JP2008155168A - Pressure swing adsorption type gas generator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily correspond to an increase in the supply flow amount of a product gas and enable economic operation when the supply flow amount of the product gas is increased or decreased over a wide range. <P>SOLUTION: A gas generator comprises: two adsorption tanks 1 and 2 filled with an adsorbent; a product tank 3; a plurality of gas generation units 10a to 10c including adsorption valves SV1 and SV2 which open and close a flow path introducing raw material air into the adsorption tanks, exhaust valves SV3 and SV4, a pressure equalization valve SV5, and outlet valves SV6 and SV7; a raw material air source 11; and an accumulation product tank 12 accumulating the product gas stored in each product tank, wherein adsorption operation which supplies compressed raw material air to carry out adsorption and detachment operation which detaches gas at a low pressure are alternatively carried out in the two adsorption tanks. A controller 13 comprises controlling the operation of a plurality of gas generation units by one operation and having a function of changing the number of units to be operated, wherein timing of changing each step of the operation of the plurality of gas generation units is controlled so as to be deviated at intervals of equal time for each unit. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a pressure swing adsorption type gas generator for generating nitrogen or oxygen gas by a pressure swing adsorption method.

  A PSA (pressure swing adsorption) method is known as one of the non-low temperature techniques for producing nitrogen or oxygen gas. According to the PSA method, for example, by using air as a raw material and adsorbing oxygen in the raw material air with an adsorbent, nitrogen can be separated and high-purity nitrogen gas can be obtained as a product gas. The PSA technique is used not only in a strict sense but also in a meaning including a similar process such as VSA (vacuum swing adsorption).

In the PSA process, the fact that the adsorption amount at high pressure is larger than the adsorption amount at low pressure is utilized. That is, continuous operation is performed while recovering the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent by repeating adsorption / desorption in which the adsorbent that has adsorbed oxygen at high pressure is desorbed at low pressure. Therefore, in the PSA process, two adsorption tanks filled with an adsorbent are used, and while one adsorption tank is performing the adsorption process under high pressure, the other adsorption tank is desorbed under low pressure. Perform the process. (For example, see Patent Document 1)
In this way, in order to alternately perform the adsorption / desorption process using two adsorption tanks, the gas flow path from the raw material air inlet through the adsorption tank to the product tank is switched according to the process to be performed. That is, the operation is performed by switching a large number of valves in a timely manner so that the introduction of raw material air into the adsorption tank for performing the adsorption process, the derivation of the product gas, or the exhaust from the adsorption tank for performing the desorption process is performed appropriately.
JP 2002-239330 A

  In order to supply the product gas at a large flow rate by the pressure swing adsorption type gas generator configured as described above, a large capacity raw material air source is required, and the adsorption tank and the product tank also require a large capacity. It is. Therefore, if the amount of product gas consumed is large, a large-sized device is required. To increase the flow rate of product gas that can be supplied in accordance with an increase in the amount of product gas consumed, a larger device must be replaced. The burden of capital investment is large.

  Further, when the supply of the product gas can be increased or decreased from a small flow rate to a large flow rate, it is necessary to make the adsorption tank and the product tank large in accordance with the maximum product gas flow rate. Therefore, when a small product gas flow rate is supplied by such a large apparatus, the operation has to be uneconomical.

  Therefore, the present invention is easy to cope with an increase in the product gas supply flow rate, and is a pressure swing adsorption type capable of economically supplying the product gas by increasing or decreasing the product gas from a small flow rate to a large flow rate. An object is to provide a gas generator.

  The pressure swing adsorption type gas generator of the present invention opens and closes a first adsorption tank and a second adsorption tank filled with an adsorbent, and a flow path for introducing raw air into the first adsorption tank and the second adsorption tank, respectively. First and second adsorption valves, a product tank for storing the product gas separated from the raw material air in the first and second adsorption tanks, and an exhaust passage from the first and second adsorption tanks, respectively A first and second exhaust valve that opens and closes, a pressure equalizing valve that opens and closes a pressure equalizing flow path that communicates between the first and second adsorption tanks, and a flow control valve between the first and second adsorption tanks A flow path for reflux communicated via the first, second and second outlet valves for opening and closing the flow paths between the first and second adsorption tanks and the product tank, and controlling the opening and closing of the valves. And a control device for supplying a valve driving signal to be operated. By switching each valve between an adsorption operation for supplying compressed raw material air and performing adsorption by the adsorbent under high pressure, and a desorption operation for desorbing the gas adsorbed to the adsorbent by reducing the pressure, It is possible to perform alternately in the first and second adsorption tanks, and the control device performs an adsorption operation in the first adsorption tank and a desorption operation in the second adsorption tank, and the second step. A step B in which an adsorption operation is performed in the adsorption tank and a desorption operation is performed in the first adsorption tank; and a pressure equalization step in which the pressure equalization valve is opened to equalize the pressure in both adsorption tanks. Control is performed so that the B process is alternately performed while the pressure equalization process is sandwiched between the two processes.

  In order to solve the above problems, the first adsorption tank and the second adsorption tank, the product tank, the first and second adsorption valves, the first and second exhaust valves, the pressure equalizing valve, and the reflux flow And a plurality of gas generating units including the first and second outlet valves, and a source air source for supplying the source air to the plurality of gas generating units via the first and second adsorption valves And an integrated product tank in which the product gas stored in each product tank of the plurality of gas generating units is integrated. The control device has a function of supplying a valve driving signal for controlling opening and closing of the valves in the plurality of gas generation units to control operation, and switching the number of the gas generation units to be operated. At the same time, when operating a plurality of the gas generation units, the timing for switching the A step, the B step, and the pressure equalization step is controlled to be shifted at equal time intervals for each of the gas generation units.

  According to the pressure swing adsorption type gas generator having the above-described configuration, the number of gas generating units necessary for adapting to the set value of the operating condition is selectively operated, and the amount of product gas consumed is increased or decreased. Economic operation is possible. In addition, by switching a plurality of gas generating units at regular time intervals at a constant cycle switching timing, there is little pressure drop in the integrated product tank, and a product gas pressure close to the raw material air pressure can be stably obtained. Therefore, a large-capacity gas generation system can be configured in a compact manner, and expansion is easy.

  The pressure swing adsorption type gas generator of the present invention preferably includes a raw material air tank that stores and supplies the raw material air as the raw material air source.

  In addition, a master unit including one gas generation unit, the integrated product tank, and the control device is configured, and the other gas generation unit is configured as one slave unit with respect to the master unit or It is preferable that a plurality of units can be connected. In this case, it is preferable that the master unit includes a raw material air tank that stores and supplies the raw material air as the raw material air source.

  Also, a raw material air pressure detector for detecting the pressure in the raw material air tank, a product gas flow rate detector for detecting the flow rate of the product gas flowing out from the integrated product tank, and oxygen in the product gas flowing out from the integrated product tank The control device further comprises at least one detector selected from an oxygen concentration detector for detecting a concentration and an integrated product tank pressure detector for detecting a pressure in the integrated product tank, It is preferable to change the number of units according to the detection value of each detector.

  Alternatively, a raw material air pressure detector for detecting the pressure in the raw material air tank, a product gas flow rate detector for detecting the flow rate of the product gas flowing out from the integrated product tank, and oxygen in the product gas flowing out from the integrated product tank A contained oxygen concentration detector for detecting the concentration, at least one detector selected from the integrated product tank pressure detector for detecting the pressure in the integrated product tank, and a display for displaying a detection value of each detector; The number of the gas generating units operated by the control device can be manually operated.

  Moreover, it is preferable that an inverter type air compressor for compressing the raw material air is provided, and the control device controls the capacity of the inverter type air compressor in accordance with the number of operating gas generating units.

  Hereinafter, a pressure swing adsorption gas generator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. As an embodiment of the present invention, a nitrogen gas generator using the PSA method will be described. In the case of an oxygen gas generator using the PSA method, slight changes are necessary, such as different adsorbents filled in the adsorption tank and different usage of concentration detection values by the oxygen concentration detector. It can be configured similarly to the nitrogen gas generator.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a nitrogen gas generator according to an embodiment of the present invention. This apparatus includes a plurality (three in FIG. 1) of gas generating units 10 a, 10 b, and 10 c, a raw material air tank 11, an integrated product tank 12, and a control device 13.

  In the present embodiment, one gas generation unit 10 c is combined with the raw material air tank 11, the integrated product tank 12, and the control device 13 to constitute the parent device 14. The master unit 14 is provided with a raw material air inlet 4, a product gas outlet 15 for supplying product gas to the outside, a raw material air outlet 16, and a nitrogen gas inlet 17. The raw air introduced from the raw air inlet 4 and passing through the air filter 5 is stored in the raw air tank 11. The raw material air tank 11 is connected to the gas generation unit 10 c and the two raw material air outlets 16. The product gas outlet 15 is connected to the integrated product tank 12. The integrated product tank 12 is also connected to a gas generation unit 10 c and two nitrogen gas inlets 17.

  The other gas generation units 10 a and 10 b are configured as slave units and are detachable from the master unit 14. That is, the raw material air outlet 16 of the parent machine 14 is connected to the raw material air inlet 18 provided in each of the gas generation units 10a and 10b. In addition, nitrogen gas outlets 19 provided in the gas generation units 10 a and 10 b are connected to a nitrogen gas inlet 17 provided in the main unit 14. The raw material air is supplied from the raw material air tank 11 to the gas generating units 10a, 10b, and 10c. In the integrated product tank 12, product gases (nitrogen gas) from the gas generating units 10a, 10b, and 10c are accumulated and stored.

  By these connections, the gas generation units 10a and 10b which are slave units are coupled to the master unit 14 and can be operated as a unit. The control device 13 collectively controls operations of valves and the like provided in the gas generation units 10a, 10b, and 10c. With this configuration, a large-capacity gas generation system can be configured in a compact manner. Expansion is easy. The number of the gas generating units of the slave units connected to the master unit 14 can be arbitrarily set by the control device 13. In addition, the raw material air tank 11, the integrated product tank 12, and the control device 13 are not limited to a configuration in which a master unit is configured in combination with one gas generation unit, and a plurality of gas generation units are operated in a lump. As a common unit for this purpose, it may be configured separately from the gas generation unit.

  As shown in FIG. 2, each gas generation unit 10a, 10b, 10c includes a first adsorption tank 1 and a second adsorption tank 2 filled with an oxygen adsorbent, and a product tank 3 in which the produced nitrogen gas is stored. Prepare. Furthermore, the piping connecting these tanks includes a first adsorption valve (SV1), a second adsorption valve (SV2), a first exhaust valve (SV3), a second exhaust valve (SV4), two pressure equalizing valves ( SV5), a first outlet valve (SV6), a second outlet valve (SV7), and a flow rate adjusting valve 9 are provided.

  The raw air supplied from the raw air tank 11 is guided to the first adsorption valve (SV1) and the second adsorption valve (SV2) for each gas generation unit. The first adsorption valve (SV1) is connected to the first adsorption tank 1 by a pipe 6 and the second adsorption valve (SV2) is connected to the second adsorption tank 2 by a pipe 7. The flow paths indicated by the pipe 6 and the pipe 7 are connected to the exhaust port 8 via the first exhaust valve (SV3) and the second exhaust valve (SV4), respectively. The first adsorption tank 1 and the second adsorption tank 2 can communicate with each other via two pressure equalization valves (SV5) provided at the top and bottom.

  One of the three pipes led out from the first adsorption tank 1 is connected to the product tank 3 via a first outlet valve (SV6). One of the three pipes led out from the second adsorption tank 2 is connected to the product tank 3 via a second outlet valve (SV7). The first adsorption tank 1 and the second adsorption tank 2 are connected to each other via a flow rate control valve 9. The product tank 3 is connected to a nitrogen gas outlet 19, from which nitrogen gas is supplied to the integrated product tank 12 via the nitrogen gas inlet 17 of the parent machine 14.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the raw material air tank 11 is provided with a raw material air pressure detector P0 for detecting the pressure in the tank. The first adsorption tank 1 and the second adsorption tank 2 are provided with a first adsorption tank pressure detector P1 and a second adsorption tank pressure detector P2, respectively. The integrated product tank 12 is provided with an integrated product tank pressure detector P4 that detects the pressure in the tank. The flow path from the integrated product tank 12 to the product gas outlet 15 includes a nitrogen gas flow rate detector F for detecting the flow rate of the product gas flowing out from the integrated product tank 12, and an oxygen concentration in the flowing out product gas. An oxygen concentration detector OC is installed. In the following description, the raw material air pressure detector P0, the first adsorption tank pressure detector P1, the second adsorption tank pressure detector P2, the product tank pressure detector P3 (see FIG. 2), and the integrated product tank pressure detector. About the pressure value which P4 detects, it represents using the corresponding same code | symbol P0, P1, P2, P3, P4.

  The output of each detector is input to the control device 13. The opening / closing operation of each valve is controlled by a valve drive signal supplied from the control device 13. The control device 13 performs various setting values, valve drive control, operation control based on the output of each detector, and the like by normal operation of the CPU, but illustration of electrical wiring is omitted.

(Operation of gas generation unit alone)
Next, the operation of each of the gas generation units 10a, 10b, and 10c will be described with reference to FIGS. In the first adsorption tank 1 and the second adsorption tank 2, an adsorption operation in which compressed raw material air is supplied and adsorption is performed with an adsorbent under high pressure, and desorption in which the gas adsorbed on the adsorbent is desorbed by reducing the pressure. The operation can be performed alternately by switching each valve. In the following description, the process of performing the adsorption operation in the first adsorption tank 1 and performing the desorption operation in the second adsorption tank 2 is performed as the A process, the adsorption operation is performed in the second adsorption tank 2 and the desorption operation is performed in the first adsorption tank 1. The process is referred to as process B, and the process of opening the pressure equalization valve (SV5) to equalize the pressure in both adsorption tanks is referred to as process C (or pressure equalization process). The A process and the B process are alternately performed with the C process interposed between the two processes, and the operation of taking out nitrogen or oxygen gas is continuously performed.

  2 to 4 show operations in different steps for the gas generation unit. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the first adsorption tank 1 is in the adsorption process and the second adsorption tank 2 is in the desorption process, that is, the A process. FIG. 3 shows a pressure equalization process. FIG. 4 shows a state where the first adsorption tank 1 is in the desorption process and the second adsorption tank 2 is in the adsorption process, that is, the B process. A line connecting the tanks and the like is a pipe, and a state in which gas is flowing is indicated by a thick line. In each figure, the hatching applied to the valve indicates the open state, and the valve that is not hatched is in the closed state. Moreover, the hatching given to each adsorption tank 1 and 2 and the product tank 3 shows the state in which nitrogen gas exists.

  The operation of the nitrogen gas generator configured as described above will be described with reference to the pressure distribution and operation timing shown in FIG. 5 together with FIGS.

  The curve indicated by P01 in FIG. 5 indicates the raw material air pressure supplied to the first adsorption valve (SV1) and the second adsorption valve (SV2). P1 to P3 indicate pressure values obtained from the first adsorption tank pressure detector P1, the second adsorption tank pressure detector P2, and the product tank pressure detector P3, respectively. SV1, SV2, SV3, SV4, SV5, SV6, and SV7 respectively indicate valve drive signals for opening and closing the corresponding valves. In the hatched area, each valve is opened by the valve drive signal, and in the other area, each valve is closed. The horizontal axis of the chart indicates time, and the processes are repeated in the direction of the time axis, such as C process, A process, C process, B process, and C process. The time described in the upper part of the symbols A to C is the duration of each step.

  Process A in FIG. 5 is the process shown in FIG. 2, in which the adsorption process is performed in the first adsorption tank 1 and the desorption process is performed in the second adsorption tank 2.

  In this step A, the valve drive signals supplied to the first adsorption valve (SV1), the second exhaust valve (SV4), and the first outlet valve (SV6) are open signals, and the other valves are supplied with close signals. Is done. In the 1st adsorption tank 1, pressurized raw material air is introduced into the bottom part of the 1st adsorption tank 1, and an adsorption process is performed. As the raw material air pressure P01 increases, the first adsorption tank pressure P1 also increases. Along with this, oxygen is adsorbed from the raw material air by the oxygen adsorbent, and nitrogen gas flows out from the upper part of the tank and is introduced into the product tank 3 through the outlet valve (SV6). Along with this, the product tank pressure P3 increases.

  The second adsorption tank 2 is depressurized through the second exhaust valve (SV4), and the second adsorption tank pressure P2 rapidly decreases. At this time, circulating nitrogen taken out from the top of the first adsorption tank 1 is introduced into the top of the second adsorption tank 2 through the flow rate control valve 9. By these operations, oxygen is desorbed and exhausted from the oxygen adsorbent.

  Step C is a pressure equalization step shown in FIG. In this step, the pressure equalizing valve (SV5) is opened and the other valves are closed. Therefore, the raw material air pressure P01 rises to the pressure supplied from the raw material air inlet 4. The first adsorption tank pressure P1 decreases, the second adsorption tank pressure P2 increases, and the pressures in both adsorption tanks become equal. This pressure equalization process is performed in order to reduce energy loss caused by releasing the pressurized gas into the atmosphere when moving from the adsorption process to the desorption process. That is, the pressure of the tank that moves to the desorption process is supplied to the tank that moves to the adsorption process, and about half of the pressurized energy is recovered.

  Step B is a step shown in FIG. 4, in which the desorption process is performed in the first adsorption tank 1 and the adsorption process is performed in the second adsorption tank 2. The operation at this time is symmetrical to the operation in the process A, and the operations in the first adsorption tank 1 and the second adsorption tank 2 are opposite to those in the process A. That is, in the process B, an opening signal is supplied to the second adsorption valve (SV2), the first exhaust valve (SV3), and the second outlet valve (SV7), and a closing signal is supplied to the other valves. Since the same operation is performed, a specific description is omitted.

  As described above, the adsorption process and the desorption process are alternately performed in the first adsorption tank 1 and the second adsorption tank 2 with the pressure equalization process interposed therebetween, and nitrogen gas is continuously generated. If the adsorption process is continued, oxygen that is not adsorbed flows out from the top of the tank, resulting in a breakthrough state in which the concentration of nitrogen decreases. Therefore, the duration of the process A or the process B is set so that the adsorption tank is switched before this phenomenon appears.

(Simultaneous operation of gas generating units 10a, 10b, 10c)
Next, operations when the gas generating units 10a, 10b, and 10c shown in FIG. 1 are simultaneously operated will be described with reference to FIGS. In each figure, the gas generation units 10a, 10b, and 10c are described as a unit a, a unit b, and a unit c, respectively. 6 shows the operation timing of each valve of the units a to c, the product tank pressure P3 and the integrated product tank pressure of the units a to c in the operation when the plurality of units a to c of FIG. 1 are operated simultaneously. The change of P4 is shown. FIG. 7 shows the operation timing of each valve of the units a to c and the change in each second adsorption tank pressure P2. FIG. 8 shows the operation timing of each valve of the units a to c and the change of each first adsorption tank pressure P1. FIG. 9 shows changes in the raw air pressure P01 and the raw air tank pressure P0 supplied to the units a to c.

  The individual operation timings and pressure changes of the units a to c in each figure are as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the control by the control device 13 is such that the timing for switching the A process, the B process, and the C process in the units ac shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 is shifted at equal time intervals for each unit ac. Set to This is shown by the time intervals between the operation timings of the valves in each figure. Moreover, the deviation of the pressure change of the product tank 3 of the result, the 2nd adsorption tank 2, and the 1st adsorption tank is shown with the dashed-two dotted line (unit a) in each figure, the solid line (unit b), and the dashed-dotted line (unit c).

  In the example shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the operation time combining the A process or the B process and the C process in each unit ac is set to 60 seconds. Therefore, 20 seconds after the start of (C process + A process) of unit a indicated by the two-dot chain line, (C process + A process) of unit b indicated by the thin solid line is started, and further 20 seconds later, The (unit C + step A) of the unit c shown is started. After the next 20 seconds, (C process + B process) of unit a indicated by a two-dot chain line is started, and similarly, (c process + B process) of unit b, (C process + B process) of unit c, and so on. Repeated.

  The change in pressure in the integrated product tank 12 indicated by the thick solid line in FIG. 6 is a combination of the pressure changes in the three product tanks 3. As a result, it can be seen that the amplitude of the change is suppressed to be small. Moreover, the pressure change of the raw material air tank 11 shown with a thick continuous line in FIG. 9 becomes a thing which integrated the pressure change of the raw material air supplied to unit ac. As a result, it can be seen that the amplitude of the change is suppressed to be small.

  As described above, the following effects can be obtained by setting the process switching timings of the units a to c to be shifted at equal time intervals.

  In each unit, the product gas is produced intermittently, so that the product gas is stored in the product tank 3 for storing the product gas, and is supplied after being adjusted to a constant pressure. Therefore, only product gas having a pressure considerably lower than the supplied raw material air pressure can be obtained. In order to supply a high-pressure product gas to the pressure swing adsorption gas generator, a high-pressure raw material air source and a large-capacity product tank are required.

