Method of producing oxygen rich gas utilizing an oxygen concentrator having good start-up characteristics
US4331455A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 9, 1980 |
| Grant date | May 25, 1982 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 9, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB01D53/0454
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method of producing oxygen rich gas utilizing an oxygen concentrator having a plurality of parallel-connected moisture/nitrogen removing units alternately operated to produce an oxygen-rich gas and connected through respective flow regulating valves to a common buffer tank for storing the gas thus produced. The flow regulating valves are operated so that, throughout substantially the second half of the operation cycle of each moisture/nitrogen removing unit, a portion of the gas having been processed by that unit is supplied to the other moisutre/nitrogen removing unit to restore its ability to remove the moisture and nitrogen and further so that, when the concentrator is to be stopped, a portion of the oxygen-rich gas stored in the buffer tank is caused to flow back into the one of the units having just finished a complete operation cycle to restore its ability to remove the moisture and nitrogen, thus providing immediate start-up of the units as well as immediate supply of oxygen-rich gas upon restarting the concentrator.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.