JP2018029750A - Air supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air supply device capable of securing high safety properties in the air supply device for supplying air with special composition to a predetermined air supplied part.SOLUTION: In an air supply device 1, an air generation part 3 generates air with special composition of high oxygen concentration and low oxygen concentration. Of the air with special composition generated by the air generation part 3, the air of high oxygen concentration flows through a first flow channel part 312A and is supplied to a first special environment chamber 100A while the air of low oxygen concentration flows through a second flow channel part 313A and is supplied to a second special environment chamber 100B. Here, the air supply device 1 includes a carbon dioxide removal part 4. The carbon dioxide removal part 4 is disposed in at least one of the first flow channel part 312A and the second flow channel part 313A on the basis of the carbon dioxide separation capacity in the air generation part 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention separates nitrogen and oxygen from raw air to generate air having a special composition such as high oxygen concentration air or low oxygen concentration air, and the generated special composition air is supplied to a predetermined air supply unit. The present invention relates to an air supply device for supplying air.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an air supply device that supplies air having a special composition having a special oxygen concentration with respect to air in the atmosphere (raw air) to a special environment room such as a training room. This type of air supply device is disclosed in Patent Document 1. The air supply device disclosed in Patent Literature 1 generates air with a special composition having a high oxygen concentration and a low oxygen concentration by an air generation unit including a pressure fluctuation adsorption mechanism or a gas separation membrane made of a polyimide hollow fiber membrane, The generated special composition air is supplied to the special environment chamber.

  The special environment room to which air with a high oxygen concentration is supplied by an air supply device can be used as a facility for recovery from fatigue, rehabilitation after exercise or illness, and the like. In addition, the special environment room to which air with a low oxygen concentration is supplied by an air supply device can be used as a facility where a high altitude training for sports can be simulated.

Japanese Patent No. 3245387

  By the way, in consideration of human activities in a special environment room, an air supply device that supplies air of a special composition to the special environment room needs to be a device with high safety. In view of this point, air having a special composition of either a high oxygen concentration or a low oxygen concentration generated by the air generation unit of the air supply device is charged with carbon dioxide according to the separation capacity of carbon dioxide in the air generation unit. Carbon is contained at a higher concentration than air in the atmosphere.

  If a person inhales air containing a high concentration of carbon dioxide, there is a risk that symptomatic symptoms such as headaches may appear. With respect to such a problem, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, a measure for reducing the carbon dioxide concentration in the special environment chamber by attaching a carbon dioxide removal device to the special environment chamber to which air having a special composition is supplied. It is taken.

  However, even when the above measures are adopted, the special environment such as staying in the vicinity of the inlet for a long period of time, the carbon dioxide concentration is still high in the vicinity of the inlet where the air of the special composition flows in the special environment room. Depending on the specific usage of the room, there is a possibility that the above-mentioned symptoms such as headaches cannot be reliably prevented. Therefore, there is room for further improvement in the air supply apparatus that supplies air of a special composition in order to ensure high safety.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to provide an air supply device that can ensure high safety in an air supply device that supplies air of a special composition. It is to provide.

  An air supply device according to one aspect of the present invention is an air supply device that supplies air of a special composition to a predetermined air supply unit, and is a raw material air deriving unit for deriving raw material air, and the raw material air deriving unit Separating the nitrogen and oxygen from the raw material air derived by the above, and generating air having a higher oxygen concentration and lower oxygen concentration than the raw material air, respectively, and the air generated by the air generating unit is the air A flow path section that flows toward the air supply section, a first flow path section through which the high oxygen concentration air flows, a second flow path section through which the low oxygen concentration air flows, and the air generation section Is disposed in at least one of the first channel portion and the second channel portion and removes carbon dioxide from the air flowing through the channel portion, A carbon removal unit;

  According to this air supply device, the air generation unit divides the raw material air into two parts, and generates air having a high oxygen concentration and a special composition having a low oxygen concentration, respectively. Of the air having a special composition generated by the air generation unit, high oxygen concentration air flows through the first flow path unit and is supplied to the air supply unit, and low oxygen concentration air flows through the second flow path unit. And supplied to the air supply unit. Here, the air supply device includes a carbon dioxide removal unit. The carbon dioxide removing unit is arranged in at least one of the first channel unit and the second channel unit based on the carbon dioxide separation ability in the air generation unit. Thereby, the air of the special composition with which the density | concentration of the carbon dioxide was reduced can be supplied to an air supply part. For this reason, the area | region part in which the air containing a high concentration carbon dioxide exists in an air supply part can be eliminated. Therefore, it is possible to surely suppress the occurrence of a symptom such as a headache in a person who has sucked in air of a special composition in the air supply section, and an air supply capable of ensuring high safety. It becomes a device.

  In the above air supply device, the high oxygen concentration air flowing through the first flow path section and the low oxygen concentration air flowing through the second flow path section are respectively derived by the raw material air deriving section. It is good also as a structure further equipped with the mixing part which mixes with a part of said raw material air, and flows out the mixed mixed air toward the said air supply part.

  In this aspect, the air supplied to the air supply unit is mixed air that has flowed out of the mixing unit. This mixing unit prepares mixed air to be supplied to the air supply unit by mixing the air having a special composition generated by the air generation unit and a part of the source air derived by the source air deriving unit. To do. Thereby, the mixed air adjusted to the desired oxygen concentration value with high accuracy can be supplied to the air supply portion. In addition, by adopting a configuration including a mixing unit into which a part of the raw material air derived by the raw material air deriving unit is introduced, even if the air generating unit stops due to some abnormality, The part can be supplied to the air supply part via the mixing part. For this reason, even when the air generating unit is abnormally stopped, the safety of a person who uses the air supplied unit is ensured.

  In the above air supply device, it is desirable that the carbon dioxide removing unit is disposed upstream of the mixing unit in the air flow direction.

  In this aspect, before the air having the special composition generated by the air generating unit flows into the mixing unit, the carbon dioxide contained in the high concentration air can be removed by the carbon dioxide removing unit. . For this reason, the removal efficiency of the carbon dioxide by a carbon dioxide removal part can be improved.

  In the above air supply apparatus, the air generation unit includes a gas separation membrane capable of separating nitrogen and oxygen from the raw material air, and the high oxygen concentration air and the low oxygen concentration air are separated by the gas separation membrane. It is good also as a structure which produces | generates each.

  In this aspect, it is possible to realize a configuration for generating air having a special composition in the air generation unit with a simplified configuration including the gas separation membrane.

  In the above air supply device, the gas separation membrane may have a selective permeability of oxygen and carbon dioxide with respect to nitrogen, and the carbon dioxide removal unit may be arranged in the first flow path unit.

  When air having a special composition is generated by a gas separation membrane having selective permeability of oxygen and carbon dioxide with respect to nitrogen, carbon dioxide is contained in a high concentration in air having a high oxygen concentration. In such a case, carbon dioxide can be efficiently removed from the high oxygen concentration air by adopting a configuration in which the carbon dioxide removal unit is disposed in the first flow path portion through which the high oxygen concentration air flows.

  In the above air supply apparatus, the gas separation membrane may be a hollow fiber membrane made of polyimide.

  A hollow fiber membrane made of polyimide is a separation membrane having a high permeation rate of oxygen and carbon dioxide with respect to nitrogen and excellent permselectivity of oxygen and carbon dioxide with respect to nitrogen. By using such a hollow fiber membrane made of polyimide as a gas separation membrane, air having a high oxygen concentration and a special composition with a low oxygen concentration can be efficiently generated.

  In the above air supply device, the air supply unit includes a first special environment room and a second special environment room that define an accommodation space in which a person can be accommodated. The high oxygen concentration air flowing through the first flow path is supplied to the first special environment chamber, and the low oxygen concentration air flowing through the second flow path is the second special environment chamber. It is good also as a structure supplied to.

