Compact small volume liquid oxygen production system
AssigneeIn-X Corporation
InventorCharles W. Henry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The compact oxygen production system of the present invention provides an oxygen concentrator and a cryocooling device for liquefying the concentrated oxygen gas to provide liquid oxygen. The compact size of the system permits the system to be employed in home applications, especially for home oxygen patients.
Claims24
A method for producing and storing liquid oxygen in an oxygen patient's residence, comprising:
- providing a liquid oxygen producing apparatus;
- placing said liquid oxygen producing apparatus in a first location at which a first user of liquid oxygen resides;
- producing liquid oxygen at said first location;
- storing at said first location said liquid oxygen in a first container resulting from said producing step;
- and
- supplying oxygen to the first user from said first container.
A method for producing liquid oxygen in an oxygen patient's home, comprising:
- separating oxygen from an oxygen-containing fluid by non-cryogenic means to form an oxygen-containing feedstream and an oxygen-depleted waste gas;
- and
- cryocooling at least a portion of the oxygen-containing feedstream to form liquid oxygen.
An apparatus for producing liquid oxygen in an oxygen patient's home, comprising:
- non-cryogenic separating means for separating oxygen from an oxygen-containing fluid to form an oxygen-containing feedstream and an oxygen-depleted waste gas;
- and
- cryocooling means, in communication with the separating means, for cryocooling at least a portion of the oxygen-containing feedstream to form liquid oxygen.
In an apparatus for producing liquid oxygen in an oxygen patient's home, a cryocooler, comprising:
- compressing means for compressing a cryocooling fluid to form a compressed cryocooling fluid and heat of compression;
- expansion means, in fluid communication with the compressing means, for expanding the compressed cryocooling fluid with or without work recovery to form an expanded, cold cryocooling fluid;
- regenerating means, in fluid communication with the colder and warmer gas of the cooler;
- a cold head, in fluid communication with the expansion means, such that the expanded, cold cryocooling fluid thermally contacts the cold head;
- heat rejection means for dissipating the heat of compression;
- and
- refrigeration means for cooling the heat rejection means or near the heat rejection means below ambient temperature, thereby facilitating the dissipation of the heat of compression.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.