  On the other hand, as in this embodiment, by switching a plurality of gas generating units at regular time intervals at a constant cycle switching timing, the integrated product tank 12 can generate gas that is operated at regular time intervals. Since the product gas is supplied at divided time intervals divided by the number of units, as shown by the thick solid line in FIG. 6, there is little pressure drop in the integrated product tank 12, and a product gas pressure close to the raw material air pressure is obtained. be able to.

  In addition, in the conventional apparatus having a single gas generation unit, the amount of raw material air sucked in and the pressure greatly fluctuate, so that the burden on the air compressor is heavy, and the gas consumption is reduced to reduce power consumption, increase oil, and reduce the failure rate. A large capacity air tank is required between the generating unit and the air compressor.

  On the other hand, by providing the common raw material air tank 11 for the plurality of gas generating units 10a, 10b, and 10c, the time interval for supplying the raw material air to the gas generating units is shortened. As indicated by the solid line, there is little fluctuation in the amount of raw material air sucked and pressure, and a large capacity air tank is not required.

  The number of the gas generation units 10a, 10b, and 10c to be operated is detected by the raw material air pressure detector P0, the integrated product tank pressure detector P4, the nitrogen gas flow rate detector F, and the contained oxygen concentration detector OC. It can be determined according to the result of appropriately combining the values. In that case, it can be set as the structure which inputs the detection output of each detection apparatus to the control apparatus 13, determines the number of operation by the control apparatus 13, and controls the operation | movement of the determined number.

  Alternatively, a gas generation unit that is provided with a display that displays detection values of the raw material air pressure detector P0, the integrated product tank pressure detector P4, the nitrogen gas flow rate detector F, and the contained oxygen concentration detector OC, and is operated by the control device 13. It is also possible to use a configuration in which the number of units is manually operated.

  As a standard for determining the number of units, for example, when the raw material air pressure P0 is used as a reference, the number of operating units is increased as the pressure value is lower. When the integrated product tank pressure P4 is used as a reference, the lower the pressure value, the greater the number of operating units. When the nitrogen gas flow rate F is used as a reference, the number of operating units is increased as the flow rate is increased. When the oxygen concentration OC is used as a reference, the number of operating units is increased as the concentration is higher. When the outputs of a plurality of detectors are used in combination, the optimum setting varies depending on the actual operating environment, such as which detection value is prioritized, and therefore the setting is made based on the result of the test operation.

  As described above, according to the output value of each detector, even if the amount of product gas consumed is increased or decreased by operating the number of gas generating units necessary to obtain the set value of the operating conditions, it is easy Economic operation is possible.

  In addition, an inverter type air compressor for compressing raw material air is provided, and the control device 13 is configured to control the capacity of the inverter type air compressor according to the number of operating gas generating units 10a, 10b, and 10c. Is desirable. This avoids excessive compression of the raw material air with respect to the number of operating units, and is effective for economic operation.

  According to the pressure swing adsorption type gas generator of the present invention, a required number of gas generating units can be selectively operated to perform economical operation in accordance with increase or decrease in the amount of product gas consumed. Moreover, there is little pressure drop in the integrated product tank, a product gas pressure close to the raw material air pressure can be stably obtained, and it is useful as a system for supplying nitrogen gas or oxygen gas.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a nitrogen gas generator configured as a pressure swing adsorption gas generator according to an embodiment of the present invention. The schematic diagram which shows the state of 1 process in the independent operation | movement of the gas generation unit contained in the apparatus of FIG. Schematic diagram showing the state of other processes in the operation of the gas generation unit Schematic diagram showing the state of still another process in the operation of the gas generation unit The figure which shows the pressure change and the operation timing in the operation of the gas generating unit The figure which shows the pressure change and operation | movement timing of an integrated product tank in operation | movement when operating the several gas generation unit in the apparatus of FIG. 1 simultaneously. The figure which shows the pressure change and operation timing of the 2nd adsorption tank The figure which shows the pressure change and operation timing of the 1st adsorption tank The figure which shows the pressure change of the raw material air tank

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st adsorption tank 2 2nd adsorption tank 3 Product tank 4 Raw material air inlet 5 Air filter 6, 7 Piping 8 Exhaust port 9 Flow control valve 10a, 10b, 10c Gas generation unit 11 Raw material air tank 12 Integrated product tank 13 Controller 14 Parent machine 15 Product gas outlet 16 Raw material air outlet 17 Nitrogen gas inlet 18 Raw material air inlet 19 Nitrogen gas outlet P0 Raw material air pressure detector P1 First adsorption tank pressure detector P2 Second adsorption tank pressure detector P3 Product tank pressure detector P4 integrated product tank pressure detector F nitrogen gas flow detector OC oxygen concentration detector SV1 first adsorption valve SV2 second adsorption valve SV3 first exhaust valve SV4 second exhaust valve SV5 pressure equalization valve SV6 first outlet valve SV7 second Outlet valve

Claims (7)

A first adsorption tank and a second adsorption tank filled with an adsorbent;
First and second adsorption valves that respectively open and close flow paths for introducing raw air into the first adsorption tank and the second adsorption tank;
A product tank for storing the product gas separated from the raw material air in the first and second adsorption tanks;
First and second exhaust valves for opening and closing exhaust passages from the first and second adsorption tanks, respectively;
A pressure equalizing valve for opening and closing a pressure equalizing flow path for communicating between the first and second adsorption tanks;
A flow path for reflux in which the first and second adsorption tanks communicate with each other via a flow rate control valve;
First and second outlet valves that respectively open and close the flow paths between the first and second adsorption tanks and the product tank;
A control device for supplying a valve drive signal for controlling the opening and closing of each valve,
By switching each valve between an adsorption operation for supplying compressed raw material air and performing adsorption by the adsorbent under high pressure, and a desorption operation for desorbing the gas adsorbed to the adsorbent by reducing the pressure, Can be performed alternately in the first and second adsorption tanks;
The control device performs an adsorption operation in the first adsorption tank and performs a desorption operation in the second adsorption tank, and an A process in which the adsorption operation is performed in the second adsorption tank and a desorption operation is performed in the first adsorption tank. The step A and the step B are performed alternately with the pressure equalization step sandwiched between the steps, and the pressure equalization step of opening the pressure equalization valve to equalize the pressure in the adsorption tanks. In the pressure swing adsorption type gas generator that controls so that
The first adsorption tank and the second adsorption tank, the product tank, the first and second adsorption valves, the first and second exhaust valves, the pressure equalizing valve, the reflux channel, and the first and second A plurality of gas generating units including two outlet valves;
A source air source for supplying the source air to the plurality of gas generating units via the first and second adsorption valves;
An integrated product tank in which the product gas stored in each product tank of the plurality of gas generating units is integrated;
The control device has a function of supplying a valve driving signal for controlling opening and closing of the valves in the plurality of gas generation units to control operation, and switching the number of the gas generation units to be operated. With
When operating a plurality of the gas generation units, the timing for switching the A step, the B step, and the pressure equalization step is controlled to be shifted at equal time intervals for each of the gas generation units. Pressure swing adsorption type gas generator.   The pressure swing adsorption type gas generator according to claim 2, further comprising a raw air tank for storing and supplying the raw air as the raw air source. A master unit comprising one gas generation unit, the integrated product tank, and the control device is configured,
The pressure swing adsorption type gas generating device according to claim 1, wherein one or a plurality of other gas generating units can be connected to the parent device as a child device.   The pressure swing adsorption type gas generator according to claim 3, wherein the base unit includes a raw material air tank that stores and supplies the raw material air as the raw material air source. Raw material air pressure detector that detects the pressure in the raw material air tank,
A product gas flow detector for detecting the flow rate of the product gas flowing out of the integrated product tank;
A contained oxygen concentration detector for detecting an oxygen concentration in the product gas flowing out from the integrated product tank; and at least one detector selected from an integrated product tank pressure detector for detecting a pressure in the integrated product tank. In addition,
The pressure swing adsorption type gas generator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control device changes the number of the gas generating units to be operated according to a detection value of each detector. Raw material air pressure detector that detects the pressure in the raw material air tank,
A product gas flow detector for detecting the flow rate of the product gas flowing out of the integrated product tank;
A contained oxygen concentration detector for detecting an oxygen concentration in the product gas flowing out of the integrated product tank; and at least one detector selected from an integrated product tank pressure detector for detecting a pressure in the integrated product tank; ,
A display for displaying a detection value of each detector;
The pressure swing adsorption type gas generator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the number of the gas generating units operated by the control device can be manually operated. An inverter type air compressor for compressing the raw material air;
The pressure swing adsorption type gas generator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control device controls the capacity of the inverter type air compressor in accordance with the number of operating gas generating units.

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