JP2010051877A - Apparatus and method for manufacturing oxygen enriched air - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for manufacturing oxygen enriched air which can efficiently and stably manufacture oxygen enriched air for a long period of time without suffering from the effect of moisture in the air in manufacturing the oxygen enriched air from the air by using an adsorbent for adsorbing nitrogen such as zeolite. <P>SOLUTION: In the apparatus 1 for manufacturing the oxygen enriched air including adsorbing and dehumidifying devices 3, 4, 5 in which an adsorbent 38 for absorbing moisture is arranged and a rotary nitrogen adsorbing device 2 in which an adsorbent 37 for absorbing nitrogen is arranged, the air dehydrated in the adsorbing and dehumidifying devices is fed to the rotary nitrogen adsorbing device and is enriched in oxygen in the rotary nitrogen adsorbing device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an oxygen-enriched air production facility and an oxygen-enriched air production method for producing oxygen-enriched air from air by removing nitrogen components in the air.

  Air that is blown into a blast furnace for producing hot metal from iron ore, or air that is blown into a waste incinerator or melting furnace is blown with oxygen-enriched air with an increased oxygen concentration to increase combustion efficiency. It is often done. Conventional oxygen-enriched air production methods produce high-purity oxygen with a concentration close to 100% by volume using a cryogenic separation method, PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) method, etc., and mix this with air for dilution. Thus, oxygen-enriched air having a desired oxygen concentration is produced.

  On the other hand, the cylindrical container is filled with zeolite, which is an adsorbent for nitrogen absorption, and the nitrogen absorption capacity of the zeolite, which increases the amount of nitrogen adsorbed as the temperature decreases, is used to center the cylindrical container. Rotate as follows, independently supply two airs with different temperatures to the rotating cylindrical container, absorb nitrogen in the lower temperature air with zeolite, and release the absorbed nitrogen into the higher temperature air Patent Document 1 proposes a technique for performing oxygen enrichment of air on the lower temperature side by (desorption) and continuously performing this.

According to Patent Document 1, since nitrogen is not saturated in the zeolite by flowing high temperature air through the zeolite, it can be operated continuously over a long period of time, and in the production of oxygen-enriched air, the power is greatly reduced. It will be possible.
JP 2001-70736 A

  However, in the method of producing pure oxygen using the cryogenic separation method and the PSA method and diluting the pure oxygen with air to produce oxygen-enriched air, a large amount of power is required when producing high-purity oxygen. As a result, even though the oxygen concentration of the oxygen-enriched air used is low, a large amount of power is required as a result. In addition, the equipment is complicated and the equipment costs are high.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 1 does not describe what kind of oxygen-enriched air was obtained by performing oxygen enrichment and what the effect was. Furthermore, even if this is applied to the production of oxygen-enriched air, there are the following problems.

  That is, zeolite is an effective adsorbent for absorbing nitrogen, but is also an adsorbent for moisture. Therefore, when air is passed through a cylindrical container filled with zeolite, nitrogen is absorbed while absorbing moisture in the air. If this absorbed water is not efficiently released from the zeolite, the absorbed capacity of the zeolite decreases due to the absorbed water, and the zeolite functions not only as a moisture absorbing adsorbent but also as a nitrogen absorbing adsorbent. Annihilate.

  In Patent Document 1, two types of air having different temperatures are independently supplied to a cylindrical container filled with zeolite. However, these two types of air are not subjected to dehydration treatment, and the temperature is the same. Although it is different, the moisture concentration is basically the same, therefore, the action of removing moisture from the zeolite does not work, the zeolite continues to absorb moisture, and eventually stops functioning as a moisture absorbing adsorbent and a nitrogen absorbing adsorbent To do. That is, Patent Document 1 has a problem that oxygen-enriched air cannot be produced over a long period of time due to the fact that zeolite absorbs moisture.

  Further, if air having different temperatures is not separately supplied to the cylindrical container, the production efficiency of oxygen-enriched air is reduced. However, Patent Document 1 describes how to separate air having different temperatures into a cylinder. There is no description on whether to supply to the mold container, so it must be said that realization is difficult.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to influence the influence of moisture in the air when producing oxygen-enriched air from air using an adsorbent for nitrogen absorption such as zeolite. The object is to provide an oxygen-enriched air production facility and an oxygen-enriched air production method capable of producing oxygen-enriched air stably and efficiently over a long period of time.

  An apparatus for producing oxygen-enriched air according to the first invention for solving the above-mentioned problems includes an adsorption dehumidification device in which an adsorbent for moisture absorption is arranged, and a rotary nitrogen adsorption device in which an adsorbent for nitrogen absorption is arranged And the oxygen-enriched air production equipment comprising: the air dehydrated by the adsorption dehumidifier is supplied to the rotary nitrogen adsorber and oxygen enriched by the rotary nitrogen adsorber It is characterized by that.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facility for producing oxygen-enriched air according to the first aspect, wherein a part of the air dehydrated by the adsorption dehumidifier is obtained from the adsorbent for nitrogen absorption of the rotary nitrogen adsorber. The nitrogen release gas is supplied to the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the oxygen-enriched air production facility according to the second aspect, wherein the air used as the nitrogen releasing gas from the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent is further used for absorbing moisture in the adsorption dehumidifying device. A gas for releasing moisture from the adsorbent is supplied to the adsorption dehumidifier.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the oxygen-enriched air production facility according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, in order to prevent the wet atmosphere from flowing into the rotary nitrogen adsorption device. A part of the air dehydrated by the adsorption dehumidifying device is supplied as a purge gas between the rotating portion and the fixed portion of the nitrogen adsorption device.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the oxygen-enriched air production facility according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the rotary nitrogen adsorbing device rotates with its rotation axis as a vertical direction. It is.

  A method for producing oxygen-enriched air according to a sixth aspect of the present invention includes an adsorption / dehumidification device in which an adsorbent for moisture absorption is arranged, and a plurality of regions along the gas flow path direction. Using a rotary nitrogen adsorption device equipped with an adsorbent for nitrogen absorption that increases the amount of nitrogen adsorption as the pressure increases, and using a production facility for oxygen-enriched air, the dehydration treatment is performed in the adsorption dehumidification device. When rotating the two types of air, the pressure is relatively higher than the pressure of the air passing through the other flow path when the air is supplied to one flow path of the rotary nitrogen adsorption device. Separately supplied to a nitrogen adsorption device and brought into contact with an adsorbent for nitrogen absorption, denitrogenation is performed on air with a relatively high pressure, and nitrogen rich with respect to air with a relatively low pressure Oxygen enrichment of air with relatively high pressure And it is characterized in Ukoto.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for producing oxygen-enriched air, comprising: an adsorption dehumidifying device in which a moisture absorbing adsorbent is disposed; and a plurality of regions divided along a gas flow path direction. A rotary nitrogen adsorption device provided with a nitrogen absorption adsorbent that increases the amount of nitrogen adsorption with a decrease in temperature, and an oxygen-enriched air production facility equipped with a dehydration treatment by the adsorption dehumidification device. When the heated air is supplied to one flow path of the rotary nitrogen adsorption device, the temperature is relatively lower than the temperature of the air passing through the other flow path, and the two types of air are rotating. Separately supplied to a nitrogen adsorber, and brought into contact with an adsorbent for nitrogen absorption, subjected to denitrification treatment on air at a relatively low temperature, and rich in nitrogen relative to air at a relatively high temperature Oxygen enrichment of air with a relatively low temperature And it is characterized in Ukoto.

  A method for producing oxygen-enriched air according to an eighth invention is the method according to the sixth or seventh invention, wherein a part of the air dehydrated by the adsorption dehumidifier is used for nitrogen absorption by the rotary nitrogen adsorber. The gas is supplied to the rotary nitrogen adsorption device as a gas for releasing nitrogen from the adsorbent.

  A method for producing oxygen-enriched air according to a ninth invention is the method for producing oxygen enriched air according to any of the sixth to eighth inventions, wherein the air enriched with nitrogen is extracted from the adsorbent for moisture absorption of the adsorption dehumidifier. It is used as a moisture release gas.

  A method for producing oxygen-enriched air according to a tenth invention is the method according to the ninth invention, wherein two or more of the adsorption dehumidifying devices are arranged, and in each of the adsorption dehumidifying devices, a dehydration treatment of air with a moisture absorbing adsorbent. And moisture release from the moisture-absorbing adsorbent are alternately and repeatedly performed.

  In the method for producing oxygen-enriched air according to the eleventh aspect of the invention, in any of the sixth to tenth aspects, the dew point of the air subjected to the dehydration treatment by the adsorption dehumidifier is -40 ° C or lower. It is characterized by this.

  According to the present invention, oxygen is enriched with less power than conventional methods in which pure oxygen is produced using a cryogenic separation method or a PSA method, and this pure oxygen is diluted with air to produce oxygen-enriched air. Air can be obtained, and the equipment configuration is relatively simple, so that the equipment cost can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present invention, using an oxygen-enriched air production facility equipped with an adsorption dehumidification device and a rotary nitrogen adsorption device, first, a dehydration treatment is performed on the air with the adsorption dehumidification device, and then Since dry air that has been subjected to dehydration treatment is introduced into the rotary nitrogen adsorption device, the nitrogen absorption adsorbent of the rotary nitrogen adsorption device absorbs nitrogen from the supplied air without being affected by moisture. Thus, it is possible to stably produce oxygen-enriched air. When a part of the air dehydrated by the adsorption dehumidifier is used as a nitrogen release gas from the nitrogen absorbent adsorbent of the rotary nitrogen adsorber, the nitrogen adsorbed on the nitrogen absorbent adsorbent is used. Is released into the nitrogen-releasing gas, and the amount of nitrogen adsorbed by the nitrogen-absorbing adsorbent is not saturated, and oxygen-enriched air can be continuously produced over a long period of time.

In other words, according to the present invention, oxygen-enriched air can be produced stably over a long period of time without requiring a large amount of power and without being affected by moisture in the air. In addition to being brought about, the amount of CO ₂ generated is also reduced, and a beneficial effect is brought about in the natural environment.

  The present invention will be specifically described below.

  The oxygen-enriched air production facility according to the present invention brings air into contact with a nitrogen absorbing adsorbent, adsorbs nitrogen in the air to the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent, and reduces the nitrogen concentration in the air (“denitrification”). Process)) to produce oxygen-enriched air. Here, oxygen enrichment refers to making the oxygen concentration in the gas higher than the oxygen concentration in the air.

  In the following description, an example in which a zeolite having a high nitrogen adsorption capacity is used as the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent will be described. However, the present invention can be applied to a nitrogen absorbing adsorbent other than zeolite. Zeolite is a crystalline microporous material and is crystalline aluminosilicate. Specific examples of highly effective nitrogen adsorption include A, X, and Y type zeolites that have been ion exchanged with calcium, lithium, and the like.

  First, the nitrogen adsorption ability of zeolite will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram qualitatively showing the relationship between the nitrogen adsorption amount of zeolite and pressure, and FIG. 2 is a diagram qualitatively showing the relationship between the nitrogen adsorption amount of zeolite and pressure and temperature.

As shown in FIG. 1, zeolite has the property that the amount of nitrogen adsorption increases as the pressure increases. When air is brought into contact with zeolite under an atmosphere of pressure P ₁ , the zeolite is in nitrogen until the amount of adsorption reaches the C ₁ value. To adsorb. As a result, nitrogen in the air is reduced, and oxygen enrichment is performed corresponding to the reduced amount of nitrogen. This is called “denitrification treatment”. On the other hand, at the pressure P ₂ (P ₂ <P ₁ ), the nitrogen adsorption amount of the zeolite decreases to the C ₂ value, so that the zeolite that has adsorbed the nitrogen to the C ₁ value is adsorbed when it comes into contact with the air at the pressure P _2. The released nitrogen is released, and the amount of zeolite adsorbed decreases from the C ₁ value to the C ₂ value. The nitrogen content of the air from which the nitrogen has been released increases and nitrogen enrichment takes place. This is called “nitrogen enrichment treatment”.

  In other words, by contacting the air with different pressures to the zeolite, oxygen enrichment of air having a relatively high pressure is performed according to the difference in the amount of nitrogen adsorption determined by the pressure difference, while the pressure is relatively low. Nitrogen enrichment of air is performed. By alternately contacting air of different pressure with the zeolite, the zeolite repeatedly adsorbs and releases nitrogen, and the amount of nitrogen adsorption does not remain saturated. A semi-permanent oxygen enrichment takes place.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, zeolite has a different amount of nitrogen adsorption depending on the temperature. Even if the pressure is constant, the amount of nitrogen adsorption increases as the temperature decreases. That is, when the pressure is set to a constant value of P ₃ and air having a temperature T ₁ lower than the temperature T ₂ is brought into contact with the zeolite, the zeolite absorbs nitrogen until the adsorption amount reaches the C ₃ value. As a result, nitrogen in the air is reduced, and oxygen enrichment is performed corresponding to the reduced amount of nitrogen. Meanwhile, since the nitrogen adsorption amount of the temperature T ₂ zeolite is reduced to C ₄ value, zeolite releases nitrogen adsorbed Touching the temperature T ₂ air, the amount of adsorption of zeolite C from C ₃ value Decreases to ₄ values. The nitrogen content of the air from which the nitrogen has been released increases and nitrogen enrichment takes place.

  In other words, by contacting the air with different temperatures to the zeolite, oxygen enrichment of air having a relatively low temperature is performed according to the difference in the amount of nitrogen adsorption determined by the temperature difference, while the temperature is relatively high. Nitrogen enrichment of air is performed. By alternately contacting air at different temperatures with the zeolite, the zeolite repeatedly adsorbs and releases nitrogen, and the nitrogen adsorption amount does not remain saturated. A semi-permanent oxygen enrichment takes place.

  In this case, by increasing the pressure of the air on the oxygen-enriched side and lowering the temperature, as can be seen from FIG. 2, the difference in the amount of nitrogen adsorbed by the zeolite becomes larger, and the oxygen enrichment is efficiently performed. Can be done. In the present invention, air for releasing nitrogen adsorbed on the adsorbent is referred to as “nitrogen releasing gas”, and similarly, air for releasing water adsorbed on the adsorbent is referred to as “moisture releasing gas”. .

  However, as described above, zeolite is a powerful adsorbent for absorbing nitrogen, but also adsorbs moisture contained in the air. Therefore, the effect of moisture in the air on the nitrogen adsorption of zeolite was investigated. In addition, as described above, here, an example is described in which a zeolite having a high nitrogen adsorbing ability is used as the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent. Similar problems arise with respect to moisture in the air.

  Figure 3 shows the change in the dew point of air (the temperature of the object surface when the surface of the object to be cooled in the air begins to dew), the air with the changed dew point is brought into contact with the zeolite, and the amount of moisture and nitrogen adsorbed It is the result of the comparative investigation. Here, the adsorption amount (kg / kg) indicates the adsorption amount (kg) of nitrogen and moisture per 1 kg of the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent. As is clear from FIG. 3, when air having a high dew point is brought into contact with the zeolite, the adsorption of moisture mainly decreases, and when the dew point is 0 ° C. or higher, the nitrogen is hardly adsorbed. On the contrary, when the dew point is about −55 ° C. or lower, adsorption of nitrogen mainly takes place. Therefore, it is understood that lowering the dew point of air is more desirable when adsorbing nitrogen in air with zeolite.

  FIG. 4 shows the result of calculating the oxygen concentration of air at the outlet of the zeolite packed bed by changing the dew point of the air to pass through the packed bed of zeolite. As shown in FIG. 4, it can be seen that in air with a dew point exceeding −40 ° C., the adsorption performance is greatly reduced by moisture, and the nitrogen adsorption ability is not maintained.

  From the above results, it is necessary to perform dehydration treatment on air before performing denitrification treatment on zeolite in order to perform stable denitrification treatment on air for a long period of time. I understood. In this case, it was also confirmed that it was preferable to subject the air to a dehydration treatment so that the dew point was −40 ° C. or lower. Here, the “dehydration treatment” is a treatment for removing moisture in the air by bringing the air into contact with the moisture absorbing adsorbent.

  The present invention has been made on the basis of these findings, and the oxygen-enriched air production facility according to the present invention includes an adsorption dehumidifying device in which a moisture absorbing adsorbent is arranged and a nitrogen absorbing adsorbent. A rotary nitrogen adsorption device, wherein the air dehydrated by the adsorption dehumidification device is supplied to the rotary nitrogen adsorption device and enriched with oxygen by the rotary nitrogen adsorption device. . The reason why the rotary nitrogen adsorption device is used as the nitrogen adsorption device in the present invention is that the nitrogen absorption adsorbent is alternately brought into contact with two kinds of air having different pressures or temperatures by rotating the nitrogen absorption adsorbent. Therefore, it is possible to adsorb nitrogen by the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent and to release nitrogen from the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent with one nitrogen adsorbing device, thereby reducing the equipment cost and the operating cost. Because.

  Hereinafter, an example of an oxygen-enriched air production facility suitable for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the oxygen-enriched air production facility according to the first embodiment in which the adsorption dehumidifier for performing dehydration treatment is fixed will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the first embodiment of the oxygen-enriched air production facility according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the oxygen-enriched air production facility 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention removes nitrogen in the air in which an adsorbent 37 for nitrogen absorption made of zeolite or the like is disposed, and oxygen A plurality of stationary nitrogen adsorption devices 2 for producing enriched air and a plurality of fixed types for removing moisture in the air prior to removing nitrogen, wherein a moisture absorbing adsorbent 38 is disposed. The adsorption dehumidifier 3, the adsorption dehumidifier 4, and the adsorption dehumidifier 5 are provided. Further, various pipes for connecting these adsorption dehumidifying devices 3, 4, 5 and the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 are arranged, and further, a blower 6 for supplying air to the adsorption dehumidifying devices 3, 4, 5 And the air blower 7 for attracting | sucking the exhaust air from adsorption | suction dehumidification apparatus 3,4,5 is arrange | positioned. In FIG. 5, in order to produce oxygen-enriched air stably and continuously, three adsorption dehumidifiers 3, 4, and 5 are arranged for one rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2. However, if there are two or more adsorptive dehumidifiers, continuous operation of the rotary nitrogen adsorber 2 is possible. Therefore, although there may be two adsorptive dehumidifiers, it is possible to stably operate continuously. It is preferable to arrange three or more adsorption dehumidifiers.

  The blower 6 for sending air is connected to the first air supply main pipe 8, and the air supplied by the blower 6 is introduced into the first air supply main pipe 8. The first air supply main pipe 8 is branched into three of an air supply branch pipe 8a, an air supply branch pipe 8b, and an air supply branch pipe 8c on the downstream side in the flow path direction, and the air supply branch pipe 8a is adsorbed and dehumidified. The air supply branch pipe 8 b is connected to the adsorption dehumidifier 4, and the air supply branch pipe 8 c is connected to the adsorption dehumidifier 5. A shutoff valve 16 is installed in the air supply branch pipe 8a, a shutoff valve 21 is installed in the air supply branch pipe 8b, and a shutoff valve 26 is installed in the air supply branch pipe 8c.

  Inside the adsorption dehumidifiers 3, 4 and 5, a water absorption adsorbent 38 such as activated alumina and molecular sieve is arranged, and the air supplied to the adsorption dehumidifiers 3, 4 and 5 absorbs moisture. The dehydrated component is processed in contact with the agent 38.

  An air supply branch 9a is arranged on the side opposite to the side connected to the air supply branch 8a of the adsorption dehumidifier 3, and the air dehydrated by the adsorption dehumidifier 3 is introduced into the air supply branch 9a. The Similarly, an air supply branch pipe 9b is disposed on the side opposite to the side connected to the air supply branch pipe 8b of the adsorption / dehumidification device 4, and the air dehydrated by the adsorption dehumidification apparatus 4 is supplied to the air supply branch pipe 9b. The air supply branch pipe 9c is disposed on the side opposite to the side connected to the air supply branch pipe 8c of the adsorption dehumidifying device 5, and the air dehydrated by the adsorption dehumidifying device 5 is supplied with air It is introduced into the branch pipe 9c. The air supply branch pipe 9a, the air supply branch pipe 9b, and the air supply branch pipe 9c are combined into a second air supply main pipe 9 on the downstream side in the flow path direction. The air supply branch pipe 9a is provided with a diffusion valve 20 and a shutoff valve 17, and the radiation valve 20 is installed between the adsorption dehumidifier 3 and the shutoff valve 17. The air supply branch pipe 9b is provided with a diffusion valve 25 and a shutoff valve. 22 is installed between the adsorption dehumidifying device 4 and the shut-off valve 22 as a diffusion valve 25, and the air supply branch pipe 9c is provided with a diffusion valve 30 and a shut-off valve 27. 27 and between. The diffusion valves 20, 25, 30 were discharged from the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 when switching the adsorption dehumidification devices 3, 4, 5 to be used, and were used for regeneration of the adsorption dehumidification devices 3, 4, 5. It is used when releasing low oxygen air to the atmosphere.

  The second air supply main pipe 9 branches into three parts of an oxygen enrichment air supply pipe 10, a nitrogen release air supply pipe 11 and a purge air supply pipe 12 on the downstream side in the flow path direction. The enrichment air supply pipe 10, the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11, and the purge air supply pipe 12 are each connected to a rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 in which a nitrogen absorption adsorbent 37 is disposed. The oxygen-enriched air supply pipe 10 is a supply pipe for sending air that has been subjected to removal of nitrogen by the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 to become oxygen-enriched air, and the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11 is a rotary nitrogen. It is a supply pipe for supplying air as a nitrogen releasing gas for regenerating the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37 of the adsorption device 2. Further, the purge air supply pipe 12 is provided with a dewatering portion between the rotating part and the fixed part of the rotary nitrogen adsorbing device 2 in order to prevent wet air from flowing into the rotary nitrogen adsorbing device 2. It is a supply pipe for supplying the processed air as a purge gas. The nitrogen release air supply pipe 11 is provided with a flow rate adjusting valve 31 for adjusting the flow rate of air passing through the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11, and the purge air supply pipe 12 has a purge air supply pipe 12. A flow rate adjustment valve 32 for adjusting the flow rate of the air passing through 12 is installed.

  An oxygen-enriched air discharge pipe 13 is disposed on the opposite side of the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 to the side connected to the oxygen-enriched air supply pipe 10 and is supplied from the oxygen-enriched air supply pipe 10. The oxygen-enriched air is discharged to a storage container (not shown) such as a gas tank or a gas holder through the oxygen-enriched air discharge pipe 13. A first air discharge main pipe 14 is arranged on the opposite side of the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 to the side connected to the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11 and is supplied from the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11. The air regenerated from the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37 is discharged through the first air discharge main pipe 14.

  In FIG. 5, the oxygen-enriched air supply pipe 10 and the nitrogen-releasing air supply pipe 11 are connected in the direction opposite to the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 in the flow path direction. There is no need for the reverse direction, and the same direction may be used. In the present embodiment, the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11 is branched from the second air supply main pipe 9, but the nitrogen release gas is not limited to this. However, it is preferable that the dew point is a gas that is about the same as or lower than the air after the dehydration treatment by the adsorption dehumidifiers 3, 4, and 5, and the nitrogen concentration is less than or equal to the nitrogen concentration in the air.

  Here, details of the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus 2 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of a rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus constituting a part of the oxygen-enriched air production facility according to the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a partial cross section of the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of the rotary nitrogen adsorption device constituting a part of the oxygen-enriched air production facility according to the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a diagram of the rotary nitrogen adsorption device shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the end of the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 8, and 9, (A) is a schematic perspective view, and (B) is a shaft of the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus. It is the schematic seen from the heart direction.

  First, the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 10 will be described. As shown in these drawings, the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus 2 includes an electric motor having a shaft 35 as a rotation shaft, the interior of which is partitioned into a plurality by a partition plate 36 extending radially from the shaft 35 in the radial direction. (Not shown), a rotatable cylindrical container 34 is arranged, and the cylindrical container 34 is sandwiched between both end faces (openings) of the cylindrical container 34 and is opposed to the axis 35. The first connecting tube 39 having a flange portion 39a that is in close contact with the entire circumference of one end of the cylindrical container 34 and the flange portion 40a that is in close contact with the entire periphery of the other end of the cylindrical container 34 are provided. Two connecting pipe bodies 40 are arranged. The first connecting tube 39 and the second connecting tube 40 are fixed without rotating. A nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37 is arranged in each region partitioned by the partition plate 36. The oxygen connection air supply pipe 10 and the first air exhaust main pipe 14 described above are connected to the first connection pipe body 39, while the second connection pipe body 40 is connected to the oxygen enrichment air supply pipe 10. The chemical air discharge pipe 13 and the nitrogen supply air supply pipe 11 are connected. In this case, the oxygen-enriched air discharge pipe 13 is disposed at the same position in the axial extension direction of the oxygen-enriched air supply pipe 10, and at the same position in the axial extension direction of the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11, A first air exhaust main pipe 14 is arranged.

  A separation plate 41 is installed in each of the first connection tube body 39 and the second connection tube body 40 at a position substantially passing through the center line of each connection tube body. The inside of one connection tube body 39 and the second connection tube body 40 is divided into two regions. In the first connecting pipe 39, the oxygen-enriched air supply pipe 10 communicates with one region divided by the separation plate 41, and the first air exhaust main pipe communicates with the other region divided by the separation plate 41. 14 communicates. Similarly, in the second connection pipe body 40, the oxygen-enriched air discharge pipe 13 communicates with one region divided by the separation plate 41, and the nitrogen release air supply is supplied to the other region divided by the separation plate 41. The tube 11 is in communication. That is, in FIGS. 6 and 7, the air supplied to the oxygen-enriched air supply pipe 10 passes through the first connecting pipe body 39, the cylindrical container 34, and the second connecting pipe body 40 in this order. The air is exhausted to the enriched air exhaust pipe 13. On the other hand, the air supplied to the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11 passes through the second connecting pipe body 40, the cylindrical container 34, and the first connecting pipe body 39 in this order, and enters the first air discharge main pipe 14. It comes to discharge.

  Further, the leading end of the separation plate 41 installed on the first connection tube 39 and the second connection tube 40 on the cylindrical container side is in close contact with the partition plate 36 provided on the cylindrical container 34. Thus, a seal plate 42 having a cross-sectional area larger than at least the separation plate 41 is disposed. That is, the opposing partition plate 36 and the seal plate 42 have a sealing effect for suppressing mixing of the atmosphere separated by the separation plate 41 while maintaining a gap for allowing rotation between them. Yes. In this case, the size of the seal plate 42 need not be specified, but the cylindrical container 34 is rotating, and the seal plate 42 is centered on the shaft center 35 in order to further suppress the mixing of the atmosphere. It is preferable that one side of the sealing plate 42 has a size that can always shield two or more regions partitioned by the partition plate 36.

  Next, the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 will be described. In the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 shown in these drawings, the separation plate 41 is removed from the rotary nitrogen adsorption device shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and the first is connected to each end of the cylindrical container 34. Instead of the connection tube body 39, a first connection tube portion 45 and a second connection tube portion 46 are arranged, and instead of the second connection tube body 40, a third connection tube portion 47 and a fourth connection tube portion are arranged. The connecting pipe portion 48 is arranged, and a sealing fixing plate 42A is arranged in place of the sealing plate 42. The rest is the same as that of the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus shown in FIGS. Therefore, there will be some overlap, which will be described below.

  As shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 is provided with a cylindrical container 34 that can be rotated by an electric motor (not shown) around an axis 35. The cylindrical container 34 is sandwiched between both end faces (openings) of the container 34, is in close contact with the end of the cylindrical container 34, and its length is equal to or larger than the diameter of the cylindrical container 34. A large pair of sealing fixing plates 42 </ b> A is arranged at a position overlapping the diametrical center line of the cylindrical container 34. The sealing solid plate 42A is fixed without rotating.

  On one end surface side of the cylindrical container 34, a first connecting pipe portion 45 having a flange 45a in close contact with one end portion of the end surface divided into two by the sealing plate 42A for sealing is disposed. A second connection pipe portion 46 having a flange 46a in close contact with the end portion on the other side of the end surface divided into two is disposed. Similarly, on the other end surface side of the cylindrical container 34, a third connecting pipe portion 47 having a flange 47a in close contact with one end portion of the end surface divided into two by the sealing plate 42A for sealing is disposed. Further, a fourth connecting pipe portion 48 having a flange 48a in close contact with the other end portion of the end surface divided into two is disposed. The first connection pipe part 45, the second connection pipe part 46, the third connection pipe part 47, and the fourth connection pipe part 48 are fixed without rotating. The sealing fixing plate 42 </ b> A has a sealing effect that suppresses intrusion and outflow to the atmosphere while maintaining a gap for allowing rotation with the partition plate 36. The size in the width direction of the sealing plate 42A for sealing need not be specified in particular, but it is not necessary to make it too large, and it may be the same as that for the sealing plate 42.

  The oxygen connection air supply pipe 10 is connected to the first connection pipe part 45, the first air exhaust main pipe 14 is connected to the second connection pipe part 46, and the third connection pipe part 47 is connected to the third connection pipe part 47. The oxygen-enriched air discharge pipe 13 is connected to the fourth connection pipe portion 48, and the nitrogen supply air supply pipe 11 is connected to the fourth connection pipe portion 48. In this case, the oxygen-enriched air discharge pipe 13 is disposed at the same location in the axial extension direction of the oxygen-enriched air supply pipe 10, and the second location at the same location in the axial extension direction of the nitrogen release air supply tube 11. 1 air discharge main pipe 14 is arranged. That is, in FIGS. 8 and 9, the air supplied to the oxygen-enriched air supply pipe 10 passes through the first connecting pipe portion 45, the cylindrical container 34, and the third connecting pipe portion 47 in this order, and oxygen The air is exhausted to the enriched air exhaust pipe 13. On the other hand, the air supplied to the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11 passes through the fourth connecting pipe portion 48, the cylindrical container 34, and the second connecting pipe portion 46 in this order, and enters the first air discharge main pipe 14. It comes to discharge.

  Thus, even if it is a rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus shown in FIG.6 and FIG.7, and it is a rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus shown in FIG.8 and FIG.9, the oxygen-enriched air production equipment which concerns on this invention In the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus 2 used in No. 1, it is an essential condition that air is separately flowed to the cylindrical container 34 in which the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37 is arranged. However, the cylindrical container 34 rotates continuously or intermittently about the axis 35, and between the end of the cylindrical container 34 and the connecting pipe bodies 39, 40 and the seal plate 42, Alternatively, it is necessary to secure a gap for allowing rotation between the end of the cylindrical container 34 and the connecting pipe portions 45, 46, 47, 48 and the sealing fixing plate 42A. Not all of the air supplied from the air supply pipe 10 is discharged from the oxygen-enriched air discharge pipe 13, and similarly, all of the air supplied from the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11 is discharged from the first air. Instead of exhausting from the main pipe 14, some of the air mixes with each other. In the present invention, mixing of a part of the air is not a problem, but in order to efficiently produce oxygen-enriched air, the smaller the mixing, the better. It is important to reduce the mixing of both as much as possible.

  Therefore, in the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus 2 used in the oxygen-enriched air production facility 1 according to the present invention, the inside of the cylindrical container 34 extends radially from the axis 35 as shown in FIG. The partition plate 36 divides it into a plurality. In the present invention, each region partitioned by the partition plate 36 is referred to as a “unit”, and the partition plate 36 is disposed over the entire length of the cylindrical container 34. That is, the units communicate with each other from one end portion of the cylindrical container 34 to the other end portion along the gas flow path direction without going back and forth, thereby preventing the atmosphere from being mixed.

  And this partition plate 36 suppresses mixing of atmosphere, ensuring the space | gap for allowing rotation between the sealing plate 42, the fixing plate 42A for sealing, and the connection pipe parts 45, 46, 47, 48. It is responsible for the sealing effect. For this purpose, it is preferable to narrow the gap between the tip of the partition plate 36, the seal plate 42, the sealing plate 42A for sealing, and the connecting pipe portions 45, 46, 47, and 48. It is necessary to adjust the tip position of the plate 36 with high accuracy, and therefore the partition plate 36 is preferably made of metal because of high processing accuracy. Similarly, the sealing plate 42 and the sealing fixing plate 42A are preferably made of metal. Similarly, the connecting pipe bodies 39 and 40 and the connecting pipe portions 45, 46, 47 and 48 are preferably made of metal. However, these may be made of ceramic or synthetic resin. Here, the partition plate 36 also functions as a reinforcing material for securing the rigidity of the cylindrical container 34.

  Specifically, the pressure difference between the air supplied from the oxygen enrichment air supply pipe 10 and the air supplied from the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11 is, for example, an oxygen enrichment having an oxygen concentration of about 30% by volume. When air is produced using zeolite as the nitrogen-absorbing adsorbent 37, the pressure is about 40 kPa. In this case, since the control is easy, in general, the intermediate pressure between the two airs is set to atmospheric pressure, and the pressure of the air supplied from the oxygen-enriched air supply pipe 10 is set to about 20 kPa higher than the atmospheric pressure. On the other hand, control is performed in which the pressure of the air supplied from the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11 is lowered by about 20 kPa from the atmospheric pressure.

  As in the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the end face of the cylindrical container 34 is covered with one connecting tube, and a separation plate 41 is arranged inside the connection tube, and with this separation plate, When air having a pressure difference is separated and introduced into the cylindrical container 34, the pressure difference between the two (= about 40 kPa) becomes the driving force (driving force) as it is, and the high pressure at the end face of the cylindrical container 34 is obtained. From the side to the low pressure side. In order to prevent this leakage, the interval between the partition plate 36 and the seal plate 42 must be managed with a narrow and high accuracy.

  On the other hand, in the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the end face of the cylindrical container 34 is covered with the two connection pipe portions 45 and 46 and the connection pipe portions 47 and 48, and the fixing for sealing is provided therebetween. Since the plate 42A is installed, the pressure difference that becomes the driving force of this leak can be halved. That is, since the part of the sealing fixing plate 42A is always at atmospheric pressure, the driving force of the leak is not based on the pressure difference between the supplied airs but on the pressure difference with the atmosphere. For example, even when the pressure difference between the air supplied from the oxygen-enriched air supply pipe 10 and the air supplied from the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11 is about 40 kPa, the pressure difference serving as a driving force for the leak is about 20 kPa. It becomes 1/2 of the case of supplying air.

Incidentally, the relationship between the differential pressure and the leak flow rate is expressed by the following equation (1) when compared with the same fluid, and the leak flow rate increases as the differential pressure increases.
Q = A × ΔP ^1/2 (1)
However, in the equation (1), Q is a leak flow rate, ΔP is a differential pressure, and A is a constant.

For example, assuming that there is a rotating device that leaks gas of 100 Nm ³ / h when the differential pressure at the seal surface is 40 kPa, the leak flow rate is about 0 when the differential pressure at the seal surface is halved to 20 kPa. 0.7 times, that is, the leak flow is reduced by about 30%. As described above, in the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the leak flow rate is reduced, and as a result, the air flow rate supplied from the oxygen enrichment air supply pipe 10 can be reduced. Is reduced.

  Each unit partitioned by the partition plate 36 is filled with a nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37. When filling each unit with the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37, the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37 may be packed in a wire net, a net, or the like, and loaded into each unit, or the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37 may be applied. The honeycomb structure may be charged into each unit.

  FIG. 11 shows an example in which the honeycomb structure 43 coated with the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37 is inserted into each unit of the cylindrical container 34. That is, the honeycomb structure 43 having the surface coated with the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37 is disposed in each unit partitioned by the partition plate 36. In order to reduce the pressure loss in the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37, it is preferable to apply the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37 to the honeycomb structure 43 without filling the cylindrical container 34. Since it is difficult to apply the absorbent adsorbent 37 thickly on the surface of the honeycomb structure 43, the shape of the honeycomb structure 43 becomes large in order to apply a necessary amount, which may impair the economy. When adopting 43, it is necessary to consider that point. FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing an example of the internal structure of the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 used in the present invention, in which (A) is a perspective view of the cylindrical container 34, and (B) is a honeycomb structure 43. It is an enlarged view.

  Still further, in the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus 2 used in the present invention, the gap between the cylindrical container 34 and the first connecting pipe body 39 and the gap between the cylindrical container 34 and the second connecting pipe body 40. In order to suppress the inflow or outflow of air from the gap between the cylindrical container 34 and the connecting pipe portions 45 and 46 and the gap between the cylindrical container 34 and the connecting pipe portions 47 and 48, It is preferable to supply the herd gas continuously or intermittently between the end of the cylindrical container 34 and the flanges 39a, 40a, 45a, 46a, 47a, 48a. The herb gas may be any kind of gas as long as it is a dry gas having a dew point of −40 ° C. or lower. However, in the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 according to the present embodiment, the adsorption dehumidification device. Use air dehumidified in 3,4,5. A configuration example of a preferred gas purge mechanism is shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 12, the purge air supply pipe 12 is formed over the entire circumference of the cylindrical container 34 so as to cover the sliding surface between the end 34 a of the cylindrical container 34 and the flange 39 a of the first connecting tube 39. The purge member 44 connected to the purge member 44 is attached, and the space surrounded by the purge member 44 is replaced by the dry air supplied from the purge air supply pipe 12 opened to the purge member 44. This prevents the wet atmosphere from entering the cylindrical container 34. FIG. 12 illustrates the purge mechanism between the cylindrical container 34 and the first connection tube 39, but the gap between the cylindrical container 34 and the second connection tube 40, and the cylindrical container 34 and the connection tube. The gaps with the portions 45, 46, 47, and 48 may be similarly implemented.

  When the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 has its axis 35 in the horizontal direction, the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37 filled in each unit partitioned by the partition plate 36 receives gravity and moves vertically downward. A portion that is not filled with the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37 is formed on the upper side of the unit, and air passing through the cylindrical container 34 without being in contact with the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37 may be generated, so that FIGS. As shown in FIG. 9, it is preferable that the axis 35 is in the vertical direction. However, when the honeycomb structure 43 is employed, the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37 is not affected by gravity, that is, is not unevenly distributed, so that the axis 35 may be in the horizontal direction.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the first air discharge main pipe 14 is branched into three of an air discharge branch pipe 14 a, an air discharge branch pipe 14 b, and an air discharge branch pipe 14 c on the downstream side in the flow path direction. The air discharge branch pipe 14 a is connected to the adsorption dehumidifier 3, the air discharge branch pipe 14 b is connected to the adsorption dehumidifier 4, and the air discharge branch pipe 14 c is connected to the adsorption dehumidifier 5. The first air discharge main pipe 14 is provided with a flow rate adjusting valve 33 for adjusting the flow rate of air passing through the first air discharge main pipe 14, and the air discharge branch pipe 14 a is provided with a shut-off valve 18. The air discharge branch pipe 14b is provided with a shutoff valve 23, and the air discharge branch pipe 14c is provided with a shutoff valve 28.

  The air discharged from the first air discharge main pipe 14 of the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 has a high nitrogen concentration, but has been dehumidified by any one of the adsorption dehumidifying device 3, the adsorption dehumidifying device 4, and the adsorption dehumidifying device 5. Its dew point remains low. Therefore, the air discharged from the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 is used as a regeneration gas for the moisture absorption adsorbent 38 of the adsorption dehumidifiers 3, 4, 5, that is, as a moisture release gas from the moisture absorption adsorbent 38. Can be used. In that case, the moisture adsorbed on the moisture absorbing adsorbent of the adsorption dehumidifying device is easily released into the moisture releasing gas and regenerated, thereby reducing the regeneration cost of the moisture absorbing adsorbent of the adsorption dehumidifying device. That is, when the moisture-absorbing adsorbent 38 that has adsorbed moisture comes into contact with the dried air, the moisture adsorbed on the moisture-absorbing adsorbent 38 is desorbed and released into the air. On the other hand, the moisture in the moisture releasing gas increases. An increase in moisture in the moisture releasing gas is referred to as “moisture enrichment treatment”.

  In the above embodiment, the moisture release gas supply pipes 14a, 14b, and 14c are branched from the first air discharge main pipe 14, but the moisture release gas is not limited to this. Any gas can be used as long as the dew point is less than or equal to the air after the dehydration treatment by the adsorption dehumidifiers 3, 4, and 5.

  An air discharge branch pipe 15a is arranged on the side opposite to the side connected to the air discharge branch pipe 14a of the adsorption / dehumidification device 3, and the air enriched by the adsorption dehumidification apparatus 3 is discharged to the air discharge branch pipe 15a. Is done. Similarly, an air discharge branch pipe 15b is arranged on the side opposite to the side connected to the air discharge branch pipe 14b of the adsorption / dehumidification apparatus 4, and the air enriched by the adsorption dehumidification apparatus 4 is the air discharge branch pipe. The air exhausted branch pipe 15c is disposed on the side opposite to the side connected to the air exhaust branch pipe 14c of the adsorption dehumidifying device 5 and the air subjected to the water enrichment treatment by the adsorption dehumidifying apparatus 5 is It is discharged to the air discharge branch pipe 15c. The air discharge branch pipe 15a, the air discharge branch pipe 15b, and the air discharge branch pipe 15c are combined into a second air discharge main pipe 15 on the downstream side in the flow path direction. A shutoff valve 19 is installed in the air exhaust branch pipe 15a, a shutoff valve 24 is installed in the air exhaust branch pipe 15b, and a shutoff valve 29 is installed in the air exhaust branch pipe 15c.

  Since the moisture absorbing adsorbent 38 disposed in the adsorption dehumidifying devices 3, 4 and 5 does not adsorb moisture above the saturation concentration, when carrying out the present invention, the three adsorption dehumidifying devices 3, 4 and 5 are used. At the same time, the dehydration treatment is not performed, and at least one of the adsorption dehumidifying devices in any one of the above introduces dry air and regenerates the moisture absorbing adsorbent 38. The shutoff valve 16, shutoff valve 17, shutoff valve 18, shutoff valve 19, shutoff valve 21, shutoff valve 22, shutoff valve 23, shutoff valve 24, shutoff valve 26, shutoff valve 27, shutoff valve 28, shutoff valve 29 are adsorbed. This is a valve for switching the operation of the dehumidifiers 3, 4 and 5 to moisture adsorption and moisture release.

  The second air discharge main pipe 15 is connected to a blower 7 for sucking air, and the low oxygen and high humidity air sucked by the blower 7 is diffused to the atmosphere. In the oxygen-enriched air production facility 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, air is blown by two fans, that is, a blower 6 installed on the inlet side of the flow path and a blower 7 installed on the outlet side of the flow path. However, disposing a blower in the middle of the flow path does not pose any problem in practicing the present invention, and may be installed as necessary.

  A method for producing oxygen-enriched air from air using the oxygen-enriched air production facility 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described.

  That is, in FIG. 5, the air supplied from the blower 6 to at least one of the adsorption dehumidifiers 3, 4, 5 is supplied to the rotary nitrogen adsorber 2 through the oxygen enrichment air supply pipe 10. In addition, the air discharged from the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 through the first air discharge main pipe 14 is sucked and discharged by the blower 7 through the adsorption dehumidification device to which no air is supplied from the blower 6. As possible, the shutoff valve 16, shutoff valve 17, shutoff valve 18, shutoff valve 19 group, shutoff valve 21, shutoff valve 22, shutoff valve 23, shutoff valve 24 group, shutoff valve 26, shutoff valve 27, The opening / closing of the group of the shut-off valve 28 and the shut-off valve 29 is adjusted. For example, when supplying air from the blower 6 to the adsorption dehumidifying device 3, the shutoff valve 16 and the shutoff valve 17 are set to “open”, and the shutoff valve 18 and the shutoff valve 19 are set to “closed”. In this state, the blower 6 is operated, the blower 7 is operated, and the cylindrical container 34 of the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 is rotated continuously or intermittently around the axis 35.

  The air supplied from the blower 6 to at least one of the adsorption dehumidifying devices 3, 4, and 5 comes into contact with the moisture absorbing adsorbent 38 disposed in the supplied adsorption dehumidifying device to remove moisture. The dehydrated air is supplied to the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 through the oxygen enrichment air supply pipe 10, the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11, and the purge air supply pipe 12. The flow rate of air passing through the oxygen enrichment air supply pipe 10, the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11, and the purge air supply pipe 12 is adjusted to a predetermined range by the flow rate control valve 31 and the flow rate control valve 32. In this case, it is preferable to adjust the flow rate / flow velocity of the air passing through the adsorption dehumidifier so that the dew point of the air after the dehydration treatment is −40 ° C. or lower.

  Since the nitrogen absorption adsorbent 37 made of zeolite and disposed in the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus 2 changes the nitrogen adsorption amount depending on the difference in pressure or temperature, the pressure of the air supplied from the oxygen-enriched air supply pipe 10 Is higher than the pressure of the air supplied from the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11 or the temperature of the air supplied from the oxygen enrichment air supply pipe 10 is the air supplied from the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11. The air supplied from the oxygen-enriching air supply pipe 10 is made higher in pressure than the air supplied from the nitrogen-releasing air supply pipe 11, and the temperature is lowered. Air is supplied from an oxygen enrichment air supply pipe 10 and a nitrogen release air supply pipe 11.

  The pressure of the supplied air can be adjusted, for example, by adjusting the discharge pressure of the blower 6 and the blower 7, and the temperature of the supplied air is adjusted by a heater (not shown) in the oxygen-enriched air supply pipe 10. ) Or by installing a cooler (not shown) in the nitrogen supply air supply pipe 11.

  The air supplied to the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 from the oxygen enrichment air supply pipe 10 and the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11 is in contact with the nitrogen absorption adsorbent 37. Here, the air supplied from the oxygen enrichment air supply pipe 10 has a higher pressure or a lower temperature than the air supplied from the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11, or a higher pressure and a lower temperature. Therefore, nitrogen is adsorbed by the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37 made of zeolite, the nitrogen is reduced, and oxygen enrichment is performed.

  On the other hand, the air supplied from the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11 has a lower pressure or a higher temperature than the air supplied from the oxygen enrichment air supply pipe 10, or a lower pressure and a higher temperature. The nitrogen adsorption amount of the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37 made of zeolite is lowered by contacting with the air, and the difference in nitrogen adsorption amount is released to the air supplied from the nitrogen releasing air supply pipe 11. Thereby, the nitrogen concentration of the air supplied from the nitrogen supply air supply pipe 11 increases. In this way, the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37 does not stay in a saturated nitrogen adsorption amount, and continuously performs nitrogen adsorption / release. The oxygen-enriched air supplied from the oxygen-enriched air supply pipe 10 is collected in a gas tank, a gas holder or the like via the oxygen-enriched air discharge pipe 13.

  On the other hand, the air subjected to the nitrogen enrichment process is introduced into the adsorption dehumidifier to which no air is supplied from the blower 6 through the first air discharge main pipe 14 and is arranged in the adsorption dehumidifier. It contacts the moisture absorbing adsorbent 38. Although the air discharged from the first air discharge main pipe 14 has a high nitrogen concentration, it is air in a dry state from which moisture has already been removed by the moisture absorbing adsorbent 38 of another adsorption dehumidifier. The moisture adsorbed on the adsorbent 38 is released into the air introduced from the first air discharge main pipe 14, and the moisture concentration of this air rises. Thus, the moisture absorbing adsorbent 38 disposed in the adsorption dehumidifier that has not been subjected to the dehydration treatment is regenerated.

  Here, Tables 1 and 2 show examples of time schedules for switching between the adsorption dehumidifying device 3, the adsorption dehumidifying device 4, and the adsorption dehumidifying device 5.

  In the time schedule shown in Table 1, the adsorption dehumidifying device 3 and the adsorption dehumidifying device 4 alternately perform adsorption by the moisture absorbing adsorbent 38, that is, dehydration treatment, and release (desorption) from the moisture absorbing adsorbent 38. This is an example in which adsorption (dehydration processing) by the adsorption dehumidifying device 5 is overlapped at the time of this switching. On the other hand, the time schedule shown in Table 2 overlaps adsorption (dehydration processing) by the adsorption dehumidifying device 3, the adsorption dehumidifying device 4 and the adsorption dehumidifying device 5 while shifting them by 2/3 period of the adsorption process. This is an example in which the next adsorption process by the adsorption dehumidifier is started when 2/3 of the adsorption process by the adsorption dehumidifier has elapsed.

  In both time schedules, since the valve switching time is required, there is a time lag in the switching timing of the same moisture absorption device. However, since it overlaps at the end of the adsorption process, it becomes possible to produce oxygen-enriched air stably.

  In addition, since the operation of releasing low oxygen air from the diffusion valves 20, 25, 30 is required between the adsorption and release (desorption), the shut-off valves 16, 23, 28 and the shut-off valves 17, 22, 27 Create a time lag for opening and closing.

  The rotational speed of the cylindrical container 34 is the amount of air supplied from the oxygen-enriched air supply pipe 10, the pressure difference or temperature difference from the air supplied from the nitrogen-releasing air supply pipe 11, and the oxygen-enriched air production facility 1 The flow rate and oxygen concentration at the outlet of the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 when the rotation speed is changed are calculated based on the configuration of the above, the installation conditions of the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37, and the calculated flow rate and oxygen concentration are the targets. It shall be set to the condition that the flow rate and oxygen concentration are over. At least, the adsorption amount of the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37 must be rotated 180 degrees (half rotation) before reaching the saturated adsorption amount.

  In FIG. 13, when the power for producing oxygen-enriched air according to the first embodiment of the present invention is subtracted from the power for producing oxygen-enriched air by the cryogenic separator shown in the examples described later. (Difference = deep cooling method-method of the present invention) is shown for each oxygen concentration of oxygen-enriched air. As shown in FIG. 13, in the comparison with the deep cooling method or the PSA method, the effect of the present invention can be further exhibited when the oxygen concentration in the air is in the range of 62% by volume or less. When the oxygen concentration is enriched to 21 to 35% by volume, the effect of the present invention can be further enhanced.

  Thus, according to the oxygen-enriched air production facility 1 according to the present embodiment, the adsorption / dehumidification devices 3, 4, 5 and the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 are provided. 5, the dehydrated portion of the air is subjected to a dehydration treatment, and then the dried air subjected to the dehydration treatment is introduced into the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2. No. 37 is able to stably produce oxygen-enriched air by adsorbing nitrogen from the supplied air without being affected by moisture. When a part of the air dehydrated by the adsorption dehumidifiers 3, 4, 5 is used as a nitrogen release gas from the nitrogen absorption adsorbent 37 of the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2, nitrogen absorption is performed. The nitrogen adsorbed on the adsorbent 37 is released into the nitrogen-releasing gas, and the amount of nitrogen adsorbed on the nitrogen-absorbing adsorbent 37 is not saturated, and oxygen-enriched air can be continuously produced over a long period Become.

  Moreover, in the oxygen-enriched air production facility 1 according to the present invention, since the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 is used, only the number of installed nitrogen adsorption devices is reduced as compared with the case where the nitrogen adsorption device is fixed. As a result, the number of various pipes and changeover valves installed is reduced, and the equipment cost can be greatly reduced. Further, it is possible to continuously produce oxygen-enriched air without switching the nitrogen adsorbing device, and work complexity is eliminated.

  Next, an oxygen-enriched air production facility according to a second embodiment in which the adsorption dehumidification apparatus for performing dehydration treatment is a rotary type will be described. FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the second embodiment of the oxygen-enriched air production facility according to the present invention. In the second embodiment, a rotary adsorption / dehumidification device 3A is arranged in place of the adsorption / dehumidification devices 3, 4, and 5 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. This is equivalent to the form, and therefore may overlap, but will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the oxygen-enriched air production facility 1A according to the second embodiment of the present invention removes nitrogen in the air in which an adsorbent 37 for nitrogen absorption made of zeolite or the like is arranged to remove oxygen. One rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 for producing enriched air and one adsorbent for moisture absorption 38 are arranged, and one rotation for removing moisture in the air prior to removing nitrogen. 3A. Various pipes for connecting the rotary adsorption / dehumidification device 3A and the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 are arranged, and further, the blower 6 and the rotary adsorption / dehumidification device for supplying air to the rotary adsorption / dehumidification device 3A. A blower 7 for sucking the exhaust air from 3A is arranged.

  The blower 6 for sending air is connected to the first air supply main pipe 8, and the air supplied by the blower 6 is introduced into the first air supply main pipe 8. The first air supply main pipe 8 is connected to the rotary adsorption dehumidifier 3A on the downstream side in the flow path direction. A moisture absorption adsorbent 38 such as activated alumina or molecular sieve is disposed inside the rotary adsorption dehumidifier 3A, and the air supplied to the rotary adsorption dehumidifier 3A contacts the moisture absorption adsorbent 38. The dehydrated portion is processed.

  A second air supply main pipe 9 is disposed on the opposite side of the rotary adsorption / dehumidification device 3A to the side connected to the first air supply main pipe 8, and is dehydrated by the rotary adsorption / dehumidification device 3A. The air is introduced into the second air supply main 9.

  The second air supply main pipe 9 is located downstream of the flow direction in the oxygen enrichment air supply pipe 10, the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11, the purge air supply pipe 12, and the purge air supply pipe 12A. The air supply pipe 10 for oxygen enrichment, the air supply pipe 11 for nitrogen release, and the air supply pipe 12 for purge are branched into four, respectively, to the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 in which the nitrogen absorbent adsorbent 37 is arranged. On the other hand, the purge air supply pipe 12A is connected to the rotary adsorption dehumidifier 3A.

  The oxygen-enriched air supply pipe 10 is a supply pipe for sending air that has been subjected to removal of nitrogen by the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 to become oxygen-enriched air, and the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11 is a rotary nitrogen. It is a supply pipe for supplying air as a nitrogen releasing gas for regenerating the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37 of the adsorption device 2, and the purge air supply pipe 12 has a wet nitrogen atmosphere for rotating nitrogen adsorption. In order to prevent inflow into the apparatus 2, a supply pipe for supplying dehydrated air as purge gas between the rotating part and the fixed part of the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus 2. Further, the purge air supply pipe 12A is provided with a dehydrating component between the rotating part and the fixed part of the rotary adsorption dehumidifier 3A in order to prevent the wet atmosphere from flowing into the rotary adsorption dehumidifier 3A. It is a supply pipe for supplying the processed air as a purge gas.

  The nitrogen release air supply pipe 11 is provided with a flow rate adjusting valve 31 for adjusting the flow rate of air passing through the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11, and the purge air supply pipe 12 has a purge air supply pipe 12. A flow rate adjusting valve 32 for adjusting the flow rate of air passing through 12 is installed, and a flow rate adjusting valve 49 for adjusting the flow rate of air passing through the purge air supply tube 12A is provided in the purge air supply tube 12A. Is installed.

  An oxygen-enriched air discharge pipe 13 is disposed on the opposite side of the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 to the side connected to the oxygen-enriched air supply pipe 10 and is supplied from the oxygen-enriched air supply pipe 10. The oxygen-enriched air is discharged to a storage container (not shown) such as a gas tank or a gas holder through the oxygen-enriched air discharge pipe 13. A first air discharge main pipe 14 is arranged on the opposite side of the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 to the side connected to the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11 and is supplied from the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11. The air regenerated from the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37 is discharged through the first air discharge main pipe 14.

  In FIG. 14, the oxygen enrichment air supply pipe 10 and the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11 are connected in the direction opposite to the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 in the flow path direction. There is no need for the reverse direction, and the same direction may be used. In the present embodiment, the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11 is branched from the second air supply main pipe 9, but the nitrogen release gas is not limited to this. However, it is preferable that the dew point is a gas having a nitrogen concentration equal to or lower than the nitrogen concentration in the air, which is approximately equal to or lower than that of the air after the dehydration treatment by the rotary adsorption dehumidifier 3A.

  The first air discharge main pipe 14 is connected to the rotary adsorption dehumidifier 3A on the downstream side in the flow path direction, and the first air discharge main pipe 14 includes the first air discharge main pipe 14. A flow rate adjusting valve 33 for adjusting the flow rate of air passing through the pipe 14 and a shutoff valve 50 for shutting off air passing through the first air discharge main pipe 14 are installed.

  Although the air discharged from the first air discharge main pipe 14 has a high nitrogen concentration, it has been dehumidified in advance by the rotary adsorption dehumidifier 3A, and its dew point remains low. Therefore, the air discharged from the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 is used as a regeneration gas for the moisture absorption adsorbent 38 of the rotary adsorption dehumidifier 3A, that is, as a moisture release gas from the moisture absorption adsorbent 38. can do. That is, the moisture adsorbed on the moisture absorption adsorbent 38 of the rotary adsorption dehumidifier 3A is easily released into the moisture release gas and regenerated, thereby reducing the regeneration cost of the moisture absorption adsorbent 38 of the rotary adsorption dehumidifier 3A. It becomes possible to suppress. By doing in this way, the moisture absorption adsorbent 38 of the rotary adsorption dehumidifier 3A does not remain in a saturated state of the moisture adsorption amount, and continuously performs moisture adsorption / release.

  In the above-described embodiment, nitrogen-enriched air discharged from the first air discharge main pipe 14 is used as the moisture releasing gas, but the moisture releasing gas is not limited to this. Any gas can be used as long as the dew point is less than or equal to the air after the dehydration treatment by the rotary adsorption dehumidifier 3A. In addition, the first air supply main pipe 8 and the first air discharge main pipe 14 are connected in the reverse direction with respect to the rotary adsorption dehumidifier 3A in the direction of the flow path. It is not necessary to be in the same direction.

  A second air discharge main 15 is disposed on the side opposite to the side connected to the first air discharge main 14 of the rotary adsorption dehumidifier 3A, and the water enrichment treatment is performed by the rotary adsorption dehumidifier 3A. The air thus discharged is discharged to the second air discharge main pipe 15. The second air discharge main pipe 15 is connected to the blower 7 for sucking air, and the low oxygen and high humidity air sucked by the blower 7 is diffused to the atmosphere.

  In the oxygen-enriched air production facility 1A according to the second embodiment of the present invention, air is blown by the two fans, that is, the fan 6 installed on the inlet side of the flow path and the fan 7 installed on the outlet side of the flow path. However, disposing a blower in the middle of the flow path does not pose any problem in practicing the present invention, and may be installed as necessary.

  The rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 used in the second embodiment is the same as the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 used in the first embodiment. That is, the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 10 or FIGS. 8, 9, 10 may be used, and detailed description thereof is omitted. Further, the rotary adsorption dehumidifying device 3A used in the second embodiment may have the same structure as the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 used in the first embodiment. However, as a matter of course, in the case of the rotary adsorption dehumidifier 3A, a moisture absorbing adsorbent 38 is disposed inside the cylindrical container 34 instead of the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37. Other than that, it is the same as the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus 2 used in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. The purge mechanism between the rotating part and the fixed part of the cylindrical container 34 may be performed in the same manner as the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 used in the first embodiment.

  A method for producing oxygen-enriched air from air using the oxygen-enriched air production facility 1A according to the second embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described.

  That is, in FIG. 14, air is supplied to the rotary adsorption / dehumidification device 3A by the blower 6 and air is sucked from the rotary adsorption / dehumidification device 3A by the blower 7, thereby supplying the air to the rotary adsorption / dehumidification device 3A. Is supplied to the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 via the oxygen enrichment air supply pipe 10 and the air discharged from the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 via the first air discharge main pipe 14 is rotated. A flow of air is formed so as to be discharged through the type adsorption dehumidifier 3A. In this state, the rotary adsorption / dehumidification device 3 </ b> A and the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 are rotated continuously or intermittently about the axis 35.

  The air supplied from the blower 6 to the rotary adsorptive dehumidifier 3A comes into contact with the moisture absorbing adsorbent 38 arranged in the rotary adsorptive dehumidifier 3A to remove moisture, and the dehydrated air is used as oxygen. The air is supplied to the rotary nitrogen adsorbing device 2 through the enrichment air supply pipe 10, the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11 and the purge air supply pipe 12, and through the purge air supply pipe 12A. It is supplied to the device 3A. The flow rate of the air passing through the oxygen supply air supply pipe 10, the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11, the purge air supply pipe 12 and the purge air supply pipe 12A is changed to a flow rate adjusting valve 31, a flow rate adjusting valve 32 and a flow rate adjusting valve. 49 to adjust to a predetermined range. In this case, it is preferable to adjust the flow rate / flow velocity of the air passing through the rotary adsorption dehumidifier 3A so that the dew point of the air after the dehydration treatment is −40 ° C. or lower.

  Since the nitrogen absorption adsorbent 37 made of zeolite and disposed in the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus 2 changes the nitrogen adsorption amount depending on the difference in pressure or temperature, the pressure of the air supplied from the oxygen-enriched air supply pipe 10 Is higher than the pressure of the air supplied from the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11 or the temperature of the air supplied from the oxygen enrichment air supply pipe 10 is the air supplied from the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11. The air supplied from the oxygen-enriching air supply pipe 10 is made higher in pressure than the air supplied from the nitrogen-releasing air supply pipe 11, and the temperature is lowered. Air is supplied from an oxygen enrichment air supply pipe 10 and a nitrogen release air supply pipe 11.

  The temperature difference of both gases should just be 0-400 degreeC. There may be no temperature difference, and the upper limit is approximately 400 ° C. although it is determined by the durability of the adsorbent. In addition, it is 0-100 degreeC more practically. In addition, if the pressure difference between the two gases is 20 to 70 kPa, the target oxygen enrichment can be achieved efficiently (as individual pressure conditions, the adsorption gas side is +10 kPa at 20 kPa, the desorption gas side is about -10 kPa, and the pressure difference is 70 kPa. The adsorption gas side is +10 kPa, and the desorption gas side is −60 kPa). If the pressure difference is less than 20 kPa, the adsorption does not proceed sufficiently. On the other hand, if the pressure difference exceeds 70 kPa, the power becomes equivalent to that of the conventional deep cooling method. As an example, in the case of obtaining oxygen-enriched air having an oxygen concentration of 30% by volume, 50 kPa (for example, adsorption side +10 kPa, desorption side −40 kPa) may be used. Moreover, when using a temperature difference and a pressure difference simultaneously, it will be settled in the range of the said conditions.

  The pressure of the supplied air can be adjusted, for example, by adjusting the discharge pressure of the blower 6 and the blower 7, and the temperature of the supplied air is adjusted by a heater (not shown) in the oxygen-enriched air supply pipe 10. ) Or by installing a cooler (not shown) in the nitrogen supply air supply pipe 11.

  The air supplied to the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 from the oxygen enrichment air supply pipe 10 and the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11 is in contact with the nitrogen absorption adsorbent 37. Here, the air supplied from the oxygen enrichment air supply pipe 10 has a higher pressure or a lower temperature than the air supplied from the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11, or a higher pressure and a lower temperature. Therefore, nitrogen is adsorbed by the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37 made of zeolite, the nitrogen is reduced, and oxygen enrichment is performed.

  On the other hand, the air supplied from the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11 has a lower pressure or a higher temperature than the air supplied from the oxygen enrichment air supply pipe 10, or a lower pressure and a higher temperature. The nitrogen adsorption amount of the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37 made of zeolite is lowered by contacting with the air, and the difference in nitrogen adsorption amount is released to the air supplied from the nitrogen releasing air supply pipe 11. Thereby, the nitrogen concentration of the air supplied from the nitrogen supply air supply pipe 11 increases. In this way, the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37 does not stay in a saturated nitrogen adsorption amount, and continuously performs nitrogen adsorption / release. The oxygen-enriched air supplied from the oxygen-enriched air supply pipe 10 is collected in a gas tank, a gas holder or the like via the oxygen-enriched air discharge pipe 13.

  On the other hand, the air that has been subjected to the nitrogen enrichment process is introduced into the rotary adsorption / dehumidification device 3A through the first air discharge main pipe 14, and the moisture absorbing adsorbent 38 disposed in the rotary adsorption / dehumidification device 3A. Contact with. The air discharged from the first air discharge main pipe 14 is a dry air whose moisture concentration has already been removed by the moisture absorbing adsorbent 38 of the rotary adsorption dehumidifier 3A, although the nitrogen concentration is high. The moisture adsorbed on the absorbent adsorbent 38 is released to the air introduced from the first air discharge main pipe 14, and the moisture concentration of this air increases. Thus, the moisture absorption adsorbent 38 of the rotary adsorption / dehumidification device 3A is regenerated without the moisture adsorption amount remaining saturated, and continuously performs adsorption / release of moisture.

  The rotational speed of the cylindrical container 34 of the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 is such that the amount of air supplied from the oxygen-enriched air supply pipe 10, the pressure difference or temperature difference from the air supplied from the nitrogen release air supply pipe 11, Based on the configuration of the oxygen-enriched air production facility 1A, the installation conditions of the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37, and the like, the flow rate and oxygen concentration at the outlet of the rotary nitrogen adsorbing device 2 when the rotational speed is changed are calculated and calculated. It is assumed that the flow rate and oxygen concentration are set to conditions that are equal to or higher than the target flow rate and oxygen concentration.

  The rotational speed of the rotary adsorption dehumidifying device 3A is the same as the rotational speed of the cylindrical container 34 of the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2, and the flow rate and dew point of the air supplied from the first air supply main pipe 8, the first air Rotary adsorption dehumidifier 3A when the number of rotations is changed based on the flow rate and dew point of the air supplied from the exhaust main pipe 14, the configuration of the oxygen-enriched air production facility 1A, the installation conditions of the moisture absorbing adsorbent 38, etc. The flow rate and water concentration at the outlet of the water are calculated, and the calculated flow rate and water concentration are set to conditions that are equal to or less than the target flow rate and water concentration.

  As described above, according to the oxygen-enriched air production facility 1A according to the present embodiment, the rotary adsorption / dehumidification device 3A and the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 are provided. Then, the dehydrated portion treated air is introduced into the rotary nitrogen adsorbing device 2, so that the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37 of the rotary nitrogen adsorbing device 2 Without being affected, it is possible to stably produce oxygen-enriched air by adsorbing nitrogen from supplied air. When a part of the air dehydrated by the rotary adsorption / dehumidification device 3A is used as a nitrogen release gas from the nitrogen absorption adsorbent 37 of the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2, the nitrogen absorption adsorption is performed. The nitrogen adsorbed on the agent 37 is released into the nitrogen releasing gas, and the nitrogen adsorption amount of the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37 is not saturated, and oxygen-enriched air can be continuously produced over a long period of time. Further, when the air enriched with nitrogen in the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 is used as a moisture release gas from the moisture absorption adsorbent 38 of the rotary adsorption dehumidifier 3A, the moisture absorption adsorbent 38 is used. The adsorbed moisture is released to the moisture-releasing gas, and the moisture adsorption amount of the moisture-absorbing adsorbent 38 is not saturated, and it becomes possible to continuously perform dehydration treatment over a long period of time.

  Further, in the oxygen-enriched air production facility 1A according to the present invention, since the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 is used, the number of installed nitrogen adsorption devices is reduced as compared with the case where the nitrogen adsorption device is fixed. As a result, the number of various pipes and changeover valves installed is reduced, and the equipment cost can be greatly reduced. Further, it is possible to continuously produce oxygen-enriched air without switching the nitrogen adsorbing device, and work complexity is eliminated. Furthermore, in the oxygen-enriched air production facility 1A according to this embodiment, since the rotary adsorption dehumidifier 3A is used, the number of installed adsorption dehumidifiers is smaller than when the adsorption dehumidifier is fixed. In addition to this, the number of various pipes and changeover valves installed thereby is reduced, and the equipment cost can be further reduced as compared with the case of the first embodiment.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the range of the said description, A various change is possible. For example, in the above description, only the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37 is disposed in the rotary nitrogen adsorbing device 2, but the moisture absorbing adsorbent 38 may also be disposed in the rotary nitrogen adsorbing device 2. Since dry air is supplied to the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2, the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37 of the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 is basically not affected by moisture, but the dew point of the supplied air is low. The lower the nitrogen adsorption efficiency is, the lower the nitrogen adsorption adsorbent 37 installed in the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus 2 is. Is preferred. Moisture is removed by the installed water-absorbing adsorbent 38, and dry air is supplied to the nitrogen-absorbing adsorbent 37. In addition, if for some reason air enters from the sliding surface between the end of the cylindrical container 34 and the first connection tube 39 or the second connection tube 40, the adsorbent for nitrogen absorption No. 37 is affected by moisture from the atmosphere, and the nitrogen adsorption capacity deteriorates. However, moisture absorption is performed on both sides or either side of the nitrogen absorption adsorbent 37 installed in the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus 2. This can be prevented by installing the adsorbent 38 for use.

  In this case, when supplying oxygen-enriched air and nitrogen-releasing air to the rotary nitrogen adsorbing device 2 from opposite directions, water-absorbing adsorbents 38 are installed on both sides of the nitrogen-absorbing adsorbent 37. It is preferable to do. By installing on both sides, not only dry air is always supplied to the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37, but also, for example, for oxygen enrichment by the atmosphere mixed into the air from the oxygen enrichment air supply pipe 10. Even if the moisture absorbing adsorbent 38 disposed on the side of the air supply pipe 10 absorbs moisture, the moisture absorbing adsorbent 38 then contacts dry air supplied from the nitrogen releasing air supply pipe 11. Therefore, the moisture adsorbed on the moisture absorbing adsorbent 38 is released into the dry air supplied from the nitrogen releasing air supply pipe 11, and the moisture absorbing adsorbent 38 is naturally regenerated. When air is supplied to the rotary nitrogen adsorption device 2 from the same direction, the moisture absorbing adsorbent 38 may be disposed upstream of the flow path of the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent 37.

  In the above description, the first connecting tube 39 and the second connecting tube 40 are divided into two by the separation plate 41. However, in the present invention, the first connecting tube 39 and the second connecting tube are divided. What is necessary is just to divide the inside of the body 40 into at least two parts, and the shape of the separating plate 41 may be changed to correspond to some purpose, and it may be divided into three or more parts.

  Oxygen-enriched air blown from the tuyere of the blast furnace was produced using the oxygen-enriched air production facility shown in FIG. 5 equipped with the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus shown in FIG. The cylindrical container of the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus has a diameter of 8.6 m and a length of 8.6 m. Here, the rotation speed of the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus is 0.5 times per minute, and oxygen-enriched air is used. The oxygen-enriched air was produced at a pressure of +10 kPa relative to the atmosphere, and a pressure of nitrogen releasing air supplied in the opposite direction to −30 kPa relative to the atmosphere. FIG. 15 shows the flowchart. In FIG. 15, reference numeral 2 is a rotary nitrogen adsorption device, 3 and 4 are adsorption dehumidification devices, 6 and 7 are blowers, 51 is a blast furnace, and 52 is a blast furnace blower.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the air supplied to the oxygen-enriched air production facility was enriched with oxygen, and oxygen-enriched air having an oxygen concentration of 30% by volume was obtained at the outlet of the oxygen-enriched air production facility. On the other hand, the oxygen concentration of the nitrogen-enriched air decreased to 7% by volume.

The obtained oxygen-enriched air having an oxygen concentration of 30% by volume was diluted with normal air to obtain oxygen-enriched air having an oxygen concentration of 23.5% by volume, and this was blown into the blast furnace at a flow rate of 476000 Nm ³ / h. . The power required in this case was about 41.8 MW.

  For comparison, an operation for producing oxygen-enriched air using a conventional cryogenic separator was also carried out. FIG. 16 shows a flow chart when oxygen-enriched air produced using a cryogenic separator is blown into the blast furnace tuyere. In FIG. 16, reference numeral 51 is a blast furnace, 52 is a blast furnace blower, 53 is a cryogenic separator, and 54 and 55 are blowers.

As shown in FIG. 16, pure oxygen having an oxygen concentration of approximately 100% by volume is produced by a cryogenic separator, and this is diluted with normal air to obtain oxygen-enriched air having an oxygen concentration of 23.5% by volume, This was blown into the blast furnace at a flow rate of 476000 Nm ³ / h. The power required in this case was about 46.4 MW.

  If the dehumidifying operation is not performed as in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the predetermined outlet oxygen concentration cannot be achieved within approximately one month, and the adsorbent must be replaced.

  On the other hand, according to the present invention, since the dehumidifying operation is performed, the predetermined outlet oxygen concentration performance can be ensured semipermanently (one year or more). Since it is not necessary to interrupt the operation of the blast furnace or the like for replacement, the operation is not hindered.

  As described above, according to the present invention, oxygen-enriched air can be continuously produced over a long period of time with respect to the prior art.

It is a figure which shows qualitatively the relationship between the nitrogen adsorption amount of zeolite, and a pressure. It is a figure which shows qualitatively the relationship between the nitrogen adsorption amount of zeolite, pressure, and temperature. It is the result of changing the dew point of air and comparing the amount of adsorption of moisture and nitrogen. It is the result of investigating the influence of the dew point of air on the nitrogen adsorption capacity of zeolite. It is the schematic which shows the whole structure of 1st Embodiment of the oxygen enriched air manufacturing equipment which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic perspective view of the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional schematic view of the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus shown in FIG. 6. It is a schematic perspective view of the other example of the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional schematic view of the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus shown in FIG. 8. It is the schematic of the edge part of the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus shown in FIG.6 and FIG.8, (A) is a schematic perspective view, (B) is the schematic seen from the axial center direction of the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus. It is the schematic which shows the example of the internal structure of the rotary nitrogen adsorption | suction apparatus shown in FIG.6 and FIG.8. FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing an example of gas purge between the end portion of the cylindrical container and the flange portion of the first connecting pipe in the rotary nitrogen adsorption apparatus shown in FIG. 6. It is a figure which shows the power difference of a cryogenic separation apparatus and this invention according to oxygen concentration of oxygen enriched air. It is the schematic which shows the whole structure of 2nd Embodiment of the oxygen enriched air manufacturing equipment which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart when oxygen-enriched air produced using the oxygen-enriched air production facility of the present invention is blown from a blast furnace tuyere. It is a flowchart when blowing in oxygen-enriched air produced using a conventional cryogenic separator from a blast furnace tuyere.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Oxygen-enriched air production facility 1A Oxygen-enriched air production facility 2 Rotary nitrogen adsorption device 3 Adsorption dehumidification device 3A Rotary adsorption dehumidification device 4 Adsorption dehumidification device 5 Adsorption dehumidification device 6 Blower 7 Blower 8 First air supply main pipe 9 Second air supply main pipe 10 Oxygen-enriched air supply pipe 11 Nitrogen release air supply pipe 12 Purge air supply pipe 12A Purge air supply pipe 13 Oxygen-enriched air discharge pipe 14 First air discharge main pipe DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 2nd air exhaust main pipe 34 Cylindrical container 35 Axis center 36 Partition plate 37 Adsorbent for nitrogen absorption 38 Adsorbent for moisture absorption 39 1st connection pipe body 40 2nd connection pipe body 41 Separation plate 42 Seal plate 42A Sealing plate 43 Honeycomb structure 44 Purge member 45 First connection pipe part 46 Second connection pipe part 47 Third connection pipe part 48 Fourth connection pipe part 51 Blast furnace 52 Blast furnace feed Machine 53 cryogenic separation device 54 blower 55 blower

Claims (11)

  An oxygen-enriched air production facility comprising an adsorption dehumidifying device in which a moisture absorbing adsorbent is disposed and a rotary nitrogen adsorption device in which a nitrogen absorbing adsorbent is disposed. A facility for producing oxygen-enriched air, wherein the air that has been subjected to the minute treatment is supplied to the rotary nitrogen adsorption device and is enriched with oxygen by the rotary nitrogen adsorption device.   Part of the air dehydrated by the adsorption dehumidifier is supplied to the rotary nitrogen adsorber as a nitrogen release gas from the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent of the rotary nitrogen adsorber. The equipment for producing oxygen-enriched air according to claim 1.   The air used as a nitrogen releasing gas from the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent is further supplied to the adsorption dehumidifying device as a moisture releasing gas from the moisture absorbing adsorbent of the adsorption dehumidifying device. The equipment for producing oxygen-enriched air according to claim 2.   In order to prevent the wet atmosphere from flowing into the rotary nitrogen adsorption device, a portion of the air dehydrated by the adsorption dehumidification device is interposed between the rotating portion and the fixed portion of the rotary nitrogen adsorption device. The apparatus for producing oxygen-enriched air according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the section is supplied as a purge gas.   The oxygen-enriched air production facility according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rotary nitrogen adsorption device rotates with its rotation axis as a vertical direction.   Adsorption dehumidifier with moisture absorption adsorbent, and nitrogen absorption that is divided into multiple areas along the gas flow path direction and increases the amount of nitrogen adsorption with increasing pressure in each partitioned area Using an oxygen-enriched air production facility equipped with a rotary nitrogen adsorption device in which an adsorbent is disposed, air dehydrated by the adsorption dehumidification device is supplied to one channel of the rotary nitrogen adsorption device. When supplying, the pressure is made relatively higher than the pressure of the air passing through the other flow path, and these two types of air are separately supplied to the rotating rotary nitrogen adsorption device, and each is adsorbed for nitrogen absorption. Oxygen in the air that has been brought into contact with the agent and subjected to denitrification treatment on the air at a relatively high pressure, and nitrogen enrichment treatment on the air at a relatively low pressure, and at a relatively high pressure. A method for producing oxygen-enriched air characterized by enrichment .   Adsorption dehumidifier with moisture absorption adsorbent, and nitrogen absorption that is divided into multiple areas along the gas flow path direction and increases the nitrogen adsorption amount as the temperature decreases in each partitioned area Using an oxygen-enriched air production facility equipped with a rotary nitrogen adsorption device in which an adsorbent is disposed, air dehydrated by the adsorption dehumidification device is supplied to one flow path of the rotary nitrogen adsorption device. When supplying, the temperature is relatively lower than the temperature of the air passing through the other flow path, and these two types of air are separately supplied to the rotating rotary nitrogen adsorption device, and each is adsorbed for nitrogen absorption. Oxygen in air that has been brought into contact with the agent, subjected to denitrification treatment for air at a relatively low temperature, and subjected to nitrogen enrichment treatment for air at a relatively high temperature, and at a relatively low temperature A method for producing oxygen-enriched air characterized by enrichment .   Part of the air dehydrated by the adsorption dehumidifier is supplied to the rotary nitrogen adsorber as a nitrogen release gas from the nitrogen absorbing adsorbent of the rotary nitrogen adsorber. The method for producing oxygen-enriched air according to claim 6 or 7.   9. The air according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the nitrogen-enriched air is used as a moisture release gas from a moisture absorbing adsorbent of the adsorption dehumidifier. A method for producing the oxygen-enriched air as described.   Two or more adsorption / dehumidification devices are arranged, and each adsorption / dehumidification device alternately performs dehydration treatment of air by the moisture-absorbing adsorbent and moisture release from the moisture-absorbing adsorbent. The method for producing oxygen-enriched air according to claim 9.   11. The production of oxygen-enriched air according to claim 6, wherein a dew point of the air subjected to the dehydration treatment by the adsorption dehumidifying device is −40 ° C. or less. Method.

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