  In this aspect, high oxygen concentration and low oxygen concentration special composition air generated by the air generation unit can be supplied to the first special environment chamber and the second special environment chamber, respectively. The first special environment room supplied with air having a high oxygen concentration can be used as a facility for recovery from fatigue, rehabilitation after exercise or illness, and the like. In addition, the second special environment room to which air having a low oxygen concentration is supplied can be used as a facility where a high altitude training for sports can be simulated.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, in the air supply apparatus which supplies the air of a special composition to a predetermined air supply part, the air supply apparatus which can ensure high safety | security can be provided.

It is a figure showing roughly the composition of the air supply device concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the 1st example of the air production | generation part with which an air supply apparatus is equipped. It is a figure which shows the structure of the 2nd example of the air production | generation part with which an air supply apparatus is equipped. It is a figure which shows schematically the structure of the air supply apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, an air supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The air supply apparatus according to the present embodiment is an apparatus for supplying air having a special composition having a different oxygen concentration from air in the atmosphere to a predetermined air supply unit.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of an air supply device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The air supply device 1 is configured to be able to supply air having a special composition to an air supply unit including a first special environment chamber 100A and a second special environment chamber 100B that define a storage space in which a person can be accommodated.

  The first special environment room 100A and the second special environment room 100B may be a permanent structure, or may be a movable or temporary structure such as a panel assembly type or a tent type. The first special environment chamber 100A and the second special environment chamber 100B do not have to have pressure resistance or vacuum resistance, but have a certain degree of airtightness so that the air composition in the accommodation space can be maintained. It is desirable.

  The air supply device 1 includes a raw material air derivation unit 2, an air generation unit 3, a carbon dioxide removal unit 4, and a mixing unit 5.

  The raw material air deriving unit 2 derives the atmospheric air as raw material air under pressure, and is realized by, for example, an air compressor. The raw air outlet 2 includes a raw air inlet 21 and a raw air outlet 22. A raw material air intake passage portion 21 </ b> A is connected to the raw material air inlet 21. The raw material air intake channel portion 21A forms a flow channel through which the raw material air drawn from the raw material air inlet 21 to the raw material air outlet 2 flows. The raw material air outlet 22 is connected to a raw air outlet channel 22A. The raw material air outlet passage portion 22A forms a passage through which raw material air led out from the raw material air outlet 22 flows.

  The raw material air deriving unit 2 compresses the raw material air that flows through the raw material air suction passage portion 21A and is sucked from the raw material air suction port 21 and pressurizes the compressed raw material air under a predetermined discharge flow rate and discharge pressure. Derived from the raw material air outlet 22. The discharge flow rate and discharge pressure of the raw material air derived from the raw material air outlet 22 by the raw material air outlet 2 can generate air having a special composition from the raw material air in the air generator 3 described later. The mixing unit 5 is set so that mixed air can be prepared using raw material air.

  The source air derived from the source air outlet 22 of the source air outlet 2 flows through the source air outlet passage 22A. The raw air outlet channel 22A is provided with a first on-off valve 71 and a first flow meter 8A1.

  The first on-off valve 71 opens and closes the flow path of the raw air outlet flow path section 22A, and is realized by, for example, an electric valve. The opening degree of the first on-off valve 71 can be adjusted so that the flow rate of the raw material air flowing through the raw material air outlet passage portion 22A can be adjusted. The first flow meter 8A1 is for detecting the flow rate of the raw material air flowing through the raw material air outlet passage portion 22A. The opening degree of the first on-off valve 71 is adjusted based on the detection data by the first flow meter 8A1 so that the flow rate of the raw material air flowing through the raw material air outlet passage portion 22A is kept constant at a predetermined flow rate value. The In addition, the flow rate value of the raw material air flowing through the raw material air outlet passage portion 22A is set so that the oxygen concentration of the special composition air generated by the air generation unit 3 described later becomes a predetermined concentration value.

  The air generating unit 3 separates nitrogen and oxygen from the raw material air derived by the raw material air deriving unit 2 and divides the raw material air into two, and the air having a higher oxygen concentration than the raw material air (hereinafter “high oxygen concentration”). Air having a special composition of air having a lower oxygen concentration than the raw material air (hereinafter referred to as “low oxygen concentration air”). Examples of the structure for generating air having a special composition in the air generating unit 3 include a structure using a gas separation membrane and a structure using a pressure swing adsorption (abbreviated as PSA) mechanism. it can.

  First, with reference to FIG. 2 in addition to FIG. 1, the specific structure in the air generation part 3 of the structure using a gas separation membrane is demonstrated. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an air generation unit 3 including a gas separation membrane 33 as a first example of the air generation unit 3 provided in the air supply device 1. The air generation part 3 shown in FIG. 2 includes a main body part 31, a pair of support parts 32, and a gas separation membrane 33.

  In the air generation part 3, the main body part 31 is formed in a container shape having an internal space. A pair of support portions 32 are disposed in the internal space of the main body portion 31 with a space therebetween, and the gas separation membrane 33 is supported by the pair of support portions 32. The main body 31 has a raw material air inlet 311, a high oxygen concentration air outlet 312, and a low oxygen concentration air outlet 313 which are opened so as to communicate the internal space with the outside.

  A raw material air outlet passage portion 22A is connected to the raw material air inlet 311 of the main body portion 31. The raw material air flowing through the raw material air outlet passage portion 22 </ b> A flows into the internal space of the main body portion 31 from the raw material air inlet 311. When raw material air flows into the internal space of the main body 31 from the raw material air inlet 311, a special composition of high oxygen concentration and low oxygen concentration (high oxygen concentration) is obtained by the gas separation membrane 33 supported by the pair of support portions 32. Air and low oxygen concentration air) are respectively produced. In the air having a special composition generated by the gas separation membrane 33, the oxygen concentration of the raw air is, for example, 20.9%, whereas the oxygen concentration of the high oxygen concentration air is, for example, 46.3%. The oxygen concentration of the concentration air is, for example, 10.0%. Details of the gas separation membrane 33 will be described later.

  A first flow path portion 312 </ b> A is connected to the high oxygen concentration air outlet 312 of the main body portion 31. The first flow path portion 312A is a flow path section that forms a flow path in which the high oxygen concentration air generated by the gas separation membrane 33 flows toward the first special environment chamber 100A. The first flow path portion 312A is provided with a second on-off valve 72 and a second flow meter 8A2.

  The second open / close valve 72 opens and closes the flow path of the first flow path portion 312A, and is realized by, for example, an electric valve. The second on-off valve 72 can be adjusted in opening so that the flow rate of the high oxygen concentration air flowing through the first flow path portion 312A can be adjusted. The second flow meter 8A2 is for detecting the flow rate of the high oxygen concentration air flowing through the first flow path portion 312A. The second flow meter 8A2 is disposed on the downstream side in the flow direction of the high oxygen concentration air with respect to the second on-off valve 72 in the first flow path portion 312A. The opening degree of the second on-off valve 72 is adjusted based on the detection data by the second flow meter 8A2 so that the flow rate of the high oxygen concentration air flowing through the first flow path portion 312A is kept constant at a predetermined flow rate value. Is done.

  A second flow path portion 313A is connected to the low oxygen concentration air outlet 313 of the main body portion 31. The second flow path portion 313A is a flow path portion that forms a flow path in which low oxygen concentration air generated by the gas separation membrane 33 flows toward the second special environment chamber 100B. The second flow path portion 313A is provided with a third on-off valve 73 and a third flow meter 8A3.

