JP5112839B2 - Oxygen concentrator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an oxygen concentrator for separating and concentrating oxygen in the air and supplying it to a user. More specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus having a long-term durability having a function of automatically discharging condensed water generated when the oxygen concentrator is stopped or stored at a low temperature to the outside of the system at the start of operation.

  In recent years, the number of patients suffering from chronic respiratory diseases such as pulmonary emphysema, pulmonary tuberculosis sequelae and chronic bronchitis tends to increase. As a treatment method for such patients, oxygen inhalation therapy for inhaling high concentration oxygen is performed. The oxygen inