Oxygen concentrator apparatus and method with an oxygen assisted venting system
AssigneeInova Labs, Inc.
InventorsWilliam R. Wilkinson, Allan Sten Westersten, H. David Shockley, JR.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An oxygen concentrator may rely on a pressure swing adsorption process to produce an oxygen enriched gas stream from canisters filled with granules capable of separation of oxygen from an air stream. The adsorption process uses a cyclical pressurization and venting of the canisters to generate an oxygen enriched gas stream. During venting of the canisters, use of oxygen as a purge gas may improve the efficiency and lifetime of the oxygen concentrator.
Claims24
1-156. (canceled)
An oxygen concentrator apparatus, comprising:
- at least a first canister and a second canister;
- separation material disposed in at least the first canister and the second canister, wherein the separation material separates at least some nitrogen from air in the canister to produce oxygen enriched gas;
- a compression system coupled to at least one canister, wherein the compression system compresses air during operation;
- and
- one or more conduits coupling the first canister to the second canister;
- wherein one or more of the conduits couple the first canister to the second canister such that at least part of oxygen enriched gas produced in the first canister is diverted through the second canister during at least part of a venting process of the second canister;
- and
- wherein one or more of the conduits couple the first canister to the second canister such that at least part of oxygen enriched gas produced in the second canister is diverted through the first canister during at least part of a venting process of the first canister.
A method of providing oxygen enriched gas to a user of an oxygen concentrator, the oxygen concentrator comprising:
- at least a first canister and a second canister;
- separation material disposed in at least the first canister and the second canister, wherein the separation material separates at least some nitrogen from air in the canister to produce oxygen enriched gas;
- a compression system coupled to at least one canister, wherein the compression system compresses air during operation;
- and
- one or more conduits coupling the first canister to the second canister;
- the method comprising:
- operating the compression system to compress air;
- passing the compressed air into one or more of the canisters, wherein oxygen is at least partially separated from air in one or more of the canisters to produce oxygen enriched gas;
- directing the oxygen enriched gas to the user;
- venting nitrogen gas from the second canister;
- diverting at least a portion of oxygen enriched gas produced in the first canister through the second canister during the venting of the second canister;
- venting nitrogen gas from the first canister;
- and
- diverting at least a portion of oxygen enriched gas produced in the second canister through the first canister during the venting of the first canister.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.