High pressure oxygen production system
First Claim
1. A method of supplying a selected gaseous component at a first relatively high pressure, the method comprising:
- supplying a gaseous mixture at a second, relatively high pressure;
separating the selected gaseous component from the mixture and supplying the separated, selected gaseous component to a separated gas reservoir at a first, relatively low pressure;
after receiving the selected gaseous component in the reservoir, contracting the effective volume of the gaseous reservoir under motive force supplied by the gaseous mixture such that the pressure of the selected gaseous component is increased to the first relatively high pressure;
removing the motive force of the gaseous mixture allowing the effective volume of the gaseous reservoir to expand and the pressure of the gaseous component therein to decrease such that additional selected gaseous component at the first, relatively low pressure is received therein;
cyclically repeating the effective volume contracting and expanding steps such that the pressure of the selected gaseous component is cyclically increased to the first relatively high pressure.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cross-over valve (24) alternately supplies compressed air from a source of compressed air (A) to a pair of beds (26, 28) filled with a molecular sieve material. An oxygen rich gas component separated from the compressed air by the molecular sieve beds is channeled to a separated gas reservoir (C). To use the oxygen in the reservoir, the compressed air is directed against a barrier, such as bellows (52), located within the separated gas reservoir to compress the oxygen rich gas component held therein. The oxygen rich gas component is then supplied at this elevated pressure to welding or other downstream equipment. In this manner, the oxygen separator may operate sixteen hours to provide a supply of oxygen for an eight hour shift. The oxygen is supplied to the downstream equipment at a higher pressure which is increased over and above the supply pressure from the oxygen separation device.
116 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of supplying a selected gaseous component at a first relatively high pressure, the method comprising:
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supplying a gaseous mixture at a second, relatively high pressure; separating the selected gaseous component from the mixture and supplying the separated, selected gaseous component to a separated gas reservoir at a first, relatively low pressure; after receiving the selected gaseous component in the reservoir, contracting the effective volume of the gaseous reservoir under motive force supplied by the gaseous mixture such that the pressure of the selected gaseous component is increased to the first relatively high pressure; removing the motive force of the gaseous mixture allowing the effective volume of the gaseous reservoir to expand and the pressure of the gaseous component therein to decrease such that additional selected gaseous component at the first, relatively low pressure is received therein; cyclically repeating the effective volume contracting and expanding steps such that the pressure of the selected gaseous component is cyclically increased to the first relatively high pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for supplying a selected gaseous component, the apparatus comprising:
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a compressor means for supplying a gaseous mixture at a relatively high pressure; a gas separating means for selectively separating at least one preselected gaseous component from the gaseous mixture, the gas separating means being operatively connected with the compressor means for receiving the gaseous mixture therefrom at the relatively high pressure and having a separated gas outlet through which the separated gaseous component is supplied at a relatively low pressure; and
,a pressure increasing means for increasing the pressure of a separated gaseous component to a pressure which is higher than said relatively low pressure, the pressure increasing means being operatively connected with the compressor means to receive motive power from the relatively high pressure gaseous mixture received therefrom and being operatively connected with the gas separating means to receive the separated gaseous component and increase the pressure thereof above the relatively low pressure. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A gaseous component supplying apparatus for supplying a selected gaseous component at a relatively high pressure, the apparatus comprising:
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a gas separating means for separating and supplying a preselected gaseous component at a relatively low pressure; a separated gas reservoir for receiving the preselected gaseous component, the separated gas reservoir being operatively connected with the gas separating means; an effective volume means for selectively contracting an effective volume of the separated gas reservoir available to receive the preselected gaseous component therein; and
,a control means for cyclically disconnecting and connecting the effective volume means with a source of fluid at a relatively high pressure such that (i) when the effective volume means is connected with the relatively high pressure fluid source, the effective volume of the separated gas reservoir is contracted under motive force from the relatively high pressure fluid compressing the gaseous component received therein and (ii) when the effective volume means is disconnected from the relatively high pressure fluid source, the effective volume of the separated gas reservoir is permitted to expand to facilitate the receipt of the preselected gaseous component therein at the relatively low pressure, whereby the preselected gaseous component is cyclically received at the relatively low pressure and compressed to a higher pressure. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification