Oxygen production system with two stage oxygen pressurization
First Claim
1. An apparatus for supplying a selected gaseous component, the apparatus comprising:
- a separating means for separating the selected gaseous component from a gaseous mixture, the separating means providing the selected gaseous component at a relatively low separated gas pressure;
a first one-way valve means for permitting the separated gaseous component to flow from the separating means to a first pressurizing means and for inhibiting the flow from the first pressurizing means to the separating means;
the first pressurizing means cyclically receives the selected gaseous component at the relatively low separated gas pressure and increases the pressure of the received selected gaseous component with a first preselected pressure;
a second one-way valve means for permitting the separated, pressurized gaseous component to flow from the first pressurizing means to a second pressurizing means and blocking the flow from the second pressurizing means to the first pressurizing means;
the second pressurizing means (i) continuously pressurizes the received, selected gaseous component, (ii) to a preselected second pressure, which second preselected pressure is less than the first preselected pressure.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A compressor (10) and an accumulator tank (12) supply compressed air to an oxygen concentrator (32). Separated oxygen flows through a first check valve (40) into a first oxygen receiving region (54) of a first tank (50) displacing a first movable barrier (52). When a pressure sensor (72) senses that the pressure in the first oxygen receiving region has reached a preselected level, it causes a valve (62) to move from a vent state to a state in which compressed air is supplied from the accumulator into a pressurizing fluid receiving region (56). This displaces the first movable barrier with a first preselected pressure, pumping the oxygen through a second check valve (80) into a second oxygen receiving region (94) of a second tank (90). A second movable barrier (92) separates the second oxygen receiving region from a second pressurizing fluid receiving region (96). A pressure regulator (98) supplies compressed air from the accumulator into the second pressurizing fluid receiving region (96) at a second preselected pressure, which is lower than the first preselected pressure. In this manner, the separated oxygen in the second tank is continuously pressurized to the second preselected pressure.
139 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An apparatus for supplying a selected gaseous component, the apparatus comprising:
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a separating means for separating the selected gaseous component from a gaseous mixture, the separating means providing the selected gaseous component at a relatively low separated gas pressure; a first one-way valve means for permitting the separated gaseous component to flow from the separating means to a first pressurizing means and for inhibiting the flow from the first pressurizing means to the separating means; the first pressurizing means cyclically receives the selected gaseous component at the relatively low separated gas pressure and increases the pressure of the received selected gaseous component with a first preselected pressure; a second one-way valve means for permitting the separated, pressurized gaseous component to flow from the first pressurizing means to a second pressurizing means and blocking the flow from the second pressurizing means to the first pressurizing means; the second pressurizing means (i) continuously pressurizes the received, selected gaseous component, (ii) to a preselected second pressure, which second preselected pressure is less than the first preselected pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for supplying oxygen at a relatively high pressure, the apparatus comprising:
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an oxygen separator for separating oxygen from atmospheric air, the oxygen being produced at a relatively low pressure, the oxygen separator being operatively connected with an air compressor and accumulator, which accumulator stores compressed air; a first reservoir having a first movable barrier therein for dividing the first reservoir into a first oxygen receiving region and a first pressurizing fluid receiving region, the first oxygen receiving region being operatively connected with the oxygen separator; a cyclically operated valve for alternately (i) connecting the first pressurizing fluid receiving region with the accumulator and (ii) venting the first pressurizing fluid receiving region; a second reservoir having a second movable barrier therein for dividing the second reservoir into a second oxygen receiving region and a second pressurizing fluid receiving region, the second oxygen receiving region being operatively connected by a check valve with the first oxygen receiving region, the second pressurizing fluid receiving region being operatively connected with the accumulator to supply a continuous compressed air biasing force to the second pressurizing fluid receiving region, the oxygen in the second oxygen receiving region being biased to the relatively high pressure which relatively high pressure is slightly less than the pressure of the oxygen in the first oxygen receiving region when the first pressurizing fluid receiving region is connected with the accumulator such that oxygen is cyclically transferred from the first oxygen receiving region to the second oxygen receiving region.
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11. A method of supplying a selected gaseous component, the method comprising:
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separating the selected gaseous component from a gaseous mixture, the separated gaseous component being at a relatively low separated gas pressure; in a first tank cyclically (i) receiving the separated gaseous component at the relatively low separated gas pressure and (ii) increasing the pressure of the received separated gas with a first preselected pressure; transferring the pressurized separated gaseous component to a second tank; continuously pressurizing the gaseous component in the second tank to a second preselected pressure, which second preselected pressure is lower than the first pressure; and
,selectively supplying the gaseous component from the second tank at the second pressure. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification