WO2005014145A1 - Gas concentrator - Google Patents

Gas concentrator Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2005014145A1
WO2005014145A1 PCT/KR2004/001367 KR2004001367W WO2005014145A1 WO 2005014145 A1 WO2005014145 A1 WO 2005014145A1 KR 2004001367 W KR2004001367 W KR 2004001367W WO 2005014145 A1 WO2005014145 A1 WO 2005014145A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
gas
channel
adsoφtion
beds
mixed gas
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/KR2004/001367
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Junbae Lee
Seong-Moon Cho
Don-Hee Lee
Original Assignee
Jej Co., Ltd.
Lg Electronics Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from KR20-2003-0025957U external-priority patent/KR200333774Y1/en
Priority claimed from KR20-2003-0028577U external-priority patent/KR200335675Y1/en
Priority claimed from KR20-2003-0028982U external-priority patent/KR200335702Y1/en
Priority claimed from KR10-2003-0063901A external-priority patent/KR100520039B1/en
Application filed by Jej Co., Ltd., Lg Electronics Inc. filed Critical Jej Co., Ltd.
Priority to JP2005509391A priority Critical patent/JP4129926B2/en
Priority to US10/522,547 priority patent/US7550036B2/en
Publication of WO2005014145A1 publication Critical patent/WO2005014145A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
    • B01D53/02—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography
    • B01D53/04—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography with stationary adsorbents
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
    • B01D53/02—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography
    • B01D53/04—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography with stationary adsorbents
    • B01D53/0407—Constructional details of adsorbing systems
    • B01D53/0446—Means for feeding or distributing gases
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
    • B01D53/02—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography
    • B01D53/04—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography with stationary adsorbents
    • B01D53/047—Pressure swing adsorption
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B13/00—Oxygen; Ozone; Oxides or hydroxides in general
    • C01B13/02—Preparation of oxygen
    • C01B13/0229—Purification or separation processes
    • C01B13/0248—Physical processing only
    • C01B13/0259—Physical processing only by adsorption on solids
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D2259/00—Type of treatment
    • B01D2259/40—Further details for adsorption processes and devices
    • B01D2259/402—Further details for adsorption processes and devices using two beds

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a gas concentrator for separating specific gas by applying a pressure difference to adsorbent out of apparatuses for separating specific gas from mixed gas, more particularly, to a gas concentrator in which respective valve means connected to two adsorption beds for containing adsorbent are integrated and simultaneously additional backflow prevention means for protecting the adsorbent are provided, and which is simplified into a simple configuration by engaging the valve means to the adsorption beds in a cap attaching manner.
  • PSA pressure swing adso ⁇ tion
  • the PSA method is subdivided into a general PSA method operating under atmospheric pressure or higher, a vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) method subjected to a vacuum pressure process, and a vacuum pressure swing adso ⁇ tion (VPSA) method, a combination thereof, according to an operational pressure due to the pressure difference. All the above methods are called the PSA method.
  • the PSA method which has been developed since 1950s is often employed to commercially produce oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and the like, and is applied to an oxygen water purifier or air cleaner lately in addition to air dry and thus also applied to an oxygen concentrator in the form of small sized electric home appliances.
  • adso ⁇ tion beds containing the adsorbent are mostly set up in the form of a tower and operate in connection with a plurality of valves.
  • the oxygen concentrator should be designed to have simple adso ⁇ tion beds and valves and to be effectively combined with the other parts, contrary to an industrial concentrator. Accordingly, efforts have been made to continue simplifying the adso ⁇ tion beds and peripheral devices used in the vacuum swing adso ⁇ tion method at the maximum by using a minimum number of the valves and devices.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a gas concentrator having two adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1' for a conventional PSA process, which is generally well known.
  • an operational process of the gas concentrator is determined according to combination of pumping means. That is, according to a vacuum pumping means 4 or a gas compressing means 8 which applies a pressure to gas, the processes will be compared.
  • the gas compressing means 8 is solely used, since the adso ⁇ tion process by the adsorbent is determined by the pressure of the gas compressing means 8 and a pressure for a deso ⁇ tion process generally becomes atmospheric pressure, the general PSA process is achieved. In addition, if the vacuum pumping means 4 and the gas compressing means 8 are simultaneously used, since the deso ⁇ tion pressure becomes a vacuum pressure caused from the vacuum pumping means 4, the VPSA process, which operates between the vacuum pressure and a pressure by the gas compressing means 8, is achieved.
  • a gas supplying means 7 which is a kind of the vacuum pumping means is combined with the vacuum pumping means 4 without using the gas compressing means 8, since the adsorbent in the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1' is not subjected to a compression force, the VSA process, which operates under atmospheric pressure or lower, is achieved. Further, if all of the gas compressing means 8, the vacuum pumping means 4, and the gas supplying means 7 are used, although the VPSA process is achieved, such a case is hardly used due to the complicated configuration and economical problems.
  • the design of the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1 ' and the valve means 2 suitable to the VSA process is required. That is, as shown in Fig. 1, a plurality (two or more) of the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and
  • valve means 2 for switching channels directly connected to the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1' functions to exchange the vacuum pressure applied by the vacuum pumping means 4 and the pressure of mixed gas flowing in through the filter 3 or the pressure of the gas compressing means 8, which are applied to the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1 ', with each other.
  • the respective adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1 ' are provided with separate solenoid valves (not shown) which are controlled.
  • a rotary valve (not shown) in which the channels are formed on a rotary plate driven by means of a motor to supply mixed gas to the respective adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1 ' may be used.
  • a pilot type solenoid valve that is generally used cannot be used, but only a direct acting type solenoid valve that is driven by a direct electric force may be used.
  • a gas separating method which is commercially used has advantages and disadvantages.
  • an apparatus therefor is simple, there are disadvantages related to the environment temperature, moisture discharge, or the like.
  • an apparatus therefor is complicated, and it is need to pay particular attention to usual safekeeping of the adsorbent since the adsorbent is susceptible of impurities and particularly moisture. Therefore, in the case that the adsorbent is used, the disadvantage should be compensated for by simplifying the apparatus therefor at the maximum and the apparatus should be configured so as to be less influenced by the moisture.
  • the V(P)SA process in which a recycling process is performed by a vacuum pressure may be advantageous as compared with the general PSA process, in point of a process.
  • moisture absorbent or the like may be used.
  • a practical PSA article has a disadvantage in that all of the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1 ' cannot be sealed if there is no additional valve in the case that a single valve is used in order to reduce cost.
  • a plurality of general valves may be used in order to seal the adso ⁇ tion beds from the external air, since such a valve means has the problems of expensive cost, complicatedness in control, and increased dimensions, a simpler apparatus has been required.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a gas concentrator which increases productivity through a simplified assembly of a valve means and adso ⁇ tion beds by simplifying the valve means used in a VSA process and simply combining and integrating the valve means with adso ⁇ tion beds, makes it possible to embody simplification for assembling a small sized gas concentrator through modularization of devices for the VSA process, and simultaneously, secures the reliability of the devices and the increase in economical efficiency caused from realization of low cost and minimization of the devices by completely isolating and protecting adsorbent, which is in safekeeping after using the apparatus, from the air.
  • a gas concentrator which produces concentrated gas by applying a pressure difference to adsorbent having selective adso ⁇ tion property to specific gas from mixed gas and by separating the specific gas.
  • the gas concentrator comprises a filter for filtering out impurities from the mixed gas; a plurality of adso ⁇ tion beds containing the adsorbent for separating the specific gas from the mixed gas supplied via the filter and including a backflow prevention means formed on channels through which the separated gas is discharged therefrom; a small pipe for interconnecting the channels at production stages of the adso ⁇ tion beds with each other to perform processes of cleaning and applying vacuum pressure to the adso ⁇ tion beds; a vacuum pumping means which is connected to a channel for supplying the mixed gas to the adso ⁇ tion beds and generates the pressure difference caused from a difference between the a vacuum pressure and a pressure of the mixed gas; a valve means comprising a channel base of a single body formed with channels respectively connected to the adso ⁇ tion beds, the channel for supplying the mixed gas, and the vacuum pumping means, and solenoid drivers mounted in the channel base for switching the channels formed in the channel base in order to alternately apply the vacuum pressure and the pressure of the mixed gas to the adso ⁇ tion beds; and
  • the channel base which is formed in the single body formed with the channels, may be formed with mounting portions for mounting the solenoid drivers, bed connecting portions to be connected to the adso ⁇ tion beds, and a channel connecting portion to be connected to the channel for supplying the mixed gas.
  • the channel base may be inserted into and engaged with the adso ⁇ tion beds by a cap attaching manner.
  • the solenoid driver may comprise a frame for supporting the whole of the driver; a coil housed in the frame for providing a motive force by a current supplied; a plunger for opening and closing the channel through its reciprocation by the motive force of the coil; a guide pipe for guiding the plunger; and a pumping means connecting portion extended on the guide pipe.
  • the backflow prevention means formed on the respective channels for discharging the gas separated from the adso ⁇ tion beds may be selected out of a check valve or small flow rate reduction pipe with flow resistance.
  • Each of the check valves which is selected may comprise an outer guide formed on the channel; a check plunger which is inserted in the outer guide and a body of which is formed with the channel; a sealing damper attached to the check plunger so as to be in close contact with an inlet of the outer guide of a portion where the gas flows in; and a supporting spring positioned at an outlet of the outer guide of a portion where the gas is discharged to support the check plunger.
  • a sealing means for preventing backflow of the discharged gas separated and discharged from the adso ⁇ tion beds and simultaneously blocking off external air may be installed on a suction or discharge channel of the vacuum pumping means.
  • the gas supplying means may supply the target space with the gas of which the flow rate and concentration is controlled by using flow rate control means.
  • One of the flow rate control means is installed on the channel for controlling flow rate of the gas discharged through the adso ⁇ tion beds.
  • the other one of the flow rate control means is installed on a channel for supplying the mixed gas which has not passed through the adso ⁇ tion beds.
  • the present invention effectively can increase economical and mechanical efficiency and be applied to small sized electric home appliances due to its reduced dimensions by simplifying and minimizing connecting portions of valve devices according to the present invention for switching channels and adso ⁇ tion beds containing adsorbent therein.
  • the present invention increases hardness of the apparatus since valve drivers and adso ⁇ tion bed containers are engaged to a single structure, reduces its dimensions by integrating the adso ⁇ tion beds and valves, and has an economical effect due to reduction of manufacturing cost by modularizing the devices which need connection of only a pumping means and other control means.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a gas concentrator for a PSA process according to a prior art
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a gas concentrator for a VSA process according to a prior art
  • Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing a first embodiment of a gas concentrator for the VSA process according to the present invention
  • Fig. 4 is a front view showing a valve means applied to the gas concentrator for the VSA process according to the present invention
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a gas concentrator for a PSA process according to a prior art
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a gas concentrator for a VSA process according to a prior art
  • Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing a first embodiment of a gas concentrator for the VSA process according to the present invention
  • Fig. 4 is a front view showing a valve means applied to the gas concentrator for the VSA process according to the present invention
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic view of
  • FIG. 5 is a front sectional view showing a solenoid driver applied to the gas concentrator for the VSA process according to the present invention
  • Fig. 6 is a front sectional view showing the valve means applied to the gas concentrator for the VSA process according to the present invention
  • Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the valve means applied to the gas concentrator for the VSA process according to the present invention with adso ⁇ tion beds being engaged to the valve means
  • Fig. 8 is a schematic view showing a second embodiment of the gas concentrator for the VSA process according to the present invention
  • Fig. 9 is a front sectional view showing a check valve applied to the gas concentrator for the VSA process according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a first embodiment of a gas concentrator for a
  • FIG. 4 is a front view showing a valve means applied to the gas concentrator for the VSA process according to the present invention
  • Fig. 5 is a front sectional view showing a solenoid driver applied to the gas concentrator for the VSA process according to the present invention
  • Fig. 6 is a front sectional view showing the valve means applied to the gas concentrator for the VSA process according to the present invention
  • Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the valve means applied to the gas concentrator for the VSA process according to the present invention with adso ⁇ tion beds being engaged to the valve means.
  • the present invention is applied to the concrete embodiment as shown in the above respective figures.
  • a vacuum pumping means 4 forms a vacuum pressure in an adso ⁇ tion bed 1, and mixed gas flows in the adso ⁇ tion bed 1 via a valve means 2 after passing through a filter 3 by a pressure difference between a pressure of the mixed gas and the vacuum pressure.
  • the adsorbent in the adso ⁇ tion bed 1 adsorbs gas of specific component, and then, gas of the other components which are less or not adsorbed is sucked via a check valve 6 and a flow rate control means 10 by a gas supplying means 7 and sprayed to a target space.
  • the adso ⁇ tion bed 1 is in a producing stage, the other adso ⁇ tion bed 1 ' is subjected to a recycling process. In such a recycling process, a part of produced gas moves to the adso ⁇ tion bed 1' through a bed connecting small pipe 5, so that the processes of cleaning the beds and applying vacuum pressure are performed.
  • the bed connecting small pipe 5 is employed as an equilibrium valve in the industrial filed, or configured to form a channel for simply connecting between the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1'.
  • the flow rate control means 9 and 10 determine the flow rate and concentration of the supplied gas.
  • the mixed gas passing through the filter 3 may be properly mixed with produced gas passing through the flow rate control means 9 according to need as in an oxygen concentrator applied to a device such as an air cleaner. While a multi-bed system with three or more adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1 ' is used in the industrial filed, a system with two adso ⁇ tion beds is mainly used for small sized applications.
  • the check valves as many as the number of the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and V are used as devices for preventing a backflow from the gas supplying means 7 when the vacuum pressure is formed.
  • a valve means 2' which makes it simple to assemble the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1 ' and makes it possible to realize the simplification in assembly of the small sized gas concentrator through modularization of the devices for the VSA process, is applied to the gas concentrator of the present invention operating as above.
  • the valve means 2' comprises a channel base 14 of a single body formed with connecting portions 21 and 21' for the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1' and a filter connecting portion 20 which is a mixed gas supply channel, and a pair of solenoid drivers 12 and 13, which are mounted in the channel base 14, for switching channels formed in the channel base 14 in order to alternately apply the vacuum pressure and the pressure of the mixed gas to the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1 '.
  • the solenoid drivers 12 and 13 used in the present invention which are often used in machinery operating under the vacuum pressure, comprise a direct acting type that is driven by only an electric force. As shown in Fig.
  • each of the solenoid drivers 12 and 13, which is the same as a general solenoid, comprises a frame 15 for supporting the whole of the driver, a coil 16 for providing a motive force as a current flows, a plunger 17 having opening and closing function through its reciprocation, and a guide pipe 18 for guiding the plunger 17.
  • a spring not shown applies a force to the plunger 17 in normal state so that the valve means 2' is maintained in an opened or closed state.
  • pump connecting portions 19 formed on the solenoid drivers 12 and 13 are connected to each other by means of a channel connecting portion 11 shown in Fig. 4 which is connected to the vacuum pumping means 4 of the gas concentrator of the present invention.
  • the filter connecting portion 20 of the channel base 14 is connected to the filter 3 for filtering and supplying the mixed gas.
  • the bed connecting portions 21 and 21' are connected to one ends of the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1', respectively. Then, the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and V connected to the bed connecting portions 21 and 21' selectively accommodate the vacuum pressure caused from the vacuum pumping means 4 and the pressure of the mixed gas applied to the filter connecting portion 20 by means of the opening and closing function of the plunger 17 shown in Fig. 5.
  • the plunger 17 performs the opening and closing function by the coil 16 which provides the motive force when the current flows as described above. As shown in Fig.
  • valve means 2' configured in a single body as described above may be engaged with the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1' through the bed connecting portions 21 and 21'. However, in order to simplify the configuration, it is preferred that the valve means 2' be formed integrally along with components of the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1' and assembled by directly inserting the solenoid drivers 12 and 13 therein.
  • the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1 ' of the present invention are configured such that the interiors thereof are filled with the adsorbent and both external sides thereof are closed by a cap forming the connecting portions.
  • the channel base 14, which is formed with mounting portions for mounting the solenoid drivers 12 and 13 and the filter connecting portion 20 which is the mixed gas supply channel may be integrated in the form of the adso ⁇ tion bed cap that connects both the sides thereof. That is, as shown in Fig. 7, since the bed connecting portions 21 and 21' are extended so as to be inserted into the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1', the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and
  • the channel base 14 is formed with the mounting portions on which the solenoid drivers 12 and 13 can be mounted, the channel base 14 is directly mounted with the solenoid drivers 12 and 13.
  • the filter connecting portion 20 for supplying the mixed gas is also formed on a side of the channel base 14 for the cap attaching manner, the channel base 14 is directly connected to the filter 3.
  • Fig. 6 showing the operational relationship of the valve means 2' of the present invention, rubber seals used at contact portions which open and close the channels and the spring are omitted.
  • the solenoid valves operating under the vacuum pressure contrary to ones operating under a high pressure can be manufactured with low cost since the opened and closed portions may be sufficiently formed of rubber and thus a precision processing is not needed.
  • the assembly and economical efficiency is more improved as compared with the case that the multi-bed system and rotary valves are used.
  • the method for mounting the solenoid drivers 12 and 13 of the present invention to the mounting portions of the channel base 14 in addition to the present embodiment, it is possible to engage the solenoid drivers 12 and 13 to a variety of portions of the channel base 14 in a variety of directions.
  • the pump connecting portions 19 may be united by using a hose or a separate injection molded article such as the channel connecting portion 11.
  • the adsorbent in the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1 ' should be completely isolated from the external air in order to prevent the performance from deteriorating.
  • the adsorbent communicates with the outside via the check valves 6 and 6' and the gas supplying means 7, with a suction filter side via the valve means 2, or with the outside through the vacuum pumping means 4 via the valve means 2.
  • the producing stage side of the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1 ' is isolated from the outside in the case that the check valves 6 and 6' of a complete sealing type are used, and is isolated from the outside by the gas supplying means 7 in a case where the check valves 6 and 6' made of general rubber membrane with a leak are used.
  • a vacuum pump or a blower is used as the gas supplying means 7, wherein a simple check valve is provided therein.
  • an additional complete sealing type check valve should be used.
  • the single 4-way valve or two of the 3 -way valves are used as the valve means 2 in the case of the conventional gas concentrator. While the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1 ' are connected to the filter 3 and the vacuum pumping means 4 in the case of the 4- way valve, respectively, the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1 ' are selectively connected to the filter 3 and the vacuum pumping means 4 in the case of the 3-way valves. Therefore, when the filter 3 for filtering and supplying the mixed gas and the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1' are connected and communicate with each other, moisture absorbent or the like should be included in the filter 3 in order to protect the adsorbent in the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1'. However, the moisture absorbent has a limitation to its function.
  • FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a second embodiment of the gas concentrator for the VSA process according to the present invention.
  • the gas concentrator according to the present invention is provided with sealing means 23, 24, and 24' as shown in Figs. 3 and 8. Even though general solenoid valves may be used as the sealing means 23, 24, and 24', simple and inexpensive check valves are preferred.
  • the sealing means may be employed under the assumption that the leak occurs in all of the check valves 6 and 6' on the channels, to which gas is discharged from the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and V, and the check valve in the vacuum pumping means 4.
  • the respective sealing means may be selectively removed. That is, in the embodiment of the present invention, the filter 3 for filtering and supplying the mixed gas is isolated by the valve means 2'.
  • the check valves 6 and 6' may be sealably configured when the apparatus is configured.
  • the sealing means 24 and 24' may be installed on suction and discharge channels of the vacuum pumping means 4, and the sealing means 23 may also be installed on a discharge channel of the gas discharged from the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1' to the flow rate control means 10 via the check valves 6 and 6'.
  • the operation of the sealing means 23, 24, and 24' will be described as follows. First, one of the sealing means 24 and 24' of the vacuum pumping means 6 and 6' is selectively used. In the first embodiment of Fig.
  • the isolation should be performed the moment the operation is stopped.
  • a general check valve which operates under a very small pressure as in the embodiment of the present invention. That is, the check valve as the sealing means 24 should be designed so that the check valve causes friction to be minimized when the vacuum pumping means 4 forms the vacuum pressure in the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and V during the operation of the apparatus and may be smoothly closed by the vacuum pressure applied to the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1 ' after the operation is stopped.
  • the sealing means 24' can be further installed close to a discharge end to overcome the loss of vacuum pressure.
  • the sealing means 23 installed on the line where the gas is discharged from the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1 ' comprise a check valve, for example, including a thin rubber membrane and a spring, which is smoothly closed by the vacuum pressure applied to the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1 ' in the state that the operation is stopped, and causes the friction to be minimized in order not to impose a burden on the gas supplying means 7 while producing the gas.
  • the vacuum pressure in the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1' is determined as maximum one by flow resistance of the small pipes 25 and 25', and the bed connecting small pipe 5 used for applying the vacuum pressure to and cleaning the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1 ' may be omitted due to the installation of the small pipes 25 and 25' with which the check valves 6 and 6' are replaced.
  • Fig. 9 shows an embodiment of a check valve in which it is possible to obtain complete seal by the check valves 6 and 6' of the present invention without separately using the sealing means 23.
  • the check valve differs from a conventional check valve in that a sealing damper 29 is positioned at an end portion of a check plunger 27, which moves within an outer guide 26 of the check valve, and in that sealing is effected by a force of a spring 28 in normal state.
  • the gas the stream of which is indicated by arrows in the figure flows into the check plunger 27 through a hole formed in the check plunger 27 and flows out via the spring.
  • Fig. 2 schematically shows the gas concentrator for the VSA process of Korean Utility Model Application No. 2003-25957, which has been previously filed by the present applicant.
  • such a gas concentrator can compete with a relatively simple apparatus using a gas separation membrane thanks to the modularization of the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1 ' through a simple channel design and the combination of the valve means 2 and the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1'.
  • the valve means 2 that must be necessarily connected to the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1 ', the bed connecting small pipe 5 that connects both the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1 ', and the check valves 6 and 6' as other valve means correspond to one of the gas separation membrane.
  • valve means 2 configured simply at the maximum
  • the use of the check valves 6 and 6' integrated with the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1', the configuration of the bed connecting small pipe 5 that may be configured simply with the simple assembly, and the like are important factors for minimizing the system and reducing cost.
  • the adsorbent is used as in the gas concentrator of Fig. 2, since the adsorbent should be recycled and then used during the process, essentially, the adso ⁇ tion of fine impurities and moisture gradually increases, and thus, the moisture in the air may be absorbed when the operation is stopped. In order to prevent that, moisture absorbent or the like may be used.
  • the sealing means 24 and 24' are installed on the suction and discharge channels of the vacuum pumping means 4, and the sealing means 23 is also installed on the discharge channel of the gas discharged from the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1' to the flow rate control means 10 via the check valves 6 and 6', so that the adso ⁇ tion of the fine impurities and moisture in the air can be prevented by completely isolating the adso ⁇ tion beds 1 and 1' from the external air even when the operation is stopped.

Abstract

The present invention relates to a gas concentrator, which produces concentrated gas by applying a pressure difference to adsorbent having selective adsorption property to specific gas from mixed gas and by separating the specific gas. According to the present invention, there is provided the gas concentrator, comprising a filter for filtering out impurities from the mixed gas; a plurality of adsorption beds containing the adsorbent for separating the specific gas from the mixed gas supplied via the filter and including a backflow prevention means formed on channels through which the separated gas is discharged therefrom; a small pipe for interconnecting the channels at production stages of the adsorption beds with each other to perform processes of cleaning and applying vacuum pressure to the adsorption beds; a vacuum pumping means which is connected to a channel for supplying the mixed gas to the adsorption beds and generates the pressure difference caused from a difference between the a vacuum pressure and a pressure of the mixed gas; a valve means comprising a channel base of a single body formed with channels respectively connected to the adsorption beds, the channel for supplying the mixed gas, and the vacuum pumping means, and solenoid drivers mounted in the channel base for switching the channels formed in the channel base in order to alternately apply the vacuum pressure and the pressure of the mixed gas to the adsorption beds; and a gas supplying means for controllably supplying the mixed gas supplied from the filter to the gas separated and produced from the adsorption beds and then supplying a target space with the gas of which flow rate and concentration is controlled.

Description

[DESCRIPTION] [Invention Title] GAS CONCENTRATOR [Technical Field] The present invention relates to a gas concentrator for separating specific gas by applying a pressure difference to adsorbent out of apparatuses for separating specific gas from mixed gas, more particularly, to a gas concentrator in which respective valve means connected to two adsorption beds for containing adsorbent are integrated and simultaneously additional backflow prevention means for protecting the adsorbent are provided, and which is simplified into a simple configuration by engaging the valve means to the adsorption beds in a cap attaching manner.
[Background Art] In general, methods for producing enriched gas by separating specific gas from mixed gas are commercially and mainly divided into a method using a gas separation membrane and a pressure swing adsoφtion (PSA) method using a pressure difference applied to adsorbent such as zeolite molecular sieve (ZMS) or carbon molecular sieve (CMS). The PSA method is a process for producing enriched gas by applying the pressure difference to the adsorbent having a selective adsorption property to specific gas. The PSA method is subdivided into a general PSA method operating under atmospheric pressure or higher, a vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) method subjected to a vacuum pressure process, and a vacuum pressure swing adsoφtion (VPSA) method, a combination thereof, according to an operational pressure due to the pressure difference. All the above methods are called the PSA method. The PSA method which has been developed since 1950s is often employed to commercially produce oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and the like, and is applied to an oxygen water purifier or air cleaner lately in addition to air dry and thus also applied to an oxygen concentrator in the form of small sized electric home appliances. In the case that high concentrated oxygen, nitrogen, or the like is industrially produced, adsoφtion beds containing the adsorbent are mostly set up in the form of a tower and operate in connection with a plurality of valves. However, when a small oxygen concentrator is applied to medical treatment or electric home appliances, the dimensions and economical efficiency thereof should be generally considered. Therefore, the oxygen concentrator should be designed to have simple adsoφtion beds and valves and to be effectively combined with the other parts, contrary to an industrial concentrator. Accordingly, efforts have been made to continue simplifying the adsoφtion beds and peripheral devices used in the vacuum swing adsoφtion method at the maximum by using a minimum number of the valves and devices. In the general PSA method operating under atmospheric pressure or higher, devices for sequentially applying the pressure to the respective beds have been configured by providing a plurality of the adsoφtion beds and a rotary valve as a valve. Although such a method has advantages in that deviation in the concentration and flow rate is small and relatively stable production is possible, there is a limitation to minimization of the rotary valve itself as mechanism comprising a motor and a rotary plate on which channels are formed. In addition, there is a limitation to economical efficiency. Furthermore, even in the case that solenoid valves are employed in the respective adsoφtion beds, since the solenoid valve is generally for a high pressure of one (1) atmosphere or higher, there are disadvantages in that the higher degree of process and the precision configuration, which lead to expensive costs, are required and operational control is complicated. Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a gas concentrator having two adsoφtion beds 1 and 1' for a conventional PSA process, which is generally well known. Here, an operational process of the gas concentrator is determined according to combination of pumping means. That is, according to a vacuum pumping means 4 or a gas compressing means 8 which applies a pressure to gas, the processes will be compared. If the gas compressing means 8 is solely used, since the adsoφtion process by the adsorbent is determined by the pressure of the gas compressing means 8 and a pressure for a desoφtion process generally becomes atmospheric pressure, the general PSA process is achieved. In addition, if the vacuum pumping means 4 and the gas compressing means 8 are simultaneously used, since the desoφtion pressure becomes a vacuum pressure caused from the vacuum pumping means 4, the VPSA process, which operates between the vacuum pressure and a pressure by the gas compressing means 8, is achieved. If a gas supplying means 7 which is a kind of the vacuum pumping means is combined with the vacuum pumping means 4 without using the gas compressing means 8, since the adsorbent in the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1' is not subjected to a compression force, the VSA process, which operates under atmospheric pressure or lower, is achieved. Further, if all of the gas compressing means 8, the vacuum pumping means 4, and the gas supplying means 7 are used, although the VPSA process is achieved, such a case is hardly used due to the complicated configuration and economical problems. Furthermore, since the minimization by developing a variety of processes is applied to the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1 ' and a valve means 2 used in the V(P)S A process which operates under a vacuum pressure contrary to the PSA method which operates under atmospheric pressure or higher as described above, the design of the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1 ' and the valve means 2 suitable to the VSA process is required. That is, as shown in Fig. 1, a plurality (two or more) of the adsoφtion beds 1 and
1' containing the adsorbent may be used. In addition, the valve means 2 for switching channels directly connected to the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1' functions to exchange the vacuum pressure applied by the vacuum pumping means 4 and the pressure of mixed gas flowing in through the filter 3 or the pressure of the gas compressing means 8, which are applied to the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1 ', with each other. In general, if the two adsoφtion beds 1 and 1 ' are used, the respective adsoφtion beds 1 and 1 ' are provided with separate solenoid valves (not shown) which are controlled. If the number of the adsoφtion beds 1 and V is large, a rotary valve (not shown) in which the channels are formed on a rotary plate driven by means of a motor to supply mixed gas to the respective adsoφtion beds 1 and 1 ' may be used. As shown in Fig. 1, if the VSA process, in which the two adsoφtion beds 1 and V, the vacuum pumping means 4, and the gas supplying means 7 are used, is employed, since there is no compression force applied to the valve means 2, a pilot type solenoid valve that is generally used cannot be used, but only a direct acting type solenoid valve that is driven by a direct electric force may be used. In addition, if a single 4-way solenoid valve is used, due to its configuration, it is impossible to control the respective adsoφtion beds. It may be only configured such that if the adsoφtion bed 1 is opened, the other adsoφtion bed V should be closed. Therefore, a flexible process cannot be realized. In addition, since the outside should communicate with one of the adsoφtion beds, there is a problem of the protection of the adsorbent if additional sealing devices are not used. Therefore, generally independent 3 -way solenoid valves may be used. In such a case, the connection along with the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1' is complicated and the connection between the valves of the valve means 2 is required. Accordingly, there are problems of increase in dimensions, complicatedness of assembly, and disadvantage in economical efficiency. Furthermore, a gas separating method which is commercially used has advantages and disadvantages. In the method using the gas separation membrane, although an apparatus therefor is simple, there are disadvantages related to the environment temperature, moisture discharge, or the like. In the method using the adsorbent, although there is no problem of the moisture discharge, an apparatus therefor is complicated, and it is need to pay particular attention to usual safekeeping of the adsorbent since the adsorbent is susceptible of impurities and particularly moisture. Therefore, in the case that the adsorbent is used, the disadvantage should be compensated for by simplifying the apparatus therefor at the maximum and the apparatus should be configured so as to be less influenced by the moisture. Although it is required to filter only up to dust by performing a preprocess well in the case that the gas separation membrane is used, adsoφtion of fine impurities and moisture gradually increases in the case that the adsorbent is used since the adsorbent should be recycled and then used during the process. In this respect, the V(P)SA process in which a recycling process is performed by a vacuum pressure may be advantageous as compared with the general PSA process, in point of a process. However, if the adsoφtion beds are not completely isolated from the outside even in the case that the V(P)SA process is used, moisture among the air can be absorbed when the operation is stopped. In order to prevent that, moisture absorbent or the like may be used. However, since it is not a method for essentially solving the problem, additional devices for completely isolating the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1' from the external air are needed. A practical PSA article has a disadvantage in that all of the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1 ' cannot be sealed if there is no additional valve in the case that a single valve is used in order to reduce cost. Although a plurality of general valves may be used in order to seal the adsoφtion beds from the external air, since such a valve means has the problems of expensive cost, complicatedness in control, and increased dimensions, a simpler apparatus has been required.
[Disclosure] [Technical Problem] The present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned problems in the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide a gas concentrator which increases productivity through a simplified assembly of a valve means and adsoφtion beds by simplifying the valve means used in a VSA process and simply combining and integrating the valve means with adsoφtion beds, makes it possible to embody simplification for assembling a small sized gas concentrator through modularization of devices for the VSA process, and simultaneously, secures the reliability of the devices and the increase in economical efficiency caused from realization of low cost and minimization of the devices by completely isolating and protecting adsorbent, which is in safekeeping after using the apparatus, from the air.
[Technical Solution] According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the objects, there is provided a gas concentrator, which produces concentrated gas by applying a pressure difference to adsorbent having selective adsoφtion property to specific gas from mixed gas and by separating the specific gas. The gas concentrator comprises a filter for filtering out impurities from the mixed gas; a plurality of adsoφtion beds containing the adsorbent for separating the specific gas from the mixed gas supplied via the filter and including a backflow prevention means formed on channels through which the separated gas is discharged therefrom; a small pipe for interconnecting the channels at production stages of the adsoφtion beds with each other to perform processes of cleaning and applying vacuum pressure to the adsoφtion beds; a vacuum pumping means which is connected to a channel for supplying the mixed gas to the adsoφtion beds and generates the pressure difference caused from a difference between the a vacuum pressure and a pressure of the mixed gas; a valve means comprising a channel base of a single body formed with channels respectively connected to the adsoφtion beds, the channel for supplying the mixed gas, and the vacuum pumping means, and solenoid drivers mounted in the channel base for switching the channels formed in the channel base in order to alternately apply the vacuum pressure and the pressure of the mixed gas to the adsoφtion beds; and a gas supplying means for controllably supplying the mixed gas supplied from the filter to the gas separated and produced from the adsoφtion beds and then supplying a target space with the gas of which flow rate and concentration is controlled. In addition, according to the present invention, the channel base, which is formed in the single body formed with the channels, may be formed with mounting portions for mounting the solenoid drivers, bed connecting portions to be connected to the adsoφtion beds, and a channel connecting portion to be connected to the channel for supplying the mixed gas. Thus, the channel base may be inserted into and engaged with the adsoφtion beds by a cap attaching manner. Further, according to the present invention, the solenoid driver may comprise a frame for supporting the whole of the driver; a coil housed in the frame for providing a motive force by a current supplied; a plunger for opening and closing the channel through its reciprocation by the motive force of the coil; a guide pipe for guiding the plunger; and a pumping means connecting portion extended on the guide pipe. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the backflow prevention means formed on the respective channels for discharging the gas separated from the adsoφtion beds may be selected out of a check valve or small flow rate reduction pipe with flow resistance. Each of the check valves which is selected may comprise an outer guide formed on the channel; a check plunger which is inserted in the outer guide and a body of which is formed with the channel; a sealing damper attached to the check plunger so as to be in close contact with an inlet of the outer guide of a portion where the gas flows in; and a supporting spring positioned at an outlet of the outer guide of a portion where the gas is discharged to support the check plunger. Still furthermore, according to the present invention, a sealing means for preventing backflow of the discharged gas separated and discharged from the adsoφtion beds and simultaneously blocking off external air may be installed on a suction or discharge channel of the vacuum pumping means. Still furthermore, according to the present invention, the gas supplying means may supply the target space with the gas of which the flow rate and concentration is controlled by using flow rate control means. One of the flow rate control means is installed on the channel for controlling flow rate of the gas discharged through the adsoφtion beds. The other one of the flow rate control means is installed on a channel for supplying the mixed gas which has not passed through the adsoφtion beds.
[Advantageous Effects] As described above, in an apparatus operating under a vacuum pressure according to a VSA process, the present invention effectively can increase economical and mechanical efficiency and be applied to small sized electric home appliances due to its reduced dimensions by simplifying and minimizing connecting portions of valve devices according to the present invention for switching channels and adsoφtion beds containing adsorbent therein. In addition, the present invention increases hardness of the apparatus since valve drivers and adsoφtion bed containers are engaged to a single structure, reduces its dimensions by integrating the adsoφtion beds and valves, and has an economical effect due to reduction of manufacturing cost by modularizing the devices which need connection of only a pumping means and other control means. The present invention also has advantages in that it is possible to safekeep the adsorbent in the adsoφtion beds for a long time since the adsorbent is completely sealed even while the gas concentrator is not used. [Description of Drawings] Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a gas concentrator for a PSA process according to a prior art; Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a gas concentrator for a VSA process according to a prior art; Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing a first embodiment of a gas concentrator for the VSA process according to the present invention; Fig. 4 is a front view showing a valve means applied to the gas concentrator for the VSA process according to the present invention; Fig. 5 is a front sectional view showing a solenoid driver applied to the gas concentrator for the VSA process according to the present invention; Fig. 6 is a front sectional view showing the valve means applied to the gas concentrator for the VSA process according to the present invention; Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the valve means applied to the gas concentrator for the VSA process according to the present invention with adsoφtion beds being engaged to the valve means; Fig. 8 is a schematic view showing a second embodiment of the gas concentrator for the VSA process according to the present invention; and Fig. 9 is a front sectional view showing a check valve applied to the gas concentrator for the VSA process according to the present invention.
[Best Mode] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing a first embodiment of a gas concentrator for a
VSA process according to the present invention; Fig. 4 is a front view showing a valve means applied to the gas concentrator for the VSA process according to the present invention; Fig. 5 is a front sectional view showing a solenoid driver applied to the gas concentrator for the VSA process according to the present invention; Fig. 6 is a front sectional view showing the valve means applied to the gas concentrator for the VSA process according to the present invention; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the valve means applied to the gas concentrator for the VSA process according to the present invention with adsoφtion beds being engaged to the valve means. The present invention is applied to the concrete embodiment as shown in the above respective figures. The present invention is not limited to the concrete embodiment, but various modifications thereto can be made within the scope without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. Upon review of the fundamental operation of the gas concentrator of the present invention shown in Fig. 3, first, a vacuum pumping means 4 forms a vacuum pressure in an adsoφtion bed 1, and mixed gas flows in the adsoφtion bed 1 via a valve means 2 after passing through a filter 3 by a pressure difference between a pressure of the mixed gas and the vacuum pressure. The adsorbent in the adsoφtion bed 1 adsorbs gas of specific component, and then, gas of the other components which are less or not adsorbed is sucked via a check valve 6 and a flow rate control means 10 by a gas supplying means 7 and sprayed to a target space. In general, while the adsoφtion bed 1 is in a producing stage, the other adsoφtion bed 1 ' is subjected to a recycling process. In such a recycling process, a part of produced gas moves to the adsoφtion bed 1' through a bed connecting small pipe 5, so that the processes of cleaning the beds and applying vacuum pressure are performed. The bed connecting small pipe 5 is employed as an equilibrium valve in the industrial filed, or configured to form a channel for simply connecting between the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1'. The flow rate control means 9 and 10 determine the flow rate and concentration of the supplied gas. The mixed gas passing through the filter 3 may be properly mixed with produced gas passing through the flow rate control means 9 according to need as in an oxygen concentrator applied to a device such as an air cleaner. While a multi-bed system with three or more adsoφtion beds 1 and 1 ' is used in the industrial filed, a system with two adsoφtion beds is mainly used for small sized applications. In addition, a pair of the check valves 6 and 6' provided on gas discharge channels of the adsoφtion beds 1 and V function to desorb the interiors of the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1 ' by the vacuum pumping means 4. The check valves as many as the number of the adsoφtion beds 1 and V are used as devices for preventing a backflow from the gas supplying means 7 when the vacuum pressure is formed. As shown in Fig. 4, a valve means 2', which makes it simple to assemble the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1 ' and makes it possible to realize the simplification in assembly of the small sized gas concentrator through modularization of the devices for the VSA process, is applied to the gas concentrator of the present invention operating as above. The valve means 2' comprises a channel base 14 of a single body formed with connecting portions 21 and 21' for the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1' and a filter connecting portion 20 which is a mixed gas supply channel, and a pair of solenoid drivers 12 and 13, which are mounted in the channel base 14, for switching channels formed in the channel base 14 in order to alternately apply the vacuum pressure and the pressure of the mixed gas to the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1 '. The solenoid drivers 12 and 13 used in the present invention, which are often used in machinery operating under the vacuum pressure, comprise a direct acting type that is driven by only an electric force. As shown in Fig. 5, each of the solenoid drivers 12 and 13, which is the same as a general solenoid, comprises a frame 15 for supporting the whole of the driver, a coil 16 for providing a motive force as a current flows, a plunger 17 having opening and closing function through its reciprocation, and a guide pipe 18 for guiding the plunger 17. A spring not shown applies a force to the plunger 17 in normal state so that the valve means 2' is maintained in an opened or closed state. In addition, pump connecting portions 19 formed on the solenoid drivers 12 and 13 are connected to each other by means of a channel connecting portion 11 shown in Fig. 4 which is connected to the vacuum pumping means 4 of the gas concentrator of the present invention. The filter connecting portion 20 of the channel base 14 is connected to the filter 3 for filtering and supplying the mixed gas. The bed connecting portions 21 and 21' are connected to one ends of the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1', respectively. Then, the adsoφtion beds 1 and V connected to the bed connecting portions 21 and 21' selectively accommodate the vacuum pressure caused from the vacuum pumping means 4 and the pressure of the mixed gas applied to the filter connecting portion 20 by means of the opening and closing function of the plunger 17 shown in Fig. 5. The plunger 17 performs the opening and closing function by the coil 16 which provides the motive force when the current flows as described above. As shown in Fig. 6, while the plunger 17 on the left side of the figure comes down and thus connects the bed connecting portion 21 and the channel connecting portion 11 to each other, the plunger 17' on the right side comes up and thus connects the bed connecting portion 21' and the filter connecting portion 20 to each other. The valve means 2' configured in a single body as described above may be engaged with the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1' through the bed connecting portions 21 and 21'. However, in order to simplify the configuration, it is preferred that the valve means 2' be formed integrally along with components of the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1' and assembled by directly inserting the solenoid drivers 12 and 13 therein. That is, the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1 ' of the present invention, each of which generally comprises a cylindrical container, are configured such that the interiors thereof are filled with the adsorbent and both external sides thereof are closed by a cap forming the connecting portions. Thus, the channel base 14, which is formed with mounting portions for mounting the solenoid drivers 12 and 13 and the filter connecting portion 20 which is the mixed gas supply channel, may be integrated in the form of the adsoφtion bed cap that connects both the sides thereof. That is, as shown in Fig. 7, since the bed connecting portions 21 and 21' are extended so as to be inserted into the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1', the adsoφtion beds 1 and
1' are engaged with the channel base 14 of the valve means 2' by a cap attaching manner.
Further, since the channel base 14 is formed with the mounting portions on which the solenoid drivers 12 and 13 can be mounted, the channel base 14 is directly mounted with the solenoid drivers 12 and 13. In addition, since the filter connecting portion 20 for supplying the mixed gas is also formed on a side of the channel base 14 for the cap attaching manner, the channel base 14 is directly connected to the filter 3. In Fig. 6 showing the operational relationship of the valve means 2' of the present invention, rubber seals used at contact portions which open and close the channels and the spring are omitted. The solenoid valves operating under the vacuum pressure contrary to ones operating under a high pressure can be manufactured with low cost since the opened and closed portions may be sufficiently formed of rubber and thus a precision processing is not needed. Therefore, the assembly and economical efficiency is more improved as compared with the case that the multi-bed system and rotary valves are used. In addition, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that as the method for mounting the solenoid drivers 12 and 13 of the present invention to the mounting portions of the channel base 14, in addition to the present embodiment, it is possible to engage the solenoid drivers 12 and 13 to a variety of portions of the channel base 14 in a variety of directions. Furthermore, although the two pump connecting portions 19 are used in the embodiment, the pump connecting portions 19 may be united by using a hose or a separate injection molded article such as the channel connecting portion 11. In the meantime, while the gas concentrator according to the present invention does not operate and is in standby status, the adsorbent in the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1 ' should be completely isolated from the external air in order to prevent the performance from deteriorating. However, in the prior art shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the adsorbent communicates with the outside via the check valves 6 and 6' and the gas supplying means 7, with a suction filter side via the valve means 2, or with the outside through the vacuum pumping means 4 via the valve means 2. The producing stage side of the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1 ' is isolated from the outside in the case that the check valves 6 and 6' of a complete sealing type are used, and is isolated from the outside by the gas supplying means 7 in a case where the check valves 6 and 6' made of general rubber membrane with a leak are used. In general, a vacuum pump or a blower is used as the gas supplying means 7, wherein a simple check valve is provided therein. However, since the adsorbent in the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1' may be influenced in the case that the simple check valve is also not the complete sealing type, an additional complete sealing type check valve should be used. Further, the single 4-way valve or two of the 3 -way valves are used as the valve means 2 in the case of the conventional gas concentrator. While the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1 ' are connected to the filter 3 and the vacuum pumping means 4 in the case of the 4- way valve, respectively, the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1 ' are selectively connected to the filter 3 and the vacuum pumping means 4 in the case of the 3-way valves. Therefore, when the filter 3 for filtering and supplying the mixed gas and the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1' are connected and communicate with each other, moisture absorbent or the like should be included in the filter 3 in order to protect the adsorbent in the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1'. However, the moisture absorbent has a limitation to its function. In addition, although the vacuum pumping means 4 also has a sealing effect since a check valve is provided therein as in the gas supplying means 7, an alternative method should be demanded if the leak occurs since the degree of the sealing effect differs according to the article. Fig. 8 is a schematic view showing a second embodiment of the gas concentrator for the VSA process according to the present invention. The gas concentrator according to the present invention is provided with sealing means 23, 24, and 24' as shown in Figs. 3 and 8. Even though general solenoid valves may be used as the sealing means 23, 24, and 24', simple and inexpensive check valves are preferred. That is, the sealing means may be employed under the assumption that the leak occurs in all of the check valves 6 and 6' on the channels, to which gas is discharged from the adsoφtion beds 1 and V, and the check valve in the vacuum pumping means 4. In such a case, if the check valves 6 and 6' have no problems in sealing or the check valve in the vacuum pumping means 4 operates normally in accordance with the present apparatus, the respective sealing means may be selectively removed. That is, in the embodiment of the present invention, the filter 3 for filtering and supplying the mixed gas is isolated by the valve means 2'. In general, the check valves 6 and 6' may be sealably configured when the apparatus is configured. However, in the case of the vacuum pumping means 4, since the device is configured according to pump property, which may cause the leak to occur, the sealing means 24 and 24' may be installed on suction and discharge channels of the vacuum pumping means 4, and the sealing means 23 may also be installed on a discharge channel of the gas discharged from the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1' to the flow rate control means 10 via the check valves 6 and 6'. The operation of the sealing means 23, 24, and 24' will be described as follows. First, one of the sealing means 24 and 24' of the vacuum pumping means 6 and 6' is selectively used. In the first embodiment of Fig. 3, while the adsoφtion bed 1 is in the producing stage, if the operation of the other adsoφtion bed 1 ' is stopped during the recycling stage which is subjected to the vacuum pressure, the operation of the gas supplying means 7 and the vacuum pumping means 4 is stopped. At this time, the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1' become in a pressure equilibrium state through the bed connecting small pipe 5 in a moment, and then, reach the state that the interiors thereof are subjected to the vacuum pressure. Here, the respective sealing means 23, 24, and 24' operate under the state that the pressures of the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1 ' are maintained under the vacuum pressure, which functions to isolate the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1 ' from the external air. When a general solenoid valve is used, the isolation should be performed the moment the operation is stopped. In such a case, since it is disadvantageous in an economical cost, it is preferred to use a general check valve which operates under a very small pressure as in the embodiment of the present invention. That is, the check valve as the sealing means 24 should be designed so that the check valve causes friction to be minimized when the vacuum pumping means 4 forms the vacuum pressure in the adsoφtion beds 1 and V during the operation of the apparatus and may be smoothly closed by the vacuum pressure applied to the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1 ' after the operation is stopped. In a case where the loss of vacuum pressure is produced due to the sealing means 24, the sealing means 24' can be further installed close to a discharge end to overcome the loss of vacuum pressure. The reason is because the loss of vacuum pressure greatly influences the gas concentrator of the present invention. Accordingly, it is preferable to install the sealing means at the discharge end whish is relatively less influenced by the pressure loss. In addition, it is also preferred that the sealing means 23 installed on the line where the gas is discharged from the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1 ' comprise a check valve, for example, including a thin rubber membrane and a spring, which is smoothly closed by the vacuum pressure applied to the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1 ' in the state that the operation is stopped, and causes the friction to be minimized in order not to impose a burden on the gas supplying means 7 while producing the gas. Therefore, if the operation of the gas concentrator is stopped, since the sealing means 23, 24, and 24' automatically operate and are sealed by the vacuum pressure remaining in the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1', the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1' are isolated from the external air, and thus, deterioration of the adsorbent does not occur. In addition, during the operation, the vacuum pumping means 4 and the gas supplying means 7 operate almost without problems in their performance. Even in the case that the general 4-way valve is applied as the valve means 2' of the gas concentrator of the present invention, if the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1 ' selectively communicate with the filter 3, an additional sealing means should be used at a side of the filter 3 for the isolation. In such a case, since another cost is added, the above valve type is not preferred. In the meantime, in the case that the sealing means 23 is used, since the check valves 6 and 6' hardly perform the sealing function, it is preferred that the check valves 6 and 6' be replaced with small pipes 25 and 25'. Fig. 8 to which the above descriptions are referred shows the embodiment of such a case in which the check valves 6 and 6' shown in the first embodiment of Fig. 3 are replaced with the small pipes 25 and 25' having certain flow resistance. In such a case, the vacuum pressure in the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1' is determined as maximum one by flow resistance of the small pipes 25 and 25', and the bed connecting small pipe 5 used for applying the vacuum pressure to and cleaning the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1 ' may be omitted due to the installation of the small pipes 25 and 25' with which the check valves 6 and 6' are replaced. Fig. 9 shows an embodiment of a check valve in which it is possible to obtain complete seal by the check valves 6 and 6' of the present invention without separately using the sealing means 23. The check valve differs from a conventional check valve in that a sealing damper 29 is positioned at an end portion of a check plunger 27, which moves within an outer guide 26 of the check valve, and in that sealing is effected by a force of a spring 28 in normal state. In addition, the gas the stream of which is indicated by arrows in the figure flows into the check plunger 27 through a hole formed in the check plunger 27 and flows out via the spring. Such a configuration of the check valve improves reliability for sealing and durability of the check valve which should continue to reciprocate. As described above, since the present invention makes it possible to form a adsoφtion bed module modularized by combining the valve means 2', the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1', the bed connecting small pipe 5, the check valves 6 and 6', and the control means 9 and 10, in the practical manufacture, it is possible to form the simplified and economical apparatus which operates directly by connecting the gas supplying means 7, the vacuum pumping means 4, and the filter 3. In the meantime, Fig. 2 schematically shows the gas concentrator for the VSA process of Korean Utility Model Application No. 2003-25957, which has been previously filed by the present applicant. Referring to Fig. 2, such a gas concentrator can compete with a relatively simple apparatus using a gas separation membrane thanks to the modularization of the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1 ' through a simple channel design and the combination of the valve means 2 and the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1'. Upon review of the relative comparison with the apparatus using the gas separation membrane, there is a difference in that the valve means 2 that must be necessarily connected to the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1 ', the bed connecting small pipe 5 that connects both the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1 ', and the check valves 6 and 6' as other valve means correspond to one of the gas separation membrane. Thus, the use of the valve means 2 configured simply at the maximum, the use of the check valves 6 and 6' integrated with the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1', the configuration of the bed connecting small pipe 5 that may be configured simply with the simple assembly, and the like are important factors for minimizing the system and reducing cost. In the case that the adsorbent is used as in the gas concentrator of Fig. 2, since the adsorbent should be recycled and then used during the process, essentially, the adsoφtion of fine impurities and moisture gradually increases, and thus, the moisture in the air may be absorbed when the operation is stopped. In order to prevent that, moisture absorbent or the like may be used. However, since it is not an essential solution thereof, additional devices for completely isolating the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1' of Fig. 2 from the external air are required. Therefore, in the present invention, the sealing means 24 and 24' are installed on the suction and discharge channels of the vacuum pumping means 4, and the sealing means 23 is also installed on the discharge channel of the gas discharged from the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1' to the flow rate control means 10 via the check valves 6 and 6', so that the adsoφtion of the fine impurities and moisture in the air can be prevented by completely isolating the adsoφtion beds 1 and 1' from the external air even when the operation is stopped.

Claims

[CLAIMS] [Claim 1 ] A gas concentrator, which produces concentrated gas by applying a pressure difference to adsorbent having selective adsoφtion property to specific gas from mixed gas and by separating the specific gas, comprising: a filter for filtering out impurities from the mixed gas; a plurality of adsoφtion beds containing the adsorbent for separating the specific gas from the mixed gas supplied via the filter and including a backflow prevention means foπned on channels through which the separated gas is discharged therefrom; a small pipe for interconnecting the channels at production stages of the adsoφtion beds with each other to perform processes of cleaning and applying vacuum pressure to the adsoφtion beds; a vacuum pumping means connected to a channel for supplying the mixed gas to the adsoφtion beds, the vacuum pumping means generating the pressure difference caused from a difference between the a vacuum pressure and a pressure of the mixed gas; a valve means comprising a channel base of a single body formed with channels respectively connected to the adsoφtion beds, the channel for supplying the mixed gas, and the vacuum pumping means, and solenoid drivers mounted in the channel base for switching the channels formed in the channel base in order to alternately apply the vacuum pressure and the pressure of the mixed gas to the adsoφtion beds; and a gas supplying means for controllably supplying the mixed gas supplied from the filter to the gas separated and produced from the adsoφtion beds and then supplying a target space with the gas of which flow rate and concentration is controlled.
[Claim 2] The gas concentrator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the channel base, which is formed in the single body formed with the channels, is formed with mounting portions for mounting the solenoid drivers, bed connecting portions to be connected to the adsoφtion beds, and a channel connecting portion to be connected to the channel for supplying the mixed gas.
[Claim 3] The gas concentrator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the solenoid driver comprises a frame for supporting the whole of the driver; a coil housed in the frame for providing a motive force by a current supplied; a plunger for opening and closing the channel through its reciprocation by the motive force of the coil; a guide pipe for guiding the plunger; and a pumping means connecting portion extended on the guide pipe.
[Claim 4] The gas concentrator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the channel base is inserted into and engaged with the adsoφtion beds by a cap attaching manner.
[Claim 5] The gas concentrator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the backflow prevention means formed on the respective channels for discharging the gas separated from the adsoφtion beds is a check valve or small flow rate reduction pipe with flow resistance.
[Claim 6] The gas concentrator as claimed in claim 5, wherein the check valve comprises an outer guide formed on the channel; a check plunger inserted in the outer guide, a body of the check plunger being formed with the channel; a sealing damper attached to the check plunger so as to be in close contact with an inlet of the outer guide of a portion where the gas flows in; and a supporting spring positioned at an outlet of the outer guide of a portion where the gas is discharged to support the check plunger.
[Claim 7] The gas concentrator as claimed in claim 1, wherein a sealing means for preventing backflow of the discharged gas separated and discharged from the adsoφtion beds and simultaneously blocking off external air is installed on the channel.
[Claim 8] The gas concentrator as claimed in claim 1, wherein a sealing means for blocking off external air is installed on a suction or discharge channel of the vacuum pumping means.
[Claim 9] The gas concentrator as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the sealing means is a check valve type. [Claim 10] The gas concentrator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the gas supplying means supplies the target space with the gas of which the flow rate and concentration is controlled by using a flow rate control means installed on a channel for controlling flow rate of the gas discharged through the adsoφtion beds and a flow rate control means installed on a channel for supplying the mixed gas which has not passed through the adsoφtion beds.
PCT/KR2004/001367 2003-08-12 2004-06-08 Gas concentrator WO2005014145A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2005509391A JP4129926B2 (en) 2003-08-12 2004-06-08 Gas concentrator
US10/522,547 US7550036B2 (en) 2003-08-12 2004-06-08 Gas concentrator

