Miniaturized wearable oxygen concentrator

In a gas concentrator for enriching a target component gas concentration and minimizing a waste component gas concentration in a gas flow including:

• an air compressor,
• an air-tight first container in fluid communication with said compressor, through a first gas conduit, an air-tight second container in fluid communication with said first container through a second gas conduit,
• wherein said first container contains a molecular sieve bed for adsorbing a waste component gas,
• a gas flow controller controlling actuation of valves mounted to said gas conduits,
• a gas flow splitter mounted to said second gas conduit for diverting a portion of said gas packet into a gas line for delivery of target component gas-enriched air to an end use downstream along said gas line,
• said valves regulating air flow through said conduits, a method of oxygen enrichment comprising the sequential steps, in repeating cycles, of:
• (a) preventing gas flow between said first and second containers and allowing compressed gas from said compressor into said first container during a first gas pressurization phase, whereby said first container is pressurized to a threshold pressure level to create a gas packet having incrementally enriched target component gas concentration;
• (b) preventing gas flow into said first container from said compressor and allowing gas flow from said first container into said second container during an air packet transfer phase, wherein said gas packet is transferred to said second container;
• (c) preventing gas flow into said second container from said first container and allowing gas to vent to atmosphere out from said first container through a vent valve of said first container;
• (d) allowing gas flow between said first and second containers from said second container into said first container during an air packet counter-flow phase, wherein said gas packet flows from said second container to said first container;
• and,
• (e) preventing gas flow venting from said first container through said vent valve of said first container.

An oxygen concentrator for enriching an oxygen gas concentration and minimizing a nitrogen gas concentration in a gas flow comprising:

• an air compressor,
• an air-tight first container in fluid communication with said compressor, through a first gas conduit, an air-tight second container in fluid communication with said first container through a second gas conduit,
• wherein said first container contains a molecular sieve bed for adsorbing nitrogen,
• a gas flow controller controlling actuation of valves mounted to said gas conduits, said valves regulating air flow through said conduits so as to sequentially, in repeating cycles:
• (a) prevent gas flow between said first and second containers and to allow compressed gas from said compressor into said first container during a first gas pressurization phase, whereby said first container is pressurized to a threshold pressure level to create a packet of incrementally oxygen-enriched air;
• (b) prevent gas flow into said first container from said compressor and allow gas flow from said first container into said second container during an air packet transfer phase, wherein said packet of incrementally oxygen-enriched air is transferred to said second container;
• (c) prevent gas flow into said second container from said first container and allow gas to vent to atmosphere out from said first container through a vent valve of said first container;
• (d) allow gas flow between said first and second containers from said second container into said first container during an air packet counter-flow phase, wherein said packet of incrementally oxygen-enriched air flows from said second container to said first container;
• and,
• (e) prevent gas flow venting from said first container through said vent valve of said first container,
• a gas flow splitter mounted to said second gas conduit for diverting a portion of said packet of incrementally oxygen-enriched air into a gas line for delivery of oxygen-enriched air for an end use downstream along said gas line,
• wherein both said first and second containers contain molecular sieve beds and wherein said second container is in fluid communication with said compressor through a third conduit,
• and wherein said gas flow controller, following said air packet transfer phase and following preventing gas flow into said second container from said first container, allows compressed gas from said compressor into said second container during a second gas pressurization phase, whereby said second container is pressurized to said threshold pressure level,
• and wherein said gas flow controller, following preventing said gas flow from venting from said first container through said vent valve of said first container and following preventing gas flow between said first and second containers during said first gas pressurization phase, allows gas to vent to atmosphere out from said second container through a vent valve of said second container and prevents gas flow into said second container from said compressor,
• and wherein said gas flow controller is a processor cooperating with said compressor so as to shut off said compressor when gas flow from said compressor into both said first and second containers is prevented, and wherein both said processor and said compressor are battery powered by a battery, and wherein said first and second containers, said conduits, said valves, said processor, said compressor and said battery are mounted in a housing.

A gas concentrator for enriching a target component gas concentration and minimizing a waste component gas concentration in a gas flow comprising:

• an air compressor,
• an air-tight first container in fluid communication with said compressor, through a first gas conduit, an air-tight second container in fluid communication with said first container through a second gas conduit,
• wherein said first container contains a molecular sieve bed for adsorbing a waste component gas,
• a gas flow controller controlling actuation of valves mounted to said gas conduits, said valves regulating air flow through said conduits so as to sequentially, in repeating cycles:
• (a) prevent gas flow between said first and second containers and to allow compressed gas from said compressor into said first container during a first gas pressurization phase, whereby said first container is pressurized to a threshold pressure level to create a gas packet having an incrementally enriched target component gas concentration;
• (b) prevent gas flow into said first container from said compressor and allow gas flow from said first container into said second container during an air packet transfer phase, wherein said gas packet is transferred to said second container;
• (c) prevent gas flow into said second container from said first container and allow gas to vent to atmosphere out from said first container through a vent valve of said first container;
• (d) allow gas flow between said first and second containers from said second container into said first container during an air packet counter-flow phase, wherein said gas packet flows from said second container to said first container;
• and,
• (e) prevent gas flow venting from said first container through said vent valve of said first container,
• a gas flow splitter mounted to said second gas conduit for diverting a portion of said gas packet into a gas line for delivery of target component gas-enriched air for an end use downstream along said gas line,
• wherein both said first and second containers contain molecular sieve beds and wherein said second container is in fluid communication with said compressor through a third conduit,
• and wherein said gas flow controller, following said air packet transfer phase and following preventing gas flow into said second container from said first container, allows compressed gas from said compressor into said second container during a second gas pressurization phase, whereby said second container is pressurized to said threshold pressure level,
• and wherein said gas flow controller, following preventing said gas flow from venting from said first container through said vent valve of said first container and following preventing gas flow between said first and second containers during said first gas pressurization phase, allows gas to vent to atmosphere out from said second container through a vent valve of said second container and prevents gas flow into said second container from said compressor,
• and wherein said gas flow controller is a processor cooperating with said compressor so as to shut off said compressor when gas flow from said compressor into both said first and second containers is prevented, and wherein both said processor and said compressor are battery powered by a battery, and wherein said first and second containers, said conduits, said valves, said processor, said compressor and said battery are mounted in a housing.