzing device.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said means for producing oxygen-enriched air comprises an oxygen tank.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said means for producing oxygen-enriched air comprises at least one gas separation membrane.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an oxygen shunt, wherein said shunt directs produced oxygen to the oxygen battery when the enclosed space is opened to ambient air.  
   
   
       20 . A method for supplying oxygen-enriched air to a enclosed space, said method comprising the system of  claim 1 , wherein said method increases the oxygen concentration of the air in said enclosed space within a safe range for a prolonged period of time.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said prolonged period of time is an exposure of at least 3 hours per day, or at least 4 exposures per week each for a time of 3 hours.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein supplying oxygen-enriched air to a enclosed space for a prolonged period of time helps people improve their wellness, productivity, metabolism or comfort, improve performance of mental and/or physical tasks, increase their alertness, quality of life and pleasure, reduce their drowsiness, and aid in curing and preventing disease.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said method results in moderate energy consumption.  
   
   
       24 . A system for supplying oxygen-enriched air to an enclosed space, said system comprising: 
 a) means for producing oxygen-enriched air;    b) a conduit for flowing said oxygen-enriched air into said enclosed space;    c) one or more sensors for measuring and maintaining an oxygen concentration of air in the enclosed space within a safe range; and    d) an oxygen battery for rapidly increasing the oxygen concentration of said enclosed space within said safe range.    
   
   
       25 . A system for supplying oxygen-enriched air to an enclosed space, said system comprising: 
 a) a pressure swing adsorption apparatus for producing oxygen-enriched air;    b) a conduit for flowing said oxygen-enriched air from said apparatus into said enclosed space;    c) one or more sensors for measuring and maintaining an oxygen concentration of air in the enclosed space within a safe range; and    d) an automatic shutoff system, wherein said automatic shutoff system prevents oxygen from being directed into the enclosed space when the oxygen concentration exceeds said safe range.    
   
   
       26 . A system for supplying oxygen-enriched air to an enclosed space, said system comprising: 
 a) a pressure swing adsorption apparatus for producing oxygen-enriched air;    b) a conduit for flowing said oxygen-enriched air from said apparatus into said enclosed space;    c) one or more sensors for measuring and maintaining an oxygen concentration of air in the enclosed space within a safe range; and    d) an oxygen battery for rapidly increasing the oxygen concentration of said enclosed space within said safe range.    
   
   
       27 . A system for supplying oxygen enriched air to an enclosed space in a vehicle, said system comprising: 
 a) a pressure swing adsorption apparatus for producing oxygen-enriched air;    b) a conduit for flowing said oxygen-enriched air from said apparatus into said enclosed space;    c) one or more sensors for measuring and maintaining an oxygen concentration of air in the enclosed space within a safe range, wherein said safe range is 26-40% oxygen by volume;    d) an oxygen battery for rapidly increasing the oxygen concentration of said enclosed space within said safe range; and    e) an automatic shutoff system, wherein said automatic shutoff system prevents oxygen from being directed into the enclosed space when the oxygen concentration exceeds said safe range.