JP2000237317A - Pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen thickener - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To adequately humidify an oxygen thickening gas by utilizing outdoor air of the atmosphere pressure by providing the apparatus with a module for humidification which humidifies the oxygen thickening gas and is composed of a hollow fiber-like moisture permeable membrane, passing the oxygen thickening gas on the inner side of the hollow membrane and bringing the atmospheric air into contact with the outer side. SOLUTION: This apparatus has an adsorption column packed with a zeolite-base adsorbent as the adsorbent for selectively adsorbing nitrogen. The pressurized air from a compressor is supplied to the column to form the thickened oxygen. The thickened oxygen is stored in a surge tank and is humidified when passing a humidifying device having the steam selective permeable hollow fiber membrane (moisture permeable membrane) and thereafter, the thickened oxygen is supplied to a patient. A nonporous fluororesin-base dissolved diffusion membrane allowing the permeation of moisture by utilizing a steam partial pressure difference is used for the moisture permeable membrane. The thickened oxygen is humidified by the outdoor air of the atmospheric pressure, by which a need for separate moisture replenishment is eliminated and the humidification to approximately the same humidification degree as that of the air in the atmosphere without a flow rate control system for regulation of the humidification rate is made possible.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an oxygen concentrator for separating and using oxygen-enriched gas (including oxygen-enriched air) from the atmosphere. More specifically, the present invention relates to a humidifier for a pressure fluctuation adsorption-type oxygen concentrator, and provides an improved oxygen concentrator capable of supplying a user with a humidified oxygen-enriched gas utilizing moisture in the air. Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the number of patients suffering from respiratory diseases such as asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis has been increasing. One of the most effective treatments is oxygen inhalation therapy, and an oxygen concentrator that separates oxygen-enriched gas directly from the air has been developed.Oxygen inhalation therapy has been developed for its convenience and ease of maintenance. It is becoming more and more popular as a medical treatment device.

As such an oxygen concentrator, a membrane separation type oxygen concentrator using an oxygen selective permeable membrane and an adsorption type oxygen concentrator using an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing nitrogen or oxygen are known. . Further, there is an apparatus that electrochemically generates oxygen using a solid electrolyte membrane that selectively transmits oxygen ions. As the adsorption type oxygen concentrator, there is a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator using a compressor,
Usually, an adsorption step in which compressed air is introduced by a compressor into an adsorption bed filled with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing nitrogen to adsorb nitrogen in a pressurized state to obtain an oxygen-enriched gas, and an internal pressure of the adsorption bed. This is an apparatus for obtaining an oxygen-enriched gas by alternately performing a desorption step in which nitrogen is desorbed to reduce nitrogen and the adsorbent is regenerated.

[0004] The oxygen-enriched gas produced by such a pressure fluctuation adsorption method shows a dry state which is almost completely dry. When the user inhales such a gas for respiration,
In particular, there is a problem that the inside of the nostrils and throat is dry and uncomfortable, and when it reaches the lungs directly, it damages the mucous membrane and impairs the physical condition. Therefore, it is necessary to separately supply water using a humidifier.

[0005] As such a humidifier, a bubbling humidifier in which water is poured into a sealed container and oxygen-enriched gas is passed through the water, or the oxygen-enriched gas is passed over the surface of the humidified water to evaporate water There is an evaporative humidifier that humidifies with. All of these use water, and the user always needs to manage the humidifying water, such as replenishing or replacing the water in the humidifier, and cleaning to prevent the generation of various bacteria. This results in a new problem such as leakage of oxygen-enriched gas from the humidifier attachment / detachment section after replacement.

As a method for solving these problems, an oxygen concentrating apparatus provided with a membrane humidifier for humidifying an oxygen-enriched gas using a water vapor permeable hollow fiber membrane described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-99113 is considered. Was done. Such an oxygen concentrator humidifies the oxygen-enriched gas by using either the moisture in the raw material pressurized air or the moisture in the regeneration gas of the adsorption tower.

In such an apparatus, since all the raw material pressurized air is supplied to the module loaded with the water vapor permeable hollow fiber, and then the air is supplied to the adsorption tower, it is difficult to adjust the humidification. When the flow rate is small, there is a problem that moisture is excessive and drain is generated.

On the other hand, as described in JP-A-5-49697, a method of dehumidifying excess moisture by using another film-type humidifying (dehumidifying) device and disposing it as drain is disclosed in JP-A-5-49697.
As described in JP-A-196635, a method of adjusting a humidification by providing a bypass route in a route for humidifying product oxygen gas has been found. However, it is difficult to control the required humidification by any of the methods, and a plurality of film-type humidification (dehumidification) is required.
There are many problems, such as the need for modules and complicated piping flow control systems.

Further, as a method of bringing the hollow fiber into direct contact with humidified water and supplying the water to oxygen flowing inside the hollow fiber, an oxygen concentrating device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-276408 has been considered. However, this method also has problems such as excessive humidification moisture, drainage, difficulty in adjusting humidification, and poor handling such as humidification water exchange.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves various problems that occur in a conventional oxygen concentrator equipped with a membrane humidifier, and can be used without the need for refilling or replacing water.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an oxygen concentrator provided with a humidifier for breathing gas capable of humidifying to a level substantially equal to the relative humidity of atmospheric pressure air.

[0011]

Means for Solving the Problems As a result of intensive studies on such a problem, the applicant of the present invention has found that as a water supply source of a hollow fiber membrane humidifier, outside air at atmospheric pressure is used instead of pressurized air as raw material. To humidify the oxygen-enriched gas.

That is, the present invention provides at least one adsorption bed filled with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing nitrogen rather than oxygen, air supply means for supplying air to the adsorption bed, A pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator equipped with an oxygen supply means for supplying an oxygen-enriched gas to a user, comprising: a humidifying module comprising a hollow fiber-shaped moisture permeable membrane for humidifying the oxygen-enriched gas; It is an object of the present invention to provide a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator characterized in that the oxygen-concentrated gas flows inside and the outside is in contact with atmospheric pressure air.

The present invention also provides a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator characterized in that the moisture permeable membrane is a hollow fiber having an inner diameter of 1.0 mm to 5.0 mm.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the oxygen concentrator according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings as necessary. The type of the membrane humidifier used in the oxygen concentrator of the present invention is not particularly limited. There are a dissolution-diffusion membrane and a microporous membrane that selectively permeates water vapor molecules based on the principle of molecular sieve action. It is preferable to use a fluorine resin film as a material. In particular, SUN SEP-W manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd., NAFION manufactured by DuPont, and a membrane manufactured by Ube Industries, Ltd. are preferable. However, the material is not limited to a fluorine-based resin as long as it is a resin-based material having the physical properties. In addition, this material is often used as an antibacterial resin, and is suitable for medical use.

The hollow fiber having a diameter of several μm to several mm is used. However, if the diameter is too small, clogging is likely to occur. Particularly, the fiber having a diameter of 1.0 to 5.0 mm of the present invention is preferably used. preferable. Such a diameter matches the tube size necessary for flowing medical oxygen, and is easy to use.

The length of the hollow fiber is at least 10 c
m or more, and preferably 10 to 100 cm when used as a medical oxygen concentrator. Although it is possible to use those having a diameter of 100 cm or more, it is necessary to consider the use flow rate because pressure loss occurs, and it is better to use a plurality of hollow fibers of 100 cm or less in parallel to reduce the pressure loss. This is advantageous in terms of miniaturization.

The humidifier used in the present invention is a module using such a hollow fiber, in which the inside of the hollow fiber is made to pass oxygen-enriched gas in a dry state, and the outside is kept open to the atmosphere. The hollow fiber itself is preferably provided with a reinforcing material having a mesh structure in order to secure strength. Further, it is preferable that the introduction portion of the dry oxygen concentrated gas and the outlet portion of the humidified oxygen concentrated gas can be attached to and detached from the resin oxygen concentrator body with one touch.

Further, the air supply means used in the oxygen concentrator of the present invention uses an oxygen concentrator which functions as a compressor means for supplying raw air to the adsorption bed in the adsorption step.

Further, as a feature of the moisture permeable membrane used in the present invention, the moisture permeation rate has a temperature dependency, and a target humidification can be obtained instantaneously by increasing the use environment temperature. Furthermore, by utilizing this characteristic, the number and length of the water permeable membrane used can be reduced, which leads to a reduction in the cost of the relatively expensive water permeable membrane. Further, a cooling fan is used to keep the temperature inside the device such as a compressor or an adsorption bed constant.However, it is possible to configure such that the cooling air is blown to the atmosphere side of the membrane humidifier of the device of the present invention. In order to obtain humidification, it is also preferable that moisture-rich desorption air generated in the desorption step of the adsorption bed be applied to the atmosphere side of the membrane humidifier of the apparatus of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a pressure fluctuation adsorption-type oxygen concentrator equipped with a membrane humidifier. The oxygen supply device uses a dry gas oxygen cylinder as a supply source, and the oxygen supply device uses a solid electrolyte membrane as an oxygen supply source. It is also possible to apply to a supply device.

[0021]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention. That is, a compressor 1 for supplying pressurized air to one adsorption tower 2 filled with a zeolite-based adsorbent as an adsorbent for selectively adsorbing nitrogen is provided. After storing non-adsorbed concentrated oxygen in a surge tank 3, The concentrated oxygen is supplied to the patient through the humidifier 5 having the water vapor selectively permeable hollow fiber membrane 4. Such a water-vapor-permeable hollow fiber membrane is a non-porous fluororesin-based dissolution-diffusion membrane (NA manufactured by DuPont) that transmits moisture by utilizing a partial pressure difference of water vapor.
FION film). Inner diameter 1.5mm, length 60c
6 m hollow fibers were used in parallel. The humidification box is in contact with outside air.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an oxygen concentrator according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the humidifier 3 part.

FIG. 4 shows the generated oxygen-enriched gas humidity when the oxygen concentrator is activated under an environment of a temperature of 25 ° C. and a humidity of 60% RH. As a result, the removal flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas is 1 L
/ Min, 90% of the environmental humidity, and 3 L / min, an oxygen-enriched gas having a humidity of 85% of the environmental humidity could be obtained.

[0024]

According to the oxygen concentrating apparatus of the present invention, the oxygen enriched air for medical use can be humidified without using a hollow fiber membrane type humidifier. Further, in the humidifier of the oxygen concentrator according to the present invention, the oxygen-concentrated air supplied to the patient exhibits almost the same humidification as the air in the atmosphere without a flow control system for adjusting the humidification amount. it can.

The oxygen-enriched air naturally changes its humidity due to a change in the humidity of the outside air, but can maintain the same level of humidification as the air breathed by a normal person. However, since there is also a drying effect by the flow of the oxygen-enriched air, it is preferable to use the oxygen-enriched air supply flow rate of 5 L / min or less as the oxygen-enriched air supply flow rate.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic external view of a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic external view of a humidifier of the pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows the oxygen concentration gas humidity of the pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator of the present invention.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. At least one adsorption bed filled with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing nitrogen over oxygen, air supply means for supplying air to the adsorption bed, and oxygen-enriched gas from the adsorption bed. A pressure fluctuation adsorption-type oxygen concentrator provided with an oxygen supply means for supplying a user with a humidifying module comprising a hollow fiber-shaped moisture permeable membrane for humidifying the oxygen-enriched gas, wherein the inside of the hollow fiber membrane is provided with the oxygen. A pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator characterized in that a concentrated gas flows and the outside is in contact with atmospheric pressure air. 2. The water permeable membrane according to claim 1, wherein the inner diameter is from 1.0 mm to 5.0 mm.
The pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a 0 mm hollow fiber.