Nitrox-mixtures production machine
AssigneeNardi Compressori S.R.L.
InventorMarco Ghiotto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A nitrox mixtures production machine that includes a molecular separator, which is configured to receive at an inlet a flow of air and to provide at an outlet an intermediate Nitrox mixture with high oxygen percentage. The nitrox mixtures production machine further includes a low pressure compressor, which is adapted to feed an air flow at the at least one inlet, a mixing manifold configured that provides at the outlet with predefined composition, oxygen sensor(s), and an electronic control device adapted to regulate the flow rate of the air flow that the low pressure compressor feeds at the at least one inlet based on signals coming from the oxygen sensor(s).
Claims13
A Nitrox mixtures production machine comprising:
- a molecular separator having an inlet configured to receive a flow of air and an outlet configured to provide an intermediate Nitrox mixture with high oxygen percentage;
- a low pressure compressor configured to feed an air flow at the inlet;
- a mixing manifold which communicates with the molecular separator so as to receive said intermediate Nitrox mixture, and is configured to mix the intermediate Nitrox mixture with ambient air, in order to provide at an outlet of the mixing manifold a final Nitrox mixture with predefined composition;
- and
- at least one oxygen sensor configured to measure the oxygen percentage present in said final Nitrox mixture;
- and
- an electronic control device connected to said at least one oxygen sensor and configured to regulate a flow rate of the air that the low pressure compressor feeds at the inlet based on the signals coming from said at least one oxygen sensor;
- wherein said electronic control device is configured to regulate a flow rate of the air sucked in by the low pressure compressor and comprises:
- an electronically controlled valve assembly located upstream of a suction of the low pressure compressor and configured to regulate the flow rate of the air sucked in by the low pressure compressor;
- and
- an electronic control unit connected to said at least one oxygen sensor and configured to command the electronically controlled valve assembly according to the signals coming from said at least one oxygen sensor;
- wherein said valve assembly comprises:
- a control valve located upstream of the suction of the low-pressure compressor;
- and
- an electronically-controlled driving device configured to move a shutter of said control valve in order to vary the flow rate of the air sucked in by the low-pressure compressor;
- wherein the electronic control unit is configured to command said driving device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.