  The third on-off valve 73 opens and closes the flow path of the second flow path portion 313A, and is realized by, for example, an electric valve. The third on-off valve 73 can be adjusted in opening degree so that the flow rate of the low oxygen concentration air flowing through the second flow path portion 313A can be adjusted. The third flow meter 8A3 is for detecting the flow rate of the low oxygen concentration air flowing through the second flow path portion 313A. The third flow meter 8A3 is disposed on the downstream side in the flow direction of the low oxygen concentration air with respect to the third on-off valve 73 in the second flow path portion 313A. The opening degree of the third on-off valve 73 is adjusted based on the detection data by the third flow meter 8A3 so that the flow rate of the low oxygen concentration air flowing through the second flow path part 313A is kept constant at a predetermined flow rate value. Is done.

  Here, the gas separation membrane 33 provided in the air generation unit 3 will be described. The gas separation membrane 33 is a separation membrane capable of separating nitrogen and oxygen from raw material air. The gas separation membrane 33 is roughly classified into an organic membrane using a polymer and an inorganic membrane using an inorganic material.

  Examples of the inorganic material constituting the gas separation membrane 33 of the inorganic membrane include silica and alumina by a sol-gel method, zeolite by a hydrothermal synthesis method, and porous glass by a phase separation method. The inorganic gas separation membrane 33 has sub-nanometer-size pores, and separates nitrogen and oxygen from the raw air using the difference in permeability of gas molecules to the pores. The separation mechanism of the gas molecules by the gas separation membrane 33 of the inorganic membrane is classified into Knudsen diffusion, surface diffusion, capillary condensation or micropore filling, separation mechanism of molecular sieve, and large separation property is the surface diffusion of gas molecules in the pores. Expressed by capillary condensation or micropore filling, or molecular sieve mechanism.

  The permeability of gas molecules to the pores in the gas separation membrane 33 of an inorganic membrane is greatly influenced by the molecular diameter of the gas molecules. The molecular diameters of nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide are larger in the order of oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. For this reason, in terms of the molecular diameter of the gas molecules, the permeability to the pores decreases in the order of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. Therefore, from the viewpoint of the molecular diameter of the gas molecules, the gas separation membrane 33 of the inorganic membrane selectively allows oxygen to permeate nitrogen to make high oxygen concentration air, and makes the non-permeate air have low oxygen concentration air. At this time, carbon dioxide having a molecular diameter larger than that of nitrogen is contained in a high concentration on the low oxygen concentration air side. However, since the permeability of the gas molecules to the pores in the gas separation membrane 33 of the inorganic membrane is not determined only by the molecular diameter of the gas molecules, it can be absorbed in either high oxygen concentration air or low oxygen concentration air. It is necessary to verify in advance experimentally whether carbon is contained in a high concentration.

  Examples of the polymer constituting the organic membrane gas separation membrane 33 include cellulose acetate, polysulfone, polycarbonate, and polyimide. The gas permeation behavior of the organic membrane gas separation membrane 33 is explained by a dissolution diffusion model, and the permeation coefficient is expressed by the product of the solubility coefficient and the diffusion coefficient. The gas molecules are dissolved in the gas separation membrane 33, and the gap generated by the thermal motion of the polymer chain is diffused from the high pressure side to the low pressure side. That is, the organic membrane gas separation membrane 33 separates nitrogen and oxygen from the raw air using the solubility of gas molecules and the diffusion rate difference in the membrane. The permeation coefficient of gas molecules with respect to the gas separation membrane 33 is determined by the structure of the polymer constituting the gas separation membrane 33. The organic membrane gas separation membrane 33 selectively permeates oxygen with respect to nitrogen to form high oxygen concentration air, and the non-permeated portion to low oxygen concentration air. At this time, it may be experimentally verified in advance whether high-concentration air or low-oxygen concentration air contains carbon dioxide at a high concentration. The organic membrane gas separation membrane 33 is a flat membrane or a hollow fiber membrane. For example, a hollow fiber membrane made of polyimide described in JP-A-6-254367 is suitable as the gas separation membrane 33.

  Alternatively, a molecular sieve carbon film obtained by heat-treating a polymer precursor such as polyimide on the inorganic material, or a carbon film obtained by heat-treating polyimide may be used as the gas separation film 33. For example, a hollow fiber carbon membrane prepared by heat treatment of a hollow fiber membrane made of polyimide described in Japanese Patent No. 2626837 can be used as the gas separation membrane 33.

  In the present embodiment, the high oxygen concentration air that is generated by the gas separation membrane 33 of the air generation unit 3 and flows out of the high oxygen concentration air outlet 312 and flows through the first flow path unit 312A is supplied to the first special environment chamber 100A. Then, the low oxygen concentration air flowing out from the low oxygen concentration air outlet 313 and flowing through the second flow path portion 313A is supplied to the second special environment chamber 100B. That is, in the present embodiment, air having a special composition composed of high oxygen concentration air and low oxygen concentration air generated by the air generation unit 3 is supplied to each of the first special environment chamber 100A and the second special environment chamber 100B. can do. The first special environment room 100A to which the high oxygen concentration air is supplied can be used as a facility for recovery from fatigue, rehabilitation after exercise or illness, and the like. In addition, the second special environment room 100B supplied with the low oxygen concentration air can be used as a facility where a high altitude training of sports or the like can be simulated.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 3 in addition to FIG. 1, a specific configuration in a modified example of the air generating unit 3 having a structure using the PSA mechanism will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an air generation unit 3 configured to include a PSA mechanism as a second example of the air generation unit 3 provided in the air supply device 1. 3 includes an air tank 30A, a first adsorption tower 30B1, and a second adsorption tower 30B2.

  In each of the first adsorption tower 30B1 and the second adsorption tower 30B2, the air generation unit 3 repeats the steps of making the adsorption process, the first pressure equalization process, the desorption process, and the second pressure equalization process as one cycle, and the air tank 30A. High oxygen concentration air and low oxygen concentration air are respectively generated from the raw material air flowing in through At that time, while one adsorption tower is subjected to the adsorption process, the other adsorption tower is subjected to the desorption process, while one adsorption tower is subjected to the first pressure equalization process, while the other adsorption tower is the second adsorption tower. It is subjected to a pressure equalization process.

  In the air generation unit 3, a raw material air outlet flow channel portion 22A and an air outflow flow channel portion 30C are connected to the air tank 30A. 30 A of air tanks temporarily store the raw material air which flows in and flows in the raw material air derivation flow path part 22A, and makes the stored raw material air flow out to the air outflow flow path part 30C. A first introduction flow path portion 30C1 provided with an on-off valve 30C11 is connected between the air outflow flow path portion 30C and the first adsorption tower 30B1, and a second introduction flow passage portion 30C2 provided with an on-off valve 30C21. Is connected between the second adsorption tower 30B2.

  The first adsorption tower 30B1 and the second adsorption tower 30B2 are filled with an adsorbent. Examples of the adsorbent include porous adsorbents such as zeolite having an adsorption ability for nitrogen and activated carbon having an adsorption ability for oxygen. Zeolite has the property of selectively adsorbing nitrogen and carbon dioxide from the raw air, and the adsorption ability of nitrogen and carbon dioxide increases under high pressure conditions. For this reason, the first adsorption tower 30B1 and the second adsorption tower 30B2 filled with zeolite adsorb a large amount of nitrogen and carbon dioxide in the adsorption step under pressure to flow out high oxygen concentration air, and then desorb under reduced pressure. In the process, nitrogen and carbon dioxide are desorbed and low oxygen concentration air is discharged. That is, in the first adsorption tower 30B1 and the second adsorption tower 30B2 filled with zeolite, carbon dioxide is contained in a high concentration in the low oxygen concentration air.

  On the other hand, activated carbon has the property of selectively adsorbing oxygen and carbon dioxide from the raw air, and the adsorption ability of oxygen and carbon dioxide increases under high pressure conditions. For this reason, the first adsorption tower 30B1 and the second adsorption tower 30B2 filled with activated carbon adsorb a large amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the adsorption step under pressure, and flow out the low oxygen concentration air, and then desorb under reduced pressure. In the process, oxygen and carbon dioxide are desorbed and high oxygen concentration air is discharged. That is, in the first adsorption tower 30B1 and the second adsorption tower 30B2 filled with activated carbon, carbon dioxide is included in the high oxygen concentration air at a high concentration.

  The first adsorption tower 30B1 is provided with an opening / closing valve 30D11, and is provided with a first high oxygen concentration air outflow passage 30D1 for flowing out the high oxygen concentration air and an opening / closing valve 30E11 to allow the low oxygen concentration air to flow out. 1 A low oxygen concentration air outflow passage 30E1 is connected. In addition, the second adsorption tower 30B2 is provided with an on-off valve 30D21, and is provided with a second high oxygen concentration air outflow passage 30D2 through which high oxygen concentration air flows out, and an on-off valve 30E21, through which the low oxygen concentration air flows out. The second low oxygen concentration air outflow passage 30E2 to be made is connected. The first high oxygen concentration air outflow channel 30D1 and the second high oxygen concentration air outflow channel 30D2 are connected to the first channel 312A, and the first low oxygen concentration air outflow channel 30E1 and the first low oxygen concentration air outflow channel 30E1. 2 The low oxygen concentration air outflow channel 30E2 is connected to the second channel 313A.

  In each of the first adsorption tower 30B1 and the second adsorption tower 30B2, by repeating the adsorption process, the first pressure equalization process, the desorption process, and the second pressure equalization process as one cycle, high oxygen concentration air and low oxygen When generating the concentration air, the on-off valves 30C11, 30C21, 30D11, 30D21, 30E11, 30E21 are selected in accordance with the adsorptivity of the adsorbent filled in the first adsorption tower 30B1 and the second adsorption tower 30B2 with respect to nitrogen or oxygen. The opening / closing operation is controlled.

  One of the first high oxygen concentration air outflow channel 30D1 and the second high oxygen concentration air outflow channel 30D2 generated by the first adsorption tower 30B1 and the second adsorption tower 30B2 of the air generation unit 3 The high oxygen concentration air that flows out from the first flow path portion 312A and is supplied to the first special environment chamber 100A is supplied to the first low oxygen concentration air outflow flow path portion 30E1 and the second low oxygen concentration air outflow flow channel portion 30E2. The low oxygen concentration air that flows out of any one of the flow paths and flows through the second flow path section 313A is supplied to the second special environment chamber 100B.

  Next, the carbon dioxide removal unit 4 provided in the air supply device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The carbon dioxide removing unit 4 is disposed in at least one of the first channel unit 312A and the second channel unit 313A based on the carbon dioxide separation ability in the air generation unit 3, and the channel Carbon dioxide is removed from the air of special composition flowing through the section. The carbon dioxide removing unit 4 is disposed in the channel portion of the first channel portion 312A and the second channel portion 313A through which air having a special composition containing carbon dioxide at a higher concentration than the raw material air flows. Here, the removal of carbon dioxide means that the carbon dioxide concentration of air having a special composition generated by the air generation unit 3 is set to be equal to or lower than the carbon dioxide concentration of the raw material air. For example, when the carbon dioxide concentration of the raw material air is 0.03%, the carbon dioxide removal unit 4 removes the carbon dioxide so that the carbon dioxide concentration of the special composition air is 0.03% or less.

  When the adsorbent filled in the first adsorption tower 30B1 and the second adsorption tower 30B2 used in the air generation unit 3 or the gas separation membrane 33 has a characteristic that carbon dioxide is contained in the high oxygen concentration air at a high concentration. The carbon dioxide removal unit 4 is disposed in the first flow path unit 312A through which the high oxygen concentration air flows. Further, the adsorbent or gas separation membrane 33 filled in the first adsorption tower 30B1 and the second adsorption tower 30B2 used in the air generation unit 3 has a characteristic that carbon dioxide is contained in high concentration in low oxygen concentration air. In this case, the carbon dioxide removal unit 4 is disposed in the second flow path unit 313A through which the low oxygen concentration air flows. Further, in order to further reduce the carbon dioxide concentration in the high oxygen concentration air and the low oxygen concentration air generated by the air generation unit 3, the flow paths of both the first flow path section 312A and the second flow path section 313A are used. The carbon dioxide removing unit 4 may be disposed in the unit.

  The carbon dioxide removal unit 4 includes a special composition air inlet 41 and an air outlet 42. The carbon dioxide removal unit 4 flows from at least one of the first flow channel unit 312A and the second flow channel unit 313A through the special composition air inflow port 41 and flows in carbon dioxide from the special composition air inflow port 41. Carbon dioxide is removed by the removing agent, and the air from which the carbon dioxide has been removed is caused to flow out from the air outlet 42.

  Examples of the carbon dioxide removing agent used in the carbon dioxide removing unit 4 include an alkaline substance having a property of absorbing carbon dioxide by a chemical reaction and an adsorbent having a property of adsorbing carbon dioxide. Examples of the alkaline substance include potassium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, barium hydroxide, and amine, and may be used as a solution or a granule. Examples of the adsorbent include porous adsorbents such as zeolite and activated carbon.

  In addition, when an alkaline substance is used as the carbon dioxide removing agent, the alkaline substance after absorbing carbon dioxide can be regenerated by releasing carbon dioxide by heating. Further, when an adsorbent is used as the carbon dioxide removing agent, the adsorbent after adsorbing carbon dioxide under high pressure can be regenerated by desorbing carbon dioxide under reduced pressure. In order to carry out the regeneration process of the carbon dioxide removing agent as described above while continuing the air supply operation of the special composition by the air supply device 1, at least two carbon dioxide removing units 4 are arranged in parallel. Also good.

  When the special composition air generated by the air generation unit 3 contains carbon dioxide at a high concentration and such air is supplied to the first special environment chamber 100A and the second special environment chamber 100B, the air is intended. A person who has directly inhaled without the risk of developing headaches or other suspicious symptoms. Therefore, the air supply device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a carbon dioxide removing unit 4 that removes carbon dioxide from the air having a special composition before being supplied to the first special environment chamber 100A and the second special environment chamber 100B. As described above, the carbon dioxide removing unit 4 is disposed in at least one of the first channel unit 312A and the second channel unit 313A based on the carbon dioxide separation ability in the air generation unit 3. Is done. Thereby, the air of the special composition with which the density | concentration of the carbon dioxide was reduced can be supplied to 100 A of 1st special environment chambers, and the 2nd special environment chamber 100B. For this reason, it is possible to eliminate an area portion where air containing high-concentration carbon dioxide exists in the first special environment chamber 100A and the second special environment chamber 100B. Therefore, it is possible to surely prevent a symptom such as a headache from appearing in a person who sucks air of a special composition in the first special environment room 100A and the second special environment room 100B, and high safety. It becomes the air supply apparatus 1 which can ensure.

  In the present embodiment, in the air generation unit 3 configured to include the gas separation membrane 33, the gas separation membrane 33 is a separation membrane having selective permeability of oxygen and carbon dioxide with respect to nitrogen, specifically, from polyimide. It becomes the hollow fiber membrane which becomes. A hollow fiber membrane made of polyimide is a separation membrane having a high permeation rate of oxygen and carbon dioxide with respect to nitrogen and excellent permselectivity of oxygen and carbon dioxide with respect to nitrogen. By using such a hollow fiber membrane made of polyimide as the gas separation membrane 33, the air generating unit 3 can efficiently generate air having a special composition composed of high oxygen concentration air and low oxygen concentration air.

  An example of oxygen concentration and carbon dioxide concentration in air having a special composition generated by a gas separation membrane 33 using a hollow fiber membrane made of polyimide, flows from the raw material air inlet 311 into the main body 31 of the air generating unit 3. The raw material air to be used has an oxygen concentration of 20.9% and a carbon dioxide concentration of 0.03%, whereas a high oxygen concentration air has an oxygen concentration of 46.4% and a carbon dioxide concentration of 0.13%, so that the low oxygen concentration air Has an oxygen concentration of 10.0% and a carbon dioxide concentration of 0.005%. As described above, when a hollow fiber membrane made of polyimide having oxygen and carbon dioxide permselectivity with respect to nitrogen is used as the gas separation membrane 33 and air having a special composition is generated by the gas separation membrane 33, high oxygen concentration air Therefore, carbon dioxide is contained in a high concentration.

  In such a case, as shown in FIG. 1, the carbon dioxide removal unit 4 is arranged in the first flow path unit 312A through which the high oxygen concentration air flows. Specifically, the carbon dioxide removal unit 4 is disposed upstream of the second on-off valve 72 in the flow direction of the high oxygen concentration air in the first flow path unit 312A. Thereby, carbon dioxide can be efficiently removed from the high oxygen concentration air.

  Next, referring to FIG. 1, the air supply device 1 may be configured to include the mixing unit 5. The mixing unit 5 derives the high oxygen concentration air flowing through the first flow path unit 312A and the low oxygen concentration air flowing through the second flow path unit 313A from the raw material air outlet 22 of the raw material air deriving unit 2, respectively. Mix with a portion of the feed air. Then, the mixing unit 5 causes the mixed air to flow out toward the first special environment chamber 100A and the second special environment chamber 100B, respectively. In the present embodiment, the mixing unit 5 includes a first mixing unit 51 and a second mixing unit 52.

  Connected to the first mixing section 51 are a first raw material air branch flow path section 22B branched from the raw material air outlet flow path section 22A, a first flow path section 312A, and a first mixed air outflow flow path section 51A. ing. The first raw material air branch flow path portion 22B forms a flow path through which a part of the raw material air derived from the raw material air outlet port 22 of the raw material air outlet portion 2 flows. The first mixed air outflow channel 51A is prepared by mixing by the first mixing unit 51 and forms a channel through which the mixed air flowing out from the first mixing unit 51 flows toward the first special environment chamber 100A. To do. The first mixing unit 51 mixes the high oxygen concentration air flowing through the first flow path unit 312A and the raw material air flowing through the first raw material air branch flow path unit 22B, and the mixed air is mixed with the first mixed air. The air flows out toward the first special environment chamber 100A through the air outflow channel 51A.

  The first raw material air branch passage section 22B is provided with a fourth on-off valve 74, a fourth flow meter 8A4, and a first concentration meter 8B1. The 1st concentration meter 8B1 is for detecting the density | concentration of the carbon monoxide contained in the raw material air which flows through the 1st raw material air branch flow path part 22B. Based on the detection data of carbon monoxide by the first concentration meter 8B1, the operating state of the raw material air deriving unit 2 is monitored. Note that the first concentration meter 8B1 for monitoring the operating state of the raw material air outlet 2 is not limited to being disposed in the first raw material air branching channel 22B, and the flow channel through which the raw air flows. It may be arranged in the raw material air outlet flow channel portion 22A or the second raw material air branch flow channel portion 22C described later.

  The fourth open / close valve 74 opens and closes the flow path of the first raw material air branch flow path section 22B, and is realized by, for example, an electric valve. The fourth on-off valve 74 can be adjusted in opening degree so that the flow rate of the raw material air flowing through the first raw material air branch passage section 22B can be adjusted. The fourth flow meter 8A4 is for detecting the flow rate of the raw material air flowing through the first raw material air branch passage portion 22B. The fourth flow meter 8A4 is disposed on the downstream side in the flow direction of the raw material air with respect to the fourth on-off valve 74 in the first raw material air branch passage portion 22B. Based on the detection data by the fourth flow meter 8A4, the opening degree of the fourth on-off valve 74 is set so that the flow rate of the raw material air flowing through the first raw material air branch passage portion 22B is kept constant at a predetermined flow rate value. Adjusted. Note that the flow rate value of the raw material air flowing through the first raw material air branching channel portion 22B and the flow rate value of the high oxygen concentration air flowing through the first flow channel portion 312A are prepared by the first mixing unit 51 and are the first special. The composition of the mixed air to be supplied to the environmental chamber 100A is set so as to have a desired composition.

  The first mixing unit 51 is provided with a second densitometer 8B2. The second concentration meter 8B2 is for detecting the composition of the mixed air prepared by the first mixing unit 51. The second concentration meter 8B2 mainly detects the oxygen concentration and the carbon dioxide concentration in the mixed air prepared by the first mixing unit 51. Based on the detection data by the second concentration meter 8B2, the operating states of the air generation unit 3 and the carbon dioxide removal unit 4 are monitored.

  The second mixing section 52 is connected to a second raw material air branch flow path section 22C branched from the raw material air outlet flow path section 22A, a second flow path section 313A, and a second mixed air outflow flow path section 52A. ing. 22 C of 2nd raw material air branch flow path parts form the flow path through which a part of raw material air derived | led-out from the raw material air outlet 22 of the raw material air derivation part 2 flows. The second mixed air outflow passage portion 52A is prepared by mixing by the second mixing portion 52, and forms a passage through which the mixed air flowing out from the second mixing portion 52 flows toward the second special environment chamber 100B. To do. The second mixing part 52 mixes the low oxygen concentration air flowing through the second flow path part 313A and the raw air flowing through the second raw material air branch flow path part 22C, and the mixed air is mixed into the second mixing part 52 The air flows out toward the second special environment chamber 100B through the air outflow channel portion 52A.

  A fifth on-off valve 75 and a fifth flow meter 8A5 are provided in the second raw material air branch passage section 22C.

  The fifth on-off valve 75 opens and closes the flow path of the second raw material air branch flow path section 22C, and is realized by, for example, an electric valve. The fifth on-off valve 75 can be adjusted in opening degree so that the flow rate of the raw material air flowing through the second raw material air branch passage section 22C can be adjusted. The fifth flow meter 8A5 is for detecting the flow rate of the raw material air flowing through the second raw material air branch passage section 22C. The fifth flow meter 8A5 is disposed downstream of the fifth on-off valve 75 in the flow direction of the raw material air in the second raw material air branching channel portion 22C. Based on the detection data by the fifth flow meter 8A5, the opening degree of the fifth on-off valve 75 is set so that the flow rate of the raw material air flowing through the second raw material air branch passage portion 22C is kept constant at a predetermined flow rate value. Adjusted. In addition, the flow rate value of the raw material air flowing through the second raw material air branch flow channel portion 22C and the flow rate value of the low oxygen concentration air flowing through the second flow channel portion 313A are prepared by the second mixing unit 52, and the second special air flow rate value. The composition of the mixed air to be supplied to the environmental chamber 100B is set so as to have a desired composition.

  The second mixing unit 52 is provided with a third densitometer 8B3. The third concentration meter 8B3 is for detecting the composition of the mixed air prepared by the second mixing unit 52. The third concentration meter 8B3 mainly detects the oxygen concentration and the carbon dioxide concentration in the mixed air prepared by the second mixing unit 52. Based on the detection data by the third densitometer 8B3, the operating state of the air generation unit 3 is monitored.

  In the air supply device 1 provided with the mixing unit 5, the air supplied to the first special environment chamber 100 </ b> A and the second special environment chamber 100 </ b> B is the first mixing unit 51 and the second mixing unit that constitute the mixing unit 5. The mixed air flows out from each of the parts 52. The mixing unit 5 mixes the first special environment chamber 100A and the second special environment chamber 100A by mixing the air having a special composition generated by the air generation unit 3 and a part of the raw material air derived from the raw material air deriving unit 2. The mixed air to be supplied to each of the special environment chambers 100B is prepared. Thereby, the mixed air adjusted to a desired oxygen concentration value with high accuracy can be supplied to each of the first special environment chamber 100A and the second special environment chamber 100B.

  Moreover, even if it is a case where the air generation part 3 stops by some abnormality by setting it as the structure provided with the mixing part 5 into which some raw material air derived | led-out from the raw material air derivation | leading-out part 2 flows in, the said raw material Part of the air can be supplied to the first special environment chamber 100A and the second special environment chamber 100B via the mixing unit 5. For this reason, the safety of the person using the first special environment room 100A and the second special environment room 100B is ensured even when the air generation unit 3 is abnormally stopped.

  Moreover, in the air supply apparatus 1 provided with the mixing part 5, as shown in FIG. 1, as for the carbon dioxide removal part 4, it is desirable to be arrange | positioned with respect to the mixing part 5 in the air flow direction upstream. In this aspect, before the air having the special composition generated by the air generating unit 3 flows into the mixing unit 5, the carbon dioxide contained in the special composition air at a high concentration is removed by the carbon dioxide removing unit 4. be able to. For this reason, the removal efficiency of the carbon dioxide by the carbon dioxide removal part 4 can be improved.

  As described above, in the air supply device 1 according to the present embodiment, the air generation unit 3 generates air having a special composition of high oxygen concentration air and low oxygen concentration air from the raw material air, and the generated special composition air. Is supplied to each of the first special environment room 100A and the second special environment room 100B. The first special environment chamber 100A is provided with a fourth densitometer 8B4, and the second special environment chamber 100B is provided with a fifth densitometer 8B5. The 4th concentration meter 8B4 and the 5th concentration meter 8B5 are for detecting the air composition in each of the 1st special environment room 100A and the 2nd special environment room 100B, respectively. The fourth concentration meter 8B4 and the fifth concentration meter 8B5 mainly detect the oxygen concentration and the carbon dioxide concentration. Based on the detection data by the fourth densitometer 8B4 and the fifth densitometer 8B5, the air composition in each of the first special environment chamber 100A and the second special environment chamber 100B is monitored.

  Further, the first special environment room 100A is provided with a first ventilation part 100A1, and the second special environment room 100B is provided with a second ventilation part 100B1. The first ventilation unit 100A1 and the second ventilation unit 100B1 are each configured by a damper or a ventilation fan, and ventilate the air in each of the first special environment room 100A and the second special environment room 100B.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the air supply device 1 may be configured to be able to supply special composition air to the first suction mask 101 </ b> A and the second suction mask 101 </ b> B as the air supply portions. Specifically, the air supply device 1 includes a first mixed air branch channel 51A1 connected to the first suction mask 101A, and a second mixed air branch channel 52A1 connected to the second suction mask 101B. It is set as the structure provided with. Here, the first suction mask 101A and the second suction mask 101B are mounted on the face so as to cover the nose and mouth of the person, and are configured to allow the person to suck the supplied special composition air. It is.

  The first mixed air branch passage 51A1 branches from the first mixed air outflow passage 51A through which the high oxygen concentration mixed air that has flowed out from the first mixing portion 51 flows, and a sixth on-off valve 76 is provided. It is a channel part. By mounting the first suction mask 101A with the sixth open / close valve 76 opened, the high oxygen concentration mixed air can be sucked even outside the first special environment chamber 100A.

  The second mixed air branch flow path portion 52A1 branches from the second mixed air outflow flow path portion 52A through which the low oxygen concentration mixed air that has flowed out from the second mixing portion 52 flows, and a seventh on-off valve 77 is provided. It is a channel part. By mounting the second suction mask 101B with the seventh on-off valve 77 opened, the low oxygen concentration mixed air can be sucked even outside the second special environment chamber 100B.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the air supply device 1 is configured to include a recovery air flow excess flow path portion 6 connected between the second special environment chamber 100B and the raw material air suction flow path portion 21A. May be. The recovered air flow excess flow path portion 6 forms a flow path in which part of the air in the second special environment chamber 100B flows to the raw material air intake flow path portion 21A. An eighth on-off valve 78 is provided in the recovered air flow passage portion 6. The eighth on-off valve 78 opens and closes the flow path of the recovery air flow excess flow path section 6 and is realized by, for example, an electric valve. The eighth on-off valve 78 can be adjusted in opening so that the flow rate of the air flowing through the recovered air flow excess flow path section 6 can be adjusted. The opening degree of the eighth on-off valve 78 is adjusted based on the detection data by the fifth concentration meter 8B5 for monitoring the air composition of the second special environment chamber 100B.

  As described above, the second special environment room 100B to which the mixed air having a low oxygen concentration is supplied is used as a facility where a high altitude training for sports can be simulated. For this reason, in the second special environment room 100B, the carbon dioxide concentration tends to increase as the person breathes during exercise, compared to the first special environment room 100A. Therefore, by flowing a part of the air in the second special environment chamber 100B in which the carbon dioxide concentration has increased to the raw material air intake passage portion 21A through the recovery air flow excess flow passage portion 6, the carbon dioxide concentration can be reduced. Excessive rise can be suppressed. The carbon dioxide contained in the air in the second special environment chamber 100B returned to the raw material air suction flow path portion 21A is removed by the carbon dioxide removal portion 4.

  Note that the air supply device 1 may be configured such that the recovered air flow excess flow path portion 6 is also connected between the first special environment chamber 100A and the raw material air suction flow path portion 21A. As a result, when the carbon dioxide concentration in the first special environment chamber 100A is excessively increased, a part of the air in the first special environment chamber 100A is supplied to the raw material air via the recovered air flow passage portion 6. It is possible to flow to the suction channel portion 21A.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the air supply device 1 includes a control unit 9. The control unit 9 comprehensively controls the operation of the air supply device 1. The control unit 9 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer in which a storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) for storing a control program and a flash memory for temporarily storing data is built, and the air is read by reading the control program. The operation of the supply device 1 is controlled.

  The control unit 9 controls the raw material air deriving unit 2 to derive the compressed raw material air at a predetermined discharge flow rate and discharge pressure. Thereby, the raw material air derived from the raw material air deriving unit 2 flows through the raw material air deriving channel 22A and flows into the air generating unit 3. At this time, the control unit 9 performs the first opening / closing operation based on the detection data by the first flow meter 8A1 so that the flow rate of the raw material air flowing through the raw material air outlet passage portion 22A is kept constant at a predetermined flow rate value. The opening degree of the valve 71 is adjusted.

  Further, part of the raw material air flowing through the raw material air outlet flow channel portion 22A flows through the first raw material air branch flow channel portion 22B and the second raw material air branch flow channel portion 22C, and the first mixing portion 51 and the second mixing air flow. It flows into each of the parts 52. At this time, based on the detection data from the fourth flow meter 8A4, the control unit 9 keeps the flow rate of the raw material air flowing through the first raw material air branching channel portion 22B constant at a predetermined flow rate value. The opening degree of the 4 on-off valve 74 is adjusted. Further, the control unit 9 sets the fifth flow meter 8A5 based on the detection data by the fifth flow meter 8A5 so that the flow rate of the raw material air flowing through the second raw material air branching channel portion 22C is kept constant at a predetermined flow rate value. The opening degree of the on-off valve 75 is adjusted.

  The air generation unit 3 into which the raw material air has flowed generates high oxygen concentration air and low oxygen concentration air. The high oxygen concentration air generated by the air generation unit 3 flows through the first flow path unit 312 </ b> A, passes through the carbon dioxide removal unit 4, and flows into the first mixing unit 51. At this time, the control unit 9 sets the second flow meter 8A2 based on the detection data by the second flow meter 8A2 so that the flow rate of the high oxygen concentration air flowing through the first flow path unit 312A is kept constant at a predetermined flow rate value. The opening degree of the on-off valve 72 is adjusted.

  The low oxygen concentration air generated by the air generation unit 3 flows through the second flow path unit 313A and flows into the second mixing unit 52. At this time, based on the detection data from the third flow meter 8A3, the control unit 9 controls the third flow rate so that the flow rate of the low oxygen concentration air flowing through the second flow path unit 313A is kept constant at a predetermined flow rate value. The opening degree of the on-off valve 73 is adjusted.

  The 1st mixing part 51 into which raw material air and high oxygen concentration air were flowed in prepares high oxygen concentration mixed air. The mixed air prepared by the first mixing unit 51 flows through the first mixed air outflow channel 51A and is supplied to the first special environment chamber 100A. In addition, the mixed air that has flowed through the first mixed air branch passage portion 51A1 in a state where the sixth on-off valve 76 is opened is supplied to the first suction mask 101A.

  Moreover, the 2nd mixing part 52 into which raw material air and low oxygen concentration air were flowed in prepares low oxygen concentration mixed air. The mixed air prepared by the second mixing unit 52 flows through the second mixed air outflow channel 52A and is supplied to the second special environment chamber 100B. In addition, the mixed air that has flowed through the second mixed air branch passage portion 52A1 with the seventh on-off valve 77 opened is supplied to the second suction mask 101B.

  In the second special environment chamber 100B to which the low oxygen concentration mixed air is supplied, when the data detected by the fifth densitometer 8B5 shows an excessively high value of the carbon dioxide concentration, the controller 9 opens and closes the eighth opening / closing. The opening degree of the valve 78 is adjusted, and a part of the air in the second special environment chamber 100B in which the carbon dioxide concentration has increased is caused to flow to the raw material air intake flow path portion 21A via the recovery air flow excess flow path portion 6. .

  In addition, in the detection data by the second concentration meter 8B2 provided in the first mixing unit 51 and the fourth concentration meter 8B4 provided in the first special environment chamber 100A, the control unit 9 closes the second open / close valve 72 provided in the first flow path portion 312A serving as the flow path for the high oxygen concentration air and closes the open / close valve of the flow path portion connected to the first mixing section 51 The 4th on-off valve 74 provided in the 1st source air branch passage part 22B used as an air passage is maintained in an open state. Thereby, it is possible to regulate the supply of the high oxygen concentration air having an abnormal oxygen concentration to the first special environment chamber 100A and supply only the raw material air to the first special environment chamber 100A. As a result, the air supply device 1 can ensure high safety.

  In addition, in the detection data by the third concentration meter 8B3 provided in the second mixing unit 52 and the fifth concentration meter 8B5 provided in the second special environment chamber 100B, when the oxygen concentration shows an abnormal value, the control unit 9 closes the third open / close valve 73 provided in the second flow path portion 313A serving as the low oxygen concentration air flow path for the open / close valve of the flow path section connected to the second mixing section 52, and The fifth on-off valve 75 provided in the second raw material air branch flow path portion 22C, which serves as an air flow path, is maintained in an open state. Accordingly, it is possible to restrict the low oxygen concentration air having an abnormal oxygen concentration from being supplied to the second special environment chamber 100B, and to supply only the raw air to the second special environment chamber 100B. As a result, the air supply device 1 can ensure high safety.

Second Embodiment
FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the air supply device 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The air supply device 1 according to the first embodiment described above is configured to be able to supply air of special compositions having different oxygen concentrations to the two special environment chambers including the first special environment chamber 100A and the second special environment chamber 100B. Device. On the other hand, the air supply device 10 according to the second embodiment is a device that switches and supplies air with a special composition having a different oxygen concentration to one special environment chamber 100. The air supply device 10 according to the second embodiment is configured in the same manner as the air supply device 1 according to the first embodiment, except that the air supply device 10 includes a switching mechanism 10A for switching and supplying air having a special composition having different oxygen concentrations. Is done. As described above, the air supply device 10 according to the second embodiment has the same portion as the air supply device 1 according to the first embodiment. Accordingly, in the following description and drawings, corresponding similar parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  The air supply device 10 according to the second embodiment includes a raw material air deriving unit 2, an air generating unit 3, a carbon dioxide removing unit 4, a mixing unit 5, a switching mechanism 10A, and a control unit 9.

  In the air supply device 10, the raw material air deriving unit 2 compresses the raw material air that flows through the raw material air intake passage portion 21 </ b> A and is sucked from the raw material air inlet 21, and the compressed raw material air is discharged at a predetermined discharge flow rate and discharge. Derived from the raw material air outlet 22 under pressure. The source air derived from the source air outlet 22 flows through the source air outlet passage portion 22A and flows into the air generator 3. At this time, the control unit 9 performs the first opening / closing operation based on the detection data by the first flow meter 8A1 so that the flow rate of the raw material air flowing through the raw material air outlet passage portion 22A is kept constant at a predetermined flow rate value. The opening degree of the valve 71 is adjusted.

  In addition, a part of the raw material air flowing through the raw material air outlet passage portion 22 </ b> A flows through the first raw material air branch passage portion 22 </ b> B and flows into the mixing unit 5. At this time, based on the detection data from the fourth flow meter 8A4, the control unit 9 keeps the flow rate of the raw material air flowing through the first raw material air branching channel portion 22B constant at a predetermined flow rate value. The opening degree of the 4 on-off valve 74 is adjusted.

  The air generation unit 3 into which the raw material air has flowed generates high oxygen concentration air and low oxygen concentration air. In this embodiment, it is set as the air production | generation part 3 comprised including the gas separation membrane 33, and the said gas separation membrane 33 is taken as the hollow fiber membrane which consists of a polyimide which has the permeability | transmittance of oxygen and carbon dioxide with respect to nitrogen. The high oxygen concentration air generated by the air generation unit 3 flows through the first flow path unit 312A, and the low oxygen concentration air flows through the second flow path unit 313A.

  Here, the carbon dioxide removing unit 4 is disposed in at least one of the first channel unit 312A and the second channel unit 313A based on the carbon dioxide separation ability in the air generation unit 3. . In the example shown in FIG. 4, the first flow in which the high oxygen concentration air flows corresponds to the fact that the gas separation membrane 33 of the air generating unit 3 is a polyimide hollow fiber membrane having selective permeability of oxygen and carbon dioxide with respect to nitrogen. The carbon dioxide removing unit 4 is disposed in the path 312A. Thereby, the air of the special composition in which the concentration of carbon dioxide is reduced can be supplied to the special environment chamber 100. Therefore, it is possible to surely prevent a person who has sucked in air of a special composition in the special environment room 100 from exhibiting a symptom such as a headache, and an air supply capable of ensuring high safety. Device 10 is obtained.

  The switching mechanism 10A provided in the air supply device 10 selectively switches the communication state with the special environment chamber 100 via the mixing section 5 of the first flow path section 312A and the second flow path section 313A, and the air generation section 3 is a mechanism for supplying one of the high oxygen concentration air and the low oxygen concentration air generated by No. 3 toward the special environment chamber 100. The switching mechanism 10A includes a first switching on / off valve 10A1, a second switching on / off valve 10A2, a first discharge on / off valve 10A3, a second discharge on / off valve 10A4, a switching air outflow passage portion 10A5, and a switching air outflow opening / closing. It includes a valve 10A6 and a sixth flow meter 8A6.

  The first switching on-off valve 10A1 is an on-off valve that is provided in the first flow path portion 312A and opens and closes the flow path of the first flow path portion 312A. The first discharge on-off valve 10A3 is an on-off valve used when discharging high oxygen concentration air flowing through the first flow path portion 312A to the outside. The first discharge on / off valve 10A3 is opened when high oxygen concentration air is discharged to the outside, and the other is closed.

  The second switching on-off valve 10A2 is an on-off valve that is provided in the second flow path portion 313A and opens and closes the flow path of the second flow path portion 313A. The second discharge on-off valve 10A4 is an on-off valve used when discharging low oxygen concentration air flowing through the second flow path portion 313A to the outside. The second discharge on-off valve 10A4 is opened when the low oxygen concentration air is discharged to the outside, and the other is closed.

  The switching air outflow channel portion 10A5 is arranged between the first channel portion 312A and the second channel portion 313A and the mixing unit 5, and either the high oxygen concentration air or the low oxygen concentration air flows. It is a channel part which forms a channel. The switching air outflow channel portion 10A5 has an end opposite to the side connected to the high oxygen concentration air outlet 312 of the first channel portion 312A, and a low oxygen concentration air outlet of the second channel portion 313A. It is connected to the end opposite to the side connected to 313 and connected to the mixing unit 5.

  The switching air outflow on-off valve 10A6 is an on-off valve that is provided in the switching air outflow passage 10A5 and opens and closes the passage of the switching air outflow passage 10A5. The switching air outflow on-off valve 10A6 can be adjusted in opening so that the flow rate of the air flowing through the switching air outflow passage 10A5 can be adjusted. The sixth flow meter 8A6 is for detecting the flow rate of the air flowing through the switching air outflow channel portion 10A5. The opening degree of the switching air outflow on / off valve 10A6 is adjusted based on the detection data by the sixth flow meter 8A6 so that the flow rate of the air flowing through the switching air outflow passage portion 10A5 is kept constant at a predetermined flow rate value. The

  When supplying high oxygen concentration mixed air to the special environment chamber 100, the control unit 9 opens the first switching on-off valve 10A1, the second discharge on-off valve 10A4, and the switching air outflow on-off valve 10A6, and also performs the second switching on / off. The valve 10A2 and the first discharge on / off valve 10A3 are closed. Thereby, the high oxygen concentration air generated by the air generation unit 3 flows through the first flow path unit 312A, passes through the carbon dioxide removal unit 4, and further flows through the switching air outflow flow path unit 10A5 to the mixing unit 5. Inflow. Further, the low oxygen concentration air generated by the air generation unit 3 flows through the second flow path unit 313A and is discharged to the outside via the second discharge on-off valve 10A4, and the inflow to the mixing unit 5 is restricted. The mixing unit 5 into which the raw material air and the high oxygen concentration air have flowed in prepares the high oxygen concentration mixed air. The mixed air prepared by the mixing unit 5 flows through the mixed air outflow channel 5A and is supplied to the special environment chamber 100.

  When supplying the mixed air having a low oxygen concentration to the special environment chamber 100, the control unit 9 opens the second switching on / off valve 10A2, the first discharge on / off valve 10A3, and the switching air outflow on / off valve 10A6, and also performs the first switching on / off. The valve 10A1 and the second discharge on / off valve 10A4 are closed. Thereby, the low oxygen concentration air produced | generated by the air production | generation part 3 flows into the mixing part 5 through the 2nd flow-path part 313A and the switching air outflow flow-path part 10A5. Moreover, the high oxygen concentration air produced | generated by the air production | generation part 3 flows through the 1st flow-path part 312A, is discharged | emitted outside through the 1st discharge | emission on-off valve 10A3, and the inflow to the mixing part 5 is controlled. The mixing unit 5 into which the raw material air and the low oxygen concentration air have been flowed prepares the low oxygen concentration mixed air. The mixed air prepared by the mixing unit 5 flows through the mixed air outflow channel 5A and is supplied to the special environment chamber 100.

  In the special environment chamber 100 supplied with the low oxygen concentration mixed air, when the detection data by the seventh concentration meter 8B7 provided in the special environment chamber 100 shows an excessively high carbon dioxide concentration, control is performed. The part 9 adjusts the opening degree of the eighth on-off valve 78, and part of the air in the special environment chamber 100 in which the carbon dioxide concentration has increased is supplied to the raw material air intake passage through the recovered air flow passage portion 6. Flow to section 21A.

  In addition, in the detection data by the sixth concentration meter 8B6 provided in the mixing unit 5 and the seventh concentration meter 8B7 provided in the special environment chamber 100, when the oxygen concentration shows an abnormal value, the control unit 9 The switching air outflow on / off valve provided in the switching air outflow channel 10A5 that serves as a flow path for either the high oxygen concentration air or the low oxygen concentration air. While 10A6 is closed, the 4th on-off valve 74 provided in the 1st raw material air branch flow path part 22B used as the flow path of raw material air is maintained in an open state. Thereby, it is possible to regulate the supply of air having an abnormal oxygen concentration to the special environment chamber 100 and supply only the raw air to the special environment chamber 100. As a result, the air supply device 10 can ensure high safety.

  The air supply devices 1 and 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the following modified embodiment can be adopted.

  (1) In the air supply device 10 according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the configuration for supplying air of a special composition to one special environment chamber 100 serving as an air supply unit has been described. The invention is not limited to this configuration. Similar to the air supply device 1 according to the first embodiment, the air supply device 10 may be configured to be able to supply air of a special composition to the suction mask as the air supply unit. In this case, the air supply device 10 includes a mixed air branch flow path portion that branches from the mixed air outflow flow path portion 5A and is connected to the suction mask, and an on-off valve provided in the mixed air branch flow path portion. It is supposed to be configured.

  (2) The air supply device 1 according to the first embodiment supplies air having a special composition to the first special environment chamber 100A and the second special environment chamber 100B, and supplies air according to the second embodiment. Although the device 10 has been described with respect to the configuration in which the air having a special composition is supplied to the special environment chamber 100, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The air supply devices 1 and 10 may be configured to supply the special composition air only to the suction mask without supplying the special composition air to the special environment chamber.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,10 Air supply apparatus 2 Raw material air derivation | leading-out part 3 Air production | generation part 312A 1st flow path part 313A 2nd flow path part 4 Carbon dioxide removal part 5 Mixing part 100 Special environment chamber (air supply part)
100A 1st special environment room (air supply part)
100B 2nd special environment room (air supply part)
101A 1st suction mask (air supply part)
101B 2nd suction mask (air supply part)

Claims (7)

An air supply device for supplying air of a special composition to a predetermined air supply part,
A raw material air outlet for extracting raw material air;
An air generating unit that separates nitrogen and oxygen from the raw material air derived by the raw material air deriving unit, and generates air having a higher oxygen concentration and a lower oxygen concentration than the raw material air;
A flow path section in which air generated by the air generation section flows toward the air supply section, the first flow path section in which the high oxygen concentration air flows, and the low oxygen concentration air flows. A second flow path portion;
Based on the separation ability of carbon dioxide in the air generation unit, carbon dioxide is disposed from at least one of the first flow channel unit and the second flow channel unit and flows through the flow channel unit. An air supply device comprising: a carbon dioxide removal unit that removes water.   The high oxygen concentration air flowing through the first flow path part and the low oxygen concentration air flowing through the second flow path part are respectively part of the raw material air derived by the raw material air deriving part; The air supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a mixing unit that mixes and causes the mixed air to flow out toward the air supply unit.   The air supply device according to claim 2, wherein the carbon dioxide removing unit is disposed upstream of the mixing unit in the air flow direction.   The air generation unit includes a gas separation membrane capable of separating nitrogen and oxygen from the raw material air, and generates the high oxygen concentration air and the low oxygen concentration air by the gas separation membrane, respectively. Item 4. The air supply device according to any one of Items 1 to 3. The gas separation membrane has a selective permeability of oxygen and carbon dioxide with respect to nitrogen,
The air supply device according to claim 4, wherein the carbon dioxide removal unit is disposed in the first flow path unit.   The air supply device according to claim 5, wherein the gas separation membrane is a hollow fiber membrane made of polyimide. The air supply part includes a first special environment room and a second special environment room that define a storage space in which a person can be stored.
The high oxygen concentration air flowing through the first flow path is supplied to the first special environment chamber, and the low oxygen concentration air flowing through the second flow path is supplied to the second special environment chamber. The air supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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