US 2010/0300285 A1 · MINIATURE OXYGEN CONCENTRATORS AND METHODS

Abstract

Provided herein are new compact and miniature oxygen concentrator apparatus, as well as methods incorporating use of the apparatus. The apparatus and methods utilize selected cycle times, adsorbent specifications and novel conditions to produce a fast Pressure Swing Adsorption (“PSA”) system. The oxygen concentrator apparatus and methods herein have significant utility in the fields of biotechnology, engineering, and medicine. A particularly advantageous use of this invention is as a “snap on” portable oxygen concentrator, where piped compressed air is already available such as in civil and military hospitals, ambulances, air craft cabins, mobile fish tanks, etc. Those embodiments eliminate the need for dedicated moving machinery (blower, compressor, vacuum pump) normally associated with a conventional PSA oxygen concentrator.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A rapid cyclic pressure swing adsorption (PSA) method for producing an oxygen enriched gaseous product containing more than 85 mole % oxygen, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a feed gas comprising compressed ambient air;
b) providing a gas separation apparatus comprising at least one adsorber column, the adsorber column packed with at least a layer of a desiccant adsorbent comprising particles of more than 1.0 mm hydraulic diameter in the feed gas side and at least a layer of a nitrogen selective particles of less than 0.5 mm hydraulic diameter in the product gas side;
and
c) carrying out a PSA separation process, the process comprising the steps of:
(1) co-currently pressurizing the at least one adsorber column using the received compressed ambient air;
(2) co-currently directing flow of the compressed ambient air to produce an oxygen enriched product gas at a near feed gas pressure;
(3) performing counter-current depressurization of the at least one adsorbent column to a near ambient pressure;
and
(4) performing a counter-current oxygen purge at ambient or sub-ambient pressure using at least a portion of the oxygen enriched product gas.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Miniature oxygen concentrators and methods

Life of this patent

Miniature oxygen concentrators and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20