Load following single bed reversing blower adsorption air separation system

An air separation method with load sensing and load following, including the steps of:

• sensing at least one pressure within a single adsorption bed air separation system having an air inlet upstream from a reversing blower and an O2 storage downstream from the adsorption bed;
• said sensing step detecting pressure magnitude at a first location downstream from the reversing blower;
• altering a flow rate through the reversing blower responsive to the pressure of said sensing step;
• increasing a flow rate through the reversing blower when pressure of said sensing step is below a set point;
• decreasing a flow rate through the reversing blower when the pressure of said sensing step is above the set point;
• wherein a compressor is located within the O2 storage downstream of the adsorption bed;
• further sensing a second pressure at a second location downstream from the first location and downstream from the compressor;
• and
• altering a flow rate through the compressor responsive to the second pressure at the second location.

An air separation system with load sensing and load following, comprising in combination:

• an air inlet upstream from a reversing blower and an O2 storage downstream from an adsorption bed, said adsorption bed downstream from said reversing blower;
• a pressure sensor downstream from said reversing blower sensing a first pressure magnitude at a first location downstream from said reversing blower;
• a controller coupled to said first pressure sensor and altering a flow rate through the reversing blower responsive to the first pressure;
• said controller having a set point, said controller increasing a flow rate through said reversing blower when the first pressure is below the set point, and decreasing a flow rate through said reversing blower when the first pressure is above the set point;
• and
• a second pressure sensor at a second location downstream from said first pressure sensor, said second pressure sensor coupled to a controller of O2 supply from said O2 storage.