Applications Claiming Priority (8)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR20-2003-0025957U KR200333774Y1 (en) 2003-08-12 2003-08-12 Gas Concentrator
KR20-2003-0025957 2003-08-12
KR20-2003-0028577 2003-09-05
KR20-2003-0028577U KR200335675Y1 (en) 2003-09-05 2003-09-05 Adsorption Bed
KR20-2003-0028982 2003-09-09
KR20-2003-0028982U KR200335702Y1 (en) 2003-09-09 2003-09-09 Valve for Vacuum Swing Adsorption Method
KR10-2003-0063901A KR100520039B1 (en) 2003-09-16 2003-09-16 Gas Concentrator
KR10-2003-0063901 2003-09-16

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2005014145A1 true WO2005014145A1 (en) 2005-02-17

Family

ID=36241051

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/KR2004/001367 WO2005014145A1 (en) 2003-08-12 2004-06-08 Gas concentrator

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US7550036B2 (en)
JP (1) JP4129926B2 (en)
WO (1) WO2005014145A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN108771949A (en) * 2018-06-08 2018-11-09 苏州洋紫瑞信息科技有限公司 A kind of exhaust gas purification device that intermittence is supplied gas

Families Citing this family (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7384297B2 (en) * 2006-11-07 2008-06-10 King Jr Lloyd Herbert Wire connector
US20090065007A1 (en) * 2007-09-06 2009-03-12 Wilkinson William R Oxygen concentrator apparatus and method
US9038628B2 (en) 2011-11-30 2015-05-26 Avox Systems Inc. System and method for an oxygen system alarm
WO2013108172A1 (en) 2012-01-16 2013-07-25 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Arrangement and method for generating oxygen
US9486730B2 (en) 2012-05-16 2016-11-08 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Oxygen separator and method of generating oxygen
WO2014059405A1 (en) 2012-10-12 2014-04-17 Inova Labs, Inc. Method and systems for the delivery of oxygen enriched gas
WO2014059408A1 (en) 2012-10-12 2014-04-17 Inova Labs, Inc. Dual oxygen concentrator systems and methods
AU2013328916A1 (en) 2012-10-12 2015-05-14 Inova Labs, Inc. Oxygen concentrator systems and methods
JP5933467B2 (en) * 2013-02-19 2016-06-08 大陽日酸株式会社 Gas processing equipment
US9979203B2 (en) 2013-06-18 2018-05-22 Philips Lighting Holdings B.V. Power supply system using a fuel cell, controller for the same and control method
US9440179B2 (en) 2014-02-14 2016-09-13 InovaLabs, LLC Oxygen concentrator pump systems and methods
US10315002B2 (en) 2015-03-24 2019-06-11 Ventec Life Systems, Inc. Ventilator with integrated oxygen production
US11247015B2 (en) 2015-03-24 2022-02-15 Ventec Life Systems, Inc. Ventilator with integrated oxygen production
WO2017192660A1 (en) 2016-05-03 2017-11-09 Inova Labs, Inc. Method and systems for the delivery of oxygen enriched gas
US10773049B2 (en) 2016-06-21 2020-09-15 Ventec Life Systems, Inc. Cough-assist systems with humidifier bypass
US11191915B2 (en) 2018-05-13 2021-12-07 Ventec Life Systems, Inc. Portable medical ventilator system using portable oxygen concentrators
CN113617185A (en) * 2021-09-07 2021-11-09 江苏锦东环境科技有限公司 Adsorption tower with smooth internal gas circulation
CN116534802B (en) * 2023-05-08 2024-01-16 海安建荣制氧有限公司 Cut-in type oxygen purification device

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0531318A (en) * 1991-08-01 1993-02-09 Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd Gas separator
JPH08281043A (en) * 1995-04-13 1996-10-29 Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd Pressure swing type oxygen enriching device for vehicle
US5679134A (en) * 1995-05-19 1997-10-21 L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude Device and process for the separation of gas by adsorption
EP1027915A2 (en) * 1999-02-09 2000-08-16 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Single bed pressure swing adsorption process and system
EP1027914A2 (en) * 1999-02-09 2000-08-16 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Pressure swing adsorption gas flow control method and system

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4222750A (en) * 1976-08-16 1980-09-16 Champion Spark Plug Company Oxygen enrichment system for medical use

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0531318A (en) * 1991-08-01 1993-02-09 Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd Gas separator
JPH08281043A (en) * 1995-04-13 1996-10-29 Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd Pressure swing type oxygen enriching device for vehicle
US5679134A (en) * 1995-05-19 1997-10-21 L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude Device and process for the separation of gas by adsorption
EP1027915A2 (en) * 1999-02-09 2000-08-16 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Single bed pressure swing adsorption process and system
EP1027914A2 (en) * 1999-02-09 2000-08-16 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Pressure swing adsorption gas flow control method and system

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN108771949A (en) * 2018-06-08 2018-11-09 苏州洋紫瑞信息科技有限公司 A kind of exhaust gas purification device that intermittence is supplied gas
CN108771949B (en) * 2018-06-08 2021-05-07 江苏慧丰源环境工程技术有限公司 Waste gas treatment purifier of intermittent type nature gas transmission

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US7550036B2 (en) 2009-06-23
US20060144240A1 (en) 2006-07-06
JP2006511346A (en) 2006-04-06
JP4129926B2 (en) 2008-08-06

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7550036B2 (en) Gas concentrator
US11801359B2 (en) Gas concentrator with removable cartridge adsorbent beds
US7758672B2 (en) Apparatus of oxygen concentration system and method thereof
US20230120744A1 (en) Gas concentrator with removable cartridge adsorbent beds
US7105038B2 (en) Gas concentration method and its apparatus
CA2663760C (en) Oxygen concentrator
WO2006112546A1 (en) Oxygen enriching device
KR100495973B1 (en) Oxygen Concentrator for the Automobiles
US7297187B2 (en) Gas separation apparatus
KR200296848Y1 (en) oxygen concentrator
CN1697682A (en) Gas concentrator
KR100484549B1 (en) Oxygen Concentrator Using Two Vacuum Sources
KR100614849B1 (en) Gas concentrator and its valve connection method
KR200375440Y1 (en) Gas Concentrator
KR200333774Y1 (en) Gas Concentrator
KR100521156B1 (en) vacuum swing adsorption method
KR200335702Y1 (en) Valve for Vacuum Swing Adsorption Method
KR100614848B1 (en) Oxygen Concentrator
KR100507405B1 (en) gas concentration device
KR200285671Y1 (en) Oxygen generating device combined with stand
KR101012686B1 (en) gas concentration method
KR100506554B1 (en) Gas Concentration Method
KR100530675B1 (en) Gas concentrator
KR200373658Y1 (en) pump assembly for gas concentrator
KR200353640Y1 (en) Air tight type oxygen producing module

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2005509391

Country of ref document: JP

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 20048006360

Country of ref document: CN

AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BW BY BZ CA CH CN CO CR CU CZ DK DM DZ EC EE EG ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NA NI NO NZ OM PG PH PL PT RO RU SC SD SE SG SK SL SY TJ TM TN TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VC VN YU ZA ZM ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): BW GH GM KE LS MW MZ NA SD SL SZ TZ UG ZM ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GQ GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 2006144240

Country of ref document: US

Kind code of ref document: A1

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 10522547

Country of ref document: US

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 10522547

Country of ref document: US

32PN Ep: public notification in the ep bulletin as address of the adressee cannot be established

Free format text: NOTING OF LOSS OF RIGHTS PURSUANT TO RULE 69(1) EPC (EPO FORM 1205A DATED 01-09-2006 )

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase