Oxygen concentrator apparatus and method with an oxygen assisted venting system

摘要

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.

主权项

1. 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; a first conduit connecting an outlet of the first canister to an outlet of the second canister, the first conduit comprising a first valve; and a second conduit connecting the outlet of the first canister to the outlet of the second canister, the second conduit comprising a second valve;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 first conduit directly into the second canister and diverting at least a portion of oxygen enriched gas produced in the first canister through the second conduit directly into 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 conduit directly into the first canister and diverting at least a portion of oxygen enriched gas produced in the second canister through the second conduit directly into the first canister during the venting of the first canister.