JP2008212452A - Oxygen concentrator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an oxygen concentrator which not only releases heat generated by an air compressor efficiently but also achieves a reduction in the size and weight easily. <P>SOLUTION: The oxygen concentrator is configured by connecting a plurality of parts including a raw material air inlet 10, adsorption cylinders 20, the air compressor 30, a solenoid valve 40 for switching adsorption cylinders, an accumulating tank 50, an oxygen-concentrated gas outlet 60, and a nitrogen-enriched gas discharging port 70 by air pipes, and includes a heat radiator 80 formed of a heat transferring member having at least two air passages P<SB>1</SB>, P<SB>2</SB>. One end of the air passage P<SB>1</SB>is connected to a discharging end of the air compressor 30, and the other end is connected to a raw material air introducing end of the adsorption cylinder 20. One end of the air passage P<SB>2</SB>is connected to a nitrogen-enriched gas discharge end of the adsorption cylinder 20, and the other end is connected to the nitrogen-enriched gas discharging port. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an oxygen concentrator for generating an oxygen-enriched gas having an increased oxygen concentration.

  Oxygen concentrators that generate oxygen-enriched gas by adsorbing nitrogen contained in ambient air (raw air) are used in a wide range of fields including medical applications. In particular, in response to the fact that medical insurance has been applied to oxygen inhalation therapy at home since 1985, demand for oxygen concentrators for home medical use has been steadily increasing. In order to make oxygen concentrators more suitable for home medical care, manufacturers have made several improvements to reduce the size, weight, cost, and noise of the oxygen concentrators. .

  The oxygen concentration principle of the oxygen concentrator varies, but the pressure fluctuation adsorption type that generates oxygen concentrated gas by varying the internal pressure of the adsorption cylinder containing the adsorbent that selectively adsorbs nitrogen, and oxygen It is roughly classified into a separation membrane type that obtains oxygen-enriched gas using a permeable membrane. However, in recent years, a pressure fluctuation adsorption type medical oxygen concentrator has become mainstream because it is easy to obtain an oxygen-enriched gas having a high oxygen concentration.

  In a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator, it is common to pump raw material air to an adsorption cylinder using a reciprocating type air compressor that operates a piston, a diaphragm, etc. and repeats an intake process and a compression process. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  However, since the temperature of the raw material air compressed by the air compressor rises, there is a possibility that the oxygen concentration efficiency of the oxygen concentrator decreases when supplied to the adsorption cylinder as it is. This is because adsorbents generally used for adsorbing nitrogen, such as zeolite, often have a characteristic that the nitrogen adsorption ability decreases as the temperature increases. Moreover, if the raw material air remains at a high temperature, the adsorption cylinder switching solenoid valve (the solenoid valve for opening and closing the vent pipe connected to the adsorption cylinder) between the air compressor and the adsorption cylinder is likely to be consumed. As a result, the durability of the oxygen concentrator may be reduced. In order to improve the oxygen concentration efficiency and durability of the oxygen concentrator, it is important how to lower the temperature of the raw material air discharged from the air compressor.

  In view of such a situation, the vent pipe connected to the discharge end of the air compressor is formed of a metal having excellent thermal conductivity such as copper or aluminum, and the raw material air flowing through the vent pipe is exchanged with the outside air. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2). However, in order to perform this heat exchange more efficiently, if the ventilation pipe is secured long by, for example, spirally winding the ventilation pipe, it is difficult not only to reduce the size and weight of the oxygen concentrator, but also to install the ventilation pipe. There is also a risk that the flow resistance of the flowing raw material air increases, making it difficult to save energy in the oxygen concentrator.

  Furthermore, since a unique noise is generated from the reciprocating air compressor due to the pulsation of the raw material air, this oxygen concentrator can be suitably used for home medical care. How to reduce noise was also an important issue.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-058469 (Claims, FIG. 1) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-304863 ([0059])

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and efficiently releases the heat of the raw material air that has been pressurized by the air compressor and increased in temperature to the outside of the apparatus, and the reduction in oxygen concentration efficiency, The present invention provides an oxygen concentrating device that not only suppresses the consumption of the adsorption cylinder switching solenoid valve but also is easy to reduce in size and weight.

The above-mentioned problems are (a) a raw material air inlet for taking in raw air into the apparatus, (b) an adsorption cylinder containing an adsorbent for selectively adsorbing nitrogen contained in the raw material air, c) an air compressor for pumping the raw material air to the adsorption cylinder; and (d) an adsorption process for adsorbing nitrogen contained in the raw material air to the adsorbent by opening and closing a vent pipe connected to the adsorption cylinder. And an adsorption cylinder switching solenoid valve for switching between the regeneration process of desorbing nitrogen from the adsorbent and regenerating the adsorbent, and (e) temporarily storing the oxygen-enriched gas generated in the adsorption process And (f) an oxygen-enriched gas outlet for taking out the oxygen-enriched gas from the storage tank to the outside of the apparatus, and (g) exhausting nitrogen desorbed from the adsorbent in the regeneration step to the outside of the apparatus. A nitrogen-enriched gas outlet A plurality of components is an oxygen concentrator, which is connected with the vent pipe, (h) comprises at least two gas passages P _1, a radiator which is formed in the heat transfer member having a P _2, the vent channel P ₁ an upstream end connected to the downstream end connected to the discharge end of the air compressor to feed air introduction end of the adsorption cylinder, a downstream end connected to the upstream end of the vent channel P ₂ in nitrogen-enriched gas discharge end of the adsorption cylinder This is solved by providing an oxygen concentrator characterized in that is connected to a nitrogen-enriched gas outlet.

Here, “the upstream end of the ventilation path P ₁ is connected to the discharge end of the air compressor, the downstream end is connected to the raw material air introduction end of the adsorption cylinder, and the upstream end of the ventilation path P ₂ is enriched with nitrogen in the adsorption cylinder. The term “connection” in “connected to the gas discharge end and downstream end connected to the nitrogen-enriched gas discharge port” includes not only the case where the connection target is directly connected but also the case where it is indirectly connected. Suppose it is a concept. For example, even if there is adsorption column-switching electromagnetic valve between the downstream end of the air passage P ₁ and the feed air introduction end of the adsorption column, and intended to be within the technical scope of the present invention.

Thus, is possible to a gas flowing through the vent channel P ₁ gas flows (feed air discharged from the air compressor) a vent channel P ₂ (nitrogen-enriched gas discharged from the adsorption column) into thermal contact Since it becomes possible, it becomes possible to discharge | release the heat | fever of the raw material air discharged from the air compressor from a nitrogen rich gas discharge port, and it can prevent that an oxygen concentrator is heated too much. Moreover, since it is possible to radiate heat without particularly lengthening the vent pipe connected to the air compressor, it is easy to reduce the size and weight of the oxygen concentrator.

In the oxygen concentrator of the present invention, it is preferable to form irregularities on the inner wall and / or inner wall of the vent channel P ₂ of the vent path P _1. Thus, the inner wall and vent channel P _1, it is possible to increase the surface area of the inner wall of the vent channel P _2, further heat from the gas flowing through the vent channel P ₁ to the gas flowing through the vent channel P ₂ is easily transmitted It becomes possible to do. It is also preferable to form irregularities on the outer surface of the radiator. Thus, by easily released to the radiator of heat to the outside air, it is possible to lower the temperature of the feed air flowing through the vent channel P ₁ more quickly.

ただし、ｋは、円周率をπ、音の周波数をｆ、音速をｃとしたときに、２πｆ／ｃで表される変数である。これにより、空気圧縮機の吐出端から発せられる騒音を軽減することが可能になる。この構成は、通気路Ｐ_１だけでなく、通気路Ｐ_２や後述する通気路Ｐ_３についても採用することができる。 By the way, there are various sources of noise in the oxygen concentrator, but if an air compressor is used that employs a reciprocating type that repeats an intake process and a compression process by operating a piston, a diaphragm, etc. Noise due to pulsation of the raw material air compressed by the compressor is particularly problematic. In such a case, the length L ₁ and the cross-sectional area S _{1 of the} air passage P ₁ connected to the discharge end of the air compressor (the average cross-sectional area when the cross-sectional area varies depending on the location) and the air passage P ₁ connected to vent tube cross-sectional area s ₁ of _{(cross-sectional} area of the average in the case where the cross-sectional area varies depending on the location), preferably sound transmission loss TL is set in a range equal to or larger than 15dB, which is defined by the following formula 1 .

Here, k is a variable represented by 2πf / c, where π is the circumference ratio, f is the sound frequency, and c is the sound speed. Thereby, it becomes possible to reduce the noise emitted from the discharge end of the air compressor. This arrangement not only vent channel P _1, can also be employed for the air passage P ₃ to be described later and vent channel P _2.

The thickness T of the partition wall of the heat transfer member that separates the ventilation path P ₁ and the ventilation path P ₂ is not particularly limited. There is. For this reason, the thickness T is normally set to 0.5 mm or more. The thickness T is preferably 1 mm or more, and more preferably 1.5 mm or more. On the other hand, if too thick a partition wall of the heat transfer member that separates the vent channel P ₁ and vent channel P _2, not only becomes difficult heat is transferred to the gas flowing through the vent channel P ₂ from a gas flowing through the vent channel P _1, heat radiation This may increase the size and weight of the vessel, making it difficult to reduce the size and weight of the oxygen concentrator. For this reason, the thickness T is normally set to 5 mm or less. The thickness W is preferably 3 mm or less, and more preferably 2 mm or less.

The heat transfer member in the radiator is usually formed of a material having high thermal conductivity such as metal. In order to make the radiator excellent by a heat dissipation action, it is preferable that the heat transfer member in the radiator is formed of a metal having a thermal conductivity at 0 ° C. of 200 W · m ⁻¹ · K ⁻¹ or more. Thus, the heat transfer member as being more excellent in heat conductivity, it is possible to transfer quickly the heat from the gas flowing through the vent channel P ₁ to the gas flowing through the vent channel P _2. Examples of the metal having a thermal conductivity at 0 ° C. of 200 W · m ⁻¹ · K ⁻¹ or more include aluminum (236 W · m ⁻¹ · K ⁻¹ ) and copper (403 W · m ⁻¹ · K ⁻¹ ). Illustrated.

Also, not adjacent to the vent channel P ₁ in the heat transfer member of the radiator to form a vent path P ₃ of the three eyes to a position adjacent to the vent channel P _2, the ventilation path P ₃ a cross-sectional area of the air passage P ₃ the set wider than the cross-sectional area of the vent pipe to be connected to the upstream end, it is also preferable that the downstream end and the upstream end of the air passage P ₃ connected to the inlet feed air connected to the intake end of the air compressor. As a result, an expansion silencer for reducing noise emitted from the intake end of the air compressor to the outside of the apparatus through the raw material air inlet can be integrated with the radiator. Therefore, noise can be reduced without increasing the number of parts of the oxygen concentrator.

Meanwhile, when the feed air of increased pressurized air compressor temperature is cooled by the ventilation passage P _1, there is a possibility that the condensed water is accumulated feed air is condensed on the bottom of the vent channel P _1. When the condensed water is not properly drained from the vent channel P _1, the lowered nitrogen adsorption capacity of the adsorbent, or cause malfunction in the adsorption column switching solenoid valve located between the air compressor and the adsorption column There is a risk. Therefore, disposing the vent path P ₂ lower than the ventilation path P _1, the lower and vent channel P ₂ of the vent path P ₁ is connected with water conduit, electromagnetic drainage for intermittently opening and closing the conductor waterways It is also preferable to provide a valve. Thus, the condensed water collected in the vent channel P ₁ is vaporized by the transfer into the ventilation path P _2, it is possible to discharge from the nitrogen-enriched gas outlet. Since the nitrogen-enriched gas flowing through the vent channel P ₂ is the temperature rises by heat exchange with the feed air flowing through the vent channel P _1, condensed water is transferred to the vent channel P ₂ is easy to vaporize.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the heat of the raw material air that has been pressurized by the air compressor and whose temperature has risen is efficiently released to the outside of the apparatus, the oxygen concentration efficiency is reduced, and the adsorption cylinder switching electromagnetic valve is consumed. It is possible to provide an oxygen concentrator that can be easily reduced in size and weight.

  Subsequently, a preferred embodiment of the oxygen concentrator of the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system flow of the oxygen concentrator of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a radiator main body 81 in the oxygen concentrator of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the radiator 80 in the oxygen concentrator of the present invention is disassembled.

1. 1. Outline of Oxygen Concentrator As shown in FIG. 1, the oxygen concentrator of the present invention selectively selects nitrogen contained in source air and a source air intake 10 (filter) for taking source air into the apparatus. An adsorption cylinder 20 containing an adsorbent for adsorption, an air compressor 30 for pumping raw material air to the adsorption cylinder 20, and an adsorption cylinder switching electromagnetic valve 40 for switching between an adsorption process and a regeneration process, A storage tank 50 for temporarily storing the oxygen-enriched gas generated in the adsorption process, an oxygen-enriched gas outlet 60 for taking out the oxygen-enriched gas from the storage tank 50 to the outside of the apparatus, and the adsorbent in the regeneration process A nitrogen-enriched gas discharge port 70 (silencer) for discharging nitrogen desorbed from the outside of the apparatus, and a radiator 8 for lowering the temperature of the raw material air sent from the discharge end of the air compressor 30 A plurality of components including 0 are connected by a vent pipe.

  Various configurations other than those shown in FIG. 1 can be added to the oxygen concentrator of the present invention in accordance with the use and required performance. For example, the vent pipe connecting the adsorption cylinder 20 and the storage tank 50 can be provided with a check valve for allowing the oxygen-enriched gas stored in the storage tank 50 to flow back to the adsorption cylinder 20. It is also possible to connect the oxygen enriched gas outlet ends (upper ends) with a vent pipe (not shown) and arrange a so-called upper pressure equalizing solenoid valve or the like in the vent pipe. The vent pipe connecting the storage tank 50 and the oxygen-enriched gas outlet 60 has a flow rate control means for controlling the flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas and oxygen for detecting the oxygen concentration and flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas. Concentration detection means and flow rate detection means can also be provided.

2. Radiator The radiator 80 is not particularly limited as long as it is formed of a heat transfer member having at least two ventilation paths P ₁ and P ₂ (may have three or more ventilation paths). In the oxygen concentrator of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a radiator body 81 (heat transfer member) having _three ventilation paths P ₁ , P ₂ , and P ₃ and ventilation paths P ₁ , P _2. , P ₃ , and a gasket 83 for preventing raw material air and nitrogen-enriched gas flowing through the air passages P ₁ , P ₂ , P ₃ from leaking from the gap between the radiator body 81 and the lid 83. 82 constitutes a heat radiator 80. The gasket 82 and the lid 83 are fixed to the radiator main body 80 by bolts (not shown).

Of the ventilation paths P ₁ , P ₂ , and P ₃ of the radiator 80, the ventilation path P ₁ has its upstream end connected to the discharge end of the air compressor 30 and adsorbs its downstream end, as shown in FIG. It is connected to the raw material air introduction end of the adsorption cylinder 20 through a cylinder switching solenoid valve 40. The air passage P ₂ has an upstream end connected to the nitrogen-enriched gas discharge end of the adsorption cylinder 20 via the adsorption cylinder switching electromagnetic valve 40, and a downstream end connected to the nitrogen-enriched gas discharge port 70. ing. Furthermore, the upstream end of the air passage P ₃ is connected to the inlet 10 intake air feed, a downstream end of the air passage P ₃ is connected to the intake end of the air compressor 30.

Therefore, (the feed air flowing through the vent channel P ₁₎ the feed air discharged from the air compressor 30, nitrogen-enriched gas (nitrogen-rich flow through vent channel P ₂ discharged from the nitrogen-enriched gas outlet 70 The heat of the raw material air that has been pressurized by the air compressor 30 and increased in temperature is transferred from the nitrogen-enriched gas outlet 70 through the nitrogen-enriched gas. It can be discharged outside the device. Since the heat transferred from the raw air flowing through the air passage P ₁ to the radiator 80 can be released not only from the air passage P ₂ but also from the outer surface of the radiator 80, the outer surface of the radiator 80 is not shown. Air cooling by the cooling fan. In the oxygen concentrator of this embodiment, the outer surface of the radiator 80 is formed flat, but it is preferable to form irregularities on the outer surface of the radiator 80. Thereby, the surface area of the radiator 80 is increased, and the heat dissipation performance can be further improved.

Further, the vent channel P _{1, P} 2, the cross-sectional area of the _{P 3 S 1, S 2,} S 3 , respectively vent channel _{P 1,} P 2, the cross-sectional area _{s 1} of the connected vent pipe to the upstream end of the _{P 3} , S ₂ and s ₃ are set to be wider. For this reason, the ventilation paths P ₁ , P ₂ , and P ₃ not only exchange heat of the flowing gas, but also provide an expansion silencer (an expansion section having a large cross-sectional area is provided in the ventilation path so that the expansion section can mute the sound. The noise of the flowing gas can be reduced similarly to the expansion portion in the muffler to be performed (the heat radiator 80 also functions as a muffler). Therefore, the oxygen concentrator of this embodiment does not require a separate silencer, and is easy to reduce in size and weight and to reduce manufacturing costs.

Placement of the ventilation paths P ₁ and vent channel P ₂ in the radiator 80 is not particularly limited, vent channel P ₁ and the air passage P ₂ is preferable to distribution as close as possible. Thus, further to easily heat exchanger, it is possible to further enhance the heat dissipation effect of the radiator 80 with a nitrogen-enriched gas flowing in the feed air and the air passage P ₂ through the vent channel P _1. In the oxygen concentrator of the present embodiment, the thickness T of the partition wall of the heat transfer member that separates the vent channel P ₁ and vent channel P ₂ are such that a 2mm thinnest place.

On the other hand, air passage P _3, when distribution near the vent channel P _1, likely to be heat exchanged with the feed air flowing feed air and air passage P ₃ through the vent channel P _1, is discharged from the air compressor 30 Even if the raw material air is cooled by the ventilation path P ₁ , the heat taken at that time is transferred again to the raw material air sucked into the air compressor 30, so that the significance of providing the radiator 80 is significantly reduced. End up. Therefore, air passage P ₃ through which feed air is sucked into the air compressor 30 is provided at a position away from the vent channel P ₁ in the radiator body 81 (heat transfer member).

However, even if the ventilation path P ₃ is provided at a position away from the ventilation path P ₁ , the size of the radiator body 81 is limited, so the ventilation path P ₃ is not adjacent to the ventilation path P ₁ . to distribution at a position adjacent to the vent channel P _2. In the oxygen concentrator of this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the air passages P ₁ , P ₂ , and P ₃ are arranged in three upper and lower stages, and the air passage P ₁ arranged in the uppermost stage and and arranged vent channel P ₂ between the vent channel P ₃ which arranged at the bottom. Thus, it is possible to aggravate heat exchange between the feed air flowing feed air and air passage P ₃ through the vent channel P _1.

Specifically, how much to set the cross-sectional areas S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₃ and the cross-sectional areas s ₁ , s ₂ , s ₃ (average cross-sectional areas when the cross-sectional areas differ depending on the location) It depends on the application of the concentrator (the compression method of the air compressor, the sound quality coming out from the discharge end of the air compressor, or the frequency component of the sound to be silenced), and is not particularly limited. However, when the oxygen concentrator of the present invention is used for home medical care where the flow rate of the oxygen enriched gas is about 2 L / min, the cross-sectional areas S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₃ are usually 1000 to 3000 mm. ² and the cross-sectional areas s ₁ , s ₂ and s ₃ are usually set to 10 to 100 mm ² . In the oxygen concentrator of this embodiment, the cross-sectional areas S ₁ , S ₂ , and S ₃ are all about 2000 mm ² , and the cross-sectional areas s ₁ , s ₂ , and s ₃ are all about 30 mm ² .

On the other hand, the cross-sectional area of the vent pipe connected to the downstream ends of the vent paths P ₁ , P ₂ , P ₃ is not particularly limited. However, the vent tube connected to the downstream end of the vent channel _{P 1, P 2, P 3} , usually, used the same as the vent channel _{P 1,} P 2, which is connected to the upstream end of the _{P 3} vent tube There are many cases. In the oxygen concentrator of the present embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the vent pipe connected to the downstream end of the vent channel P _1, P _2, P ₃ is connected to the upstream end of the vent channel P _1, P _2, P ₃ The cross-sectional areas s ₁ , s ₂ and s _{3 of the} vent pipe are the same.

Further, the length L ₁ , L ₂ , L ₃ of the air passages P ₁ , P ₂ , P ₃ can be set according to the usage of the oxygen concentrator (the compression method of the air compressor or the discharge end of the air compressor). Depending on the quality of the sound coming out of the sound or the frequency component of the sound to be muted), and is not particularly limited. However, if the air passages P ₁ , P ₂ , and P ₃ are made too short, not only heat exchange between the raw material air flowing through the air passage P ₁ and the nitrogen-enriched gas flowing through the air passage P ₂ will be difficult, There is also a possibility that the silencing action on the paths P ₁ , P ₂ , P ₃ may not be sufficiently exhibited. Therefore, the length of the vent channel _{P 1, P 2, P 3} L 1, L 2, L 3 is usually set to at least 50 mm. The lengths L ₁ , L ₂ , and L ₃ are preferably 80 mm or more, and more preferably 100 mm or more.

On the other hand, if the ventilation paths P ₁ , P ₂ , and P ₃ are too long, the size and weight of the radiator 80 increase, which may make it difficult to reduce the size and weight of the oxygen concentrator. Therefore, the length of the vent channel _{P 1, P 2, P 3} L 1, L 2, L 3 is usually set below 200 mm. The lengths L ₁ , L ₂ , L ₃ of the air passages P ₁ , P ₂ , P ₃ are preferably 180 mm or less, and more preferably 150 mm or less. In the oxygen concentrator of the present embodiment, both the length of the vent channel _{P 1, P 2, P 3} L 1, L 2, L 3 is set to 110 mm.

  The material and molding method of the radiator main body 81 (heat transfer member) are not particularly limited, but the oxygen concentrator of this embodiment has excellent heat transfer properties and heat dissipation properties and is easy to process at low cost. An aluminum extrusion is used as the radiator main body 81.

3. By the way, in the oxygen concentrator of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the lower part of the air passage P ₁ and the air passage P ₂ are connected by a water conduit, and the drain electromagnetic valve is connected to the water conduit. 90 is provided. For this reason, when the electromagnetic valve 90 for drainage is opened, the dew condensation water accumulated in the lower part of the air passage P ₁ is transferred to the air passage P ₂ to be vaporized and discharged from the nitrogen-enriched gas discharge port 70. It can be done. When employing this configuration, as the condensed water collected in the vent channel P ₁ flows naturally into the vent channel P _2, the ventilation path P ₁ is kept placed above the vent channel P _2. Further, the oxygen concentrator of the present embodiment, is provided with the vent channel P ₁ horizontally, in the case of providing the drainage solenoid valve 90, as the condensed water is likely to gather, to incline the vent channel P ₁ It is also preferable.

As long as the electromagnetic valve 90 for drainage is intermittently opened and closed, the operation method is not particularly limited. For example, the electromagnetic valve 90 for drainage may be opened for a predetermined time when a certain time elapses regardless of the presence or absence of condensed water, or a condensed water sensor capable of detecting condensed water (a pair of sensors of this type includes While detects the presence of condensed water by the energization between the electrodes is generally not limited thereto.) is provided inside the ventilation path P _1, the waste water when said binding dew water sensor detects the condensed water The electromagnetic valve 90 may be opened for a predetermined time. The operation method to be selected is appropriately determined in consideration of performance and cost required for the oxygen concentrator. In consideration of cost performance, the oxygen concentrator of the present embodiment is configured such that the drainage electromagnetic valve 90 is forcibly opened for a predetermined time after a predetermined time has elapsed.

By the way, regardless of the operation method of the drain solenoid valve 90, if the drain solenoid valve 90 is opened for an excessively long time, it is discharged from the nitrogen-enriched gas discharge port 70 without being introduced into the adsorption cylinder 20. There is a possibility that the amount of raw material air increases and oxygen-enriched gas cannot be generated efficiently. Therefore, draining solenoid valve 90 is left as an almost closed, momentarily preferably kept to open only (short time can flow condensed water collected in the vent channel P _1). In the oxygen concentrator of this embodiment, the drain electromagnetic valve 90 is opened only for one second during one hour.

4). Other Embodiments FIG. 4 is a front view showing another embodiment of the radiator body 81 in the oxygen concentrator of the present invention. In the radiator 80 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cross-sectional shapes of the air passages P ₁ , P ₂ , and P ₃ are circular, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. It is preferable to form irregularities on the inner walls of P ₁ , P ₂ , P ₃ (particularly the air passages P ₁ , P ₂ ). This makes it possible to secure and contact area with the feed air flowing through the vent channel P ₁ and the radiator main body 81, the contact area between the nitrogen-enriched gas flowing through the vent channel P ₂ and the radiator body 81 widely , it is possible to more easily heat exchange with the nitrogen-enriched gas flowing in the feed air and the air passage P ₂ through the vent channel P _1. Irregularities of the inner wall of the vent channel _{P 1,} P 2, _{P 3} may be a one formed by a partition wall dividing the vent channel _{P 1,} P 2, _{P 3} is bent or curved, vent channel _P 1, It may be formed by providing heat radiation fins or the like on the inner walls of P ₂ and P ₃ .

5. Applications The oxygen concentrator of the present invention can be used for various applications that require oxygen-enriched gas. In particular, as a medical oxygen concentrator for performing oxygen inhalation therapy for patients suffering from respiratory diseases such as emphysema and bronchitis, and a health oxygen concentrator for performing oxygen supplementation and mood change after exercise It can be used suitably. Further, the oxygen concentrator of the present invention has a simple structure and can be easily miniaturized, and therefore can be suitably used as a home oxygen concentrator or a portable oxygen concentrator. Furthermore, the oxygen concentrator of the present invention can be used not only when supplying oxygen enriched gas to the human body but also when supplying oxygen enriched gas to animals.

It is the figure which showed the system flow of the oxygen concentration apparatus of this invention. It is the perspective view which showed the heat radiator main body in the oxygen concentration apparatus of this invention. It is sectional drawing which showed the state which decomposed | disassembled the heat radiator in the oxygen concentrator of this invention. It is the front view which showed the other embodiment of the heat radiator main body in the oxygen concentrator of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Filter (Raw material intake)
20 Adsorption cylinder 30 Air compressor 40 Adsorption cylinder switching solenoid valve 50 Storage tank 60 Oxygen-enriched gas outlet 70 Silencer (nitrogen-enriched gas outlet)
80 radiator 81 radiator body (heat transfer member)
82 Gasket 83 Lid 90 Solenoid valve for drainage

Claims (8)

(A) a raw material air inlet for taking the raw material air into the apparatus;
(B) an adsorption cylinder containing an adsorbent for selectively adsorbing nitrogen contained in the raw air;
(C) an air compressor for pumping raw material air to the adsorption cylinder;
(D) An adsorption step for adsorbing nitrogen contained in the raw material air to the adsorbent by opening and closing a vent pipe connected to the adsorption cylinder, and desorbing nitrogen from the adsorbent to regenerate the adsorbent An adsorption cylinder switching solenoid valve for switching between the regeneration process and
(E) a storage tank for temporarily storing the oxygen-enriched gas generated in the adsorption step;
(F) an oxygen-enriched gas outlet for taking out the oxygen-enriched gas from the storage tank to the outside of the device;
(G) a nitrogen-enriched gas discharge port for discharging nitrogen desorbed from the adsorbent in the regeneration step to the outside of the apparatus;
An oxygen concentrator in which a plurality of components including
(H) comprising a radiator formed of a heat transfer member having at least two air passages P ₁ and P ₂ ;
The upstream end of the vent channel P ₁ connects the downstream end connected to the discharge end of the air compressor to feed air introduction end of the adsorption cylinder,
Oxygen concentrator being characterized in that the downstream end connected to the upstream end of the vent channel P ₂ in nitrogen-enriched gas discharge end of the adsorption column connected to the nitrogen-enriched gas outlet. Vent channel P ₁ of the inner wall and / or oxygen concentrator according to claim 1, wherein irregularities are formed on the inner wall of the vent channel P _2.   The oxygen concentrator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein irregularities are formed on the outer surface of the radiator. Ventilation channel length L ₁ and the cross-sectional area S ₁ and cross-sectional area s ₁ of the vent passage vent pipe connected to the upstream end of the P ₁ of P ₁ is, sound transmission loss TL is 15dB or more defined by the following formula 1 and The oxygen concentrator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is set within a range.

Here, k is a variable represented by 2πf / c, where π is the circumference ratio, f is the sound frequency, and c is the sound speed. Vent channel _{P 1} and the air passage oxygen concentrator according to any one of claims 1 to 4 thickness T of the partition wall of the heat transfer member that separates the _{P 2} is 0.5 to 5 mm. The oxygen concentrator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the heat transfer member in the radiator is a metal having a thermal conductivity at 0 ° C of 200 W · m ^-1 · K ^-1 or more. It is not adjacent to the vent channel P ₁ in the heat transfer member of the radiator to form a three second air passage P ₃ at a position adjacent to the vent channel P _2, upstream of the air passage P ₃ a cross-sectional area of the air passage P ₃ set to be wider than the cross-sectional area of the vent pipe to be connected to the end, any one of claims 1 to 6, a downstream end and an upstream end of the air passage P ₃ connected to the inlet feed air was connected to the intake end of the air compressor The oxygen concentrator described. Arranged vent channel P ₂ lower than the ventilation path P _1, the lower and vent channel P ₂ of the vent path P ₁ is connected with water conduit is provided with water discharge electromagnetic valve for intermittently opening and closing the conductor waterways The oxygen concentrator according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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