Method and apparatus for thermal regeneration of molecular sieve material used in oxygen concentrators
US5335426A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 22, 1992 |
| Grant date | Aug 9, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 22, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB01D53/261
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Water contamination is purged from molecular sieve material used in oxygen concentrators by heating the molecular sieve material to a temperature in the range of approximately 450.degree. to 950.degree. F., and subjecting the molecular sieve material to a stream of dry sweep gas having a dew point in the range of approximately -80.degree. to -100.degree. F. In the preferred embodiment, the molecular sieve material is contained in a vessel and heated by means of a number of heating elements. In addition, a flow of dry sweep gas is produced by at least two drying chambers containing a desiccating material. A first valve assembly alternately cycles the sweep gas through the first drying chamber and then through said second drying chamber. A second valve assembly routes a portion of the sweep gas leaving the active drying chamber to the vessel, and routes the remainder of the sweep gas through the remaining drying chamber(s) to purge water from the desiccating material contained therein during the temporal portions of the cycle when each drying chamber is not supplying sweep gas to the vessel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.