JP2608958B2 - Oxygen concentrator - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an oxygen concentrator for separating an oxygen-enriched gas from the atmosphere for use, and more particularly, to a pressure fluctuation adsorption type. The present invention relates to an oxygen concentrating device, and provides a practically improved oxygen concentrating device in which power consumption during use of a compressor or the like used therein is reduced.

<Prior art> Conventionally, oxygen therapy supplied from an oxygen reservoir to a patient with respiratory disease has been performed. Recently, an oxygen concentrator for separating and concentrating oxygen in the air to obtain an oxygen-enriched gas has been developed. Oxygen therapy using it is becoming more and more popular.

Examples of such an oxygen concentrator include an adsorption-type oxygen concentrator using an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing nitrogen as an oxygen concentrator and a membrane-type oxygen concentrator using an oxygen selective permeable membrane as an oxygen concentrator. In the former case, there are many types of pressure fluctuation type that usually use a compressor.

In a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator using such a compressor, the power consumption for the operation of the compressor is substantially constant regardless of the flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas to be used during the operation. .

That is, when the flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas to be used is small, the power consumption per unit volume of the oxygen-enriched gas becomes relatively large, and a reduction measure is desired.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the conventional pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator.

As a measure for reducing the power consumption of such a compressor, a method of lowering the compressor drive power supply voltage within an allowable range in both the adsorption and pressure bonding steps, a method of lowering the drive voltage only during the desorption step, or a margin during the desorption step. A method of stopping the operation of the compressor is considered.

However, measures to reduce the drive voltage tend to complicate the equipment including the electric circuit, and measures to temporarily stop the operation of the compressor increase the frequency of starting and stopping the compressor. These measures are liable to cause deterioration in performance, and these measures are often not suitable for practical use.

<Means for Solving the Problems> The inventors of the present invention have conducted intensive studies in order to achieve such a problem, and when the flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas to be used is reduced, the time of the desorption process in which the power consumption of the compressor is small is small. Has been found to be practically effective, and the present invention has been reached.

That is, the present invention firstly comprises an adsorption bed filled with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing oxygen or nitrogen from the air, a compressor means with a motor for supplying compressed air to the adsorption bed, Tank means for storing the obtained oxygen-enriched gas, supply means for using the oxygen-enriched gas from the tank means, and conduit means for operatively connecting the compressor means, the adsorption bed and the tank means When,
A pressure provided with automatic opening / closing valve means provided in the middle of the conduit means, and control means for controlling opening and closing of the automatic opening / closing valve means so as to substantially repeat the adsorption step and the desorption step in the adsorption bed. In the variable adsorption type oxygen concentrator,
A flow setting means for setting a flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas to be used in the middle of the conduit means constituting the supply means; and the control means operates in conjunction with the flow setting means in accordance with the flow rate set value. An object of the present invention is to provide an oxygen concentrator characterized in that the time of the desorption step is set to a predetermined length to control the automatic opening / closing valve means.

The present invention includes an oxygen concentrator having one adsorption bed.

Further, the present invention provides an oxygen concentrator wherein the compressor means can function as a vacuum pump means for maintaining the pressure in the adsorption bed at or below the atmospheric pressure in the desorption step. An oxygen concentrator which is based on a set value signal generated corresponding to a set position of a contact switch or a non-contact switch for setting a flow rate in a vessel, and wherein the control means is provided for a predetermined period from the start of operation of the apparatus. In addition, an oxygen concentrating device for controlling the automatic opening / closing valve means so that the adsorption step time and the desorption step time are set independently of the flow rate set value of the flow rate setting means is included.

Hereinafter, the oxygen concentrating device of the present invention will be described in more detail.

That is, such an oxygen concentrator has flow rate setting means for setting the flow rate in the middle of the conduit means constituting the supply means of the oxygen-enriched gas to be used, and the flow rate setting means interlocks with the flow rate setting means. It is characterized by having control means for setting the time of the desorption process to a predetermined length according to the set value and controlling the automatic opening / closing valve means. This makes it possible to more easily and reliably reduce the power consumption at the set flow rate.

As a specific example of such a flow rate setting means, there is a means having a plurality of orifices having different opening areas and having a means for selectively setting an orifice corresponding to a desired flow rate. Note that the flow rate setting means needs to be provided with a means for generating a signal relating to a flow rate set value for interlocking with the control means.

The control means controls the opening and closing of the automatic opening and closing valve means for performing the cycle of the adsorption step and the desorption step for pressure fluctuation adsorption, and sets the desorption time to a predetermined length according to the flow rate set value. It is designed to be able to be set. It is practically preferable that the time of the adsorption step is controlled to be substantially constant. As a specific example of the control means provided with means for setting the desorption time to a predetermined length, there is a microcomputer means in which a predetermined desorption time length corresponding to a flow rate set value is stored in a storage means in advance.

Examples of such an oxygen concentrator include one having one or more adsorbent beds filled with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing oxygen or nitrogen. Examples of the adsorbent that selectively adsorbs nitrogen include: Normally, molecular sieves 5A and 13X or modified versions thereof are usually used. The number of adsorption beds is preferably 3 or less, and 1 or 2 is desirable for medical use.

Further, the oxygen concentrator includes compressor means with a motor for introducing compressed air, tank means for storing oxygen-enriched gas, supply means for supplying oxygen-enriched gas for use, conduit means, and automatic opening and closing valve means. And a means for controlling the opening and closing of these automatic opening and closing valve means, and further, a fan means for generating cooling air for cooling the compressor means as required.

As a preferable example of the oxygen concentrating device of the present invention,
The case where there is one adsorption bed is exemplified. In this case, there is a practical advantage that the whole apparatus is easily made compact.The compressor means used in the oxygen concentrator is used for introducing pressurized air to the adsorption bed. In order to promote the desorption of the bed, it is preferable to function also as a vacuum pump means for reducing the internal pressure of the bed below the atmospheric pressure. This is a desirable mode because the ability can be performed. A specific example thereof is one in which the suction side and the discharge side of the compressor means are switched.

Further, as the flow rate setting device in the oxygen concentrator of the present invention, a device having a contact switch or a non-contact switch for generating the flow setting value may be mentioned. Specific examples of the non-contact switch include those using a photo sensor, a magnetic sensor, and the like. This is an effective means for generating a flow rate set value as a signal.

Further, as the oxygen concentrator of the present invention, in order to stabilize the concentrated oxygen concentration and pressure conditions at the start of operation early,
It is practically advantageous to provide a control means capable of performing the operation in the set adsorption / desorption cycle regardless of the set value of the flow setting device during a predetermined period such as several cycles immediately after the start of operation. . In order to obtain an enriched gas having a predetermined oxygen concentration at an early stage when the apparatus is restarted after the operation is stopped, a control means capable of stopping the operation after passing through a specific adsorption / desorption cycle is provided. Is more desirable in practical use. By adopting these specific cycles at the start of operation and / or at the end of operation, it is possible to use the oxygen-enriched gas having a target concentration early after the start of operation.

The present invention further provides two adsorbent beds filled with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing oxygen or nitrogen from the air, compressor means with a motor for supplying compressed air to the adsorbent beds, Tank means for storing the oxygen-enriched gas obtained from the above, supply means for providing use of the oxygen-enriched gas from the tank means, and conduit for operatively connecting the compressor means, the adsorbent bed and the tank means Means, automatic opening / closing valve means provided in the middle of the conduit means,
In a pressure fluctuation adsorption-type oxygen concentrator equipped with control means for controlling the opening and closing of the automatic on-off valve means so as to repeat a substantial adsorption step and a desorption step in each adsorption bed, the control means comprises: When the flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas to be used is smaller than a predetermined value, the opening and closing of the automatic on-off valve means is controlled so as to repeat the adsorption step and the desorption step only in one of the adsorption beds. An oxygen concentrator is provided.

In this invention, the control means is arranged such that when the flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas to be used is smaller than the predetermined value, the other adsorption bed together with the tank means also functions as a tank means for storing the oxygen-enriched gas. And an oxygen concentrator for controlling the opening and closing of the automatic opening and closing valve means.

Further, in the present invention, the control means may repeat the adsorption step and the desorption step while looking at the one adsorption bed,
An oxygen concentrator for controlling the automatic opening / closing valve means by setting the time of the desorption step to a predetermined length in accordance with the flow rate of the oxygen-concentrating gas to be used; and a conduit means constituting the supply means. An oxygen concentrator that controls the automatic on-off valve means by setting the time of the desorption step to a predetermined length according to a flow rate set value for setting the flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas to be used on the way; and When the compressor means repeats the adsorption step and the desorption step only in the one adsorption bed, the compressor means can function as a vacuum pump means for maintaining the inside of the adsorption bed at atmospheric pressure or less in the desorption step. An oxygen concentrator is included.

The oxygen concentrating device of the present invention will be further described below. That is, such an apparatus is characterized in that the adsorption / desorption operation is switched from the two-bed type to the single-bed type in a region where the flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas is equal to or less than a predetermined value. As specific means, control means using a microcomputer or the like for controlling the opening and closing of an automatic opening and closing valve means provided in the middle of a conduit means operatively connected to an adsorption bed so as to enable such an operation. can give.

With this configuration, it is easy to effectively reduce power consumption in an oxygen concentrator that can supply a larger flow rate.

In this case, the other adsorbent bed may not be used, but it is practically desirable to use the adsorbent bed not as an adsorbent bed but as a tank means for storing oxygen-enriched gas. In such a case, it is preferable to use a tank means used for storage in the case of two-bed operation.

In particular, in the case of the single-bed operation, it is desirable to make the compressor means function as a vacuum pump means at the time of the desorption step to make the desorption operation easier. 2
The desorption step during floor-type operation may be performed under atmospheric pressure.

In such a single-bed operation, as described above, in conjunction with the flow rate setting means, the one using the control means having means for setting the desorption time corresponding to the flow rate set value is used. More desirable in reducing power.
In addition, there is also an advantage that the life of the compressor can be prolonged by reducing the calorific value of the compressor by reducing the power consumption.

<Effect of the Invention> According to the oxygen concentrating device of the present invention, it is possible to more easily and reliably perform operation with power consumption corresponding to the set flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas to be used. Particularly in the case of medical oxygen concentrators mainly used in hospitals or homes by individuals with respiratory diseases, the desired flow rate is set by adopting a simpler configuration in which the flow rate setting means and the control means are linked. At the same time, there is a practically excellent effect that the power consumption corresponding thereto can be easily reduced by one operation.

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] An adsorbent bed filled with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing oxygen or nitrogen from the air, compressor means with a motor for supplying compressed air to the adsorbent bed, obtained from the adsorbent bed Tank means for storing the oxygen-enriched gas, supply means for making use of the oxygen-enriched gas from the tank means, and conduit means for operatively connecting the compressor means, the adsorption bed and the tank means, Pressure fluctuation comprising: an automatic opening and closing valve provided in the middle of the conduit means; and control means for controlling opening and closing of the automatic opening and closing valve so as to substantially repeat the adsorption step and the desorption step in the adsorption bed. In an adsorption-type oxygen concentrator, a flow setting means for setting a flow rate of an oxygen-enriched gas to be used is provided in a conduit means constituting the supply means, and the control means is provided with the flow setting means. Oxygen concentrator which is characterized by the time conjunction with desorption step according to the flow rate set value allowed set to a predetermined length so as to control the automatic opening and closing valve means. 2. The oxygen concentrator according to claim 1, wherein the number of the adsorbent beds is one. 3. The oxygen concentrator according to claim 1, wherein said compressor means can function as a vacuum pump means for maintaining the pressure in the adsorption bed below the atmospheric pressure in said desorption step. 4. The oxygen according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate set value is based on a set value signal generated corresponding to a set position of a contact switch or a non-contact switch for setting a flow rate in the flow set device. Concentrator. 5. The control means according to claim 1, wherein said control means is provided for a predetermined period from the start of operation of said apparatus irrespective of a flow set value of said flow setting means.
2. The oxygen concentrator according to claim 1, wherein the automatic opening / closing valve means is controlled so that the set adsorption step time and the desorption step time are set. 6. Two adsorption beds filled with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing oxygen or nitrogen from the air, compressor means with a motor for supplying compressed air to said adsorption beds,
Tank means for storing the oxygen-enriched gas obtained from the adsorption bed, supply means for using the oxygen-enriched gas from the tank means, and operatively connecting the compressor means, the adsorption bed and the tank means. Conduit means, an automatic opening / closing valve means provided in the middle of the conduit means, and an opening / closing valve means for controlling the opening / closing of the automatic opening / closing valve means so as to repeat a substantial adsorption step and a desorption step in each adsorption bed. Pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator equipped with control means,
When the flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas to be used is smaller than a predetermined value, the control means controls the opening and closing of the automatic on-off valve means so that the adsorption step and the desorption step are repeated only in one of the adsorption beds. An oxygen concentrator characterized by the following. 7. When the control means repeats the adsorption step and the desorption step only in the one adsorbent bed, the control unit sets the time of the desorption step to a predetermined length according to the flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas to be used. 7. The oxygen concentrator according to claim 6, wherein said automatic on-off valve means is controlled at least. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the time of the desorption step is set to a predetermined length according to a flow rate set value for setting a flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas to be used in the middle of the conduit means constituting the supply means. 8. The oxygen concentrator according to claim 7, wherein the oxygen concentrator controls on / off valve means. 9. When the flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas to be used is smaller than the predetermined value, the control means operates so that the other adsorption bed together with the tank means functions to store the oxygen-enriched gas. 7. The oxygen concentrator according to claim 6, wherein opening and closing of said automatic opening and closing valve means is controlled. 10. When the compressor means repeats the adsorption step and the desorption step only in the one adsorption bed, the compressor means can function as a vacuum pump means for keeping the inside of the adsorption bed at atmospheric pressure or less in the desorption step. 7. The oxygen concentrator according to claim 6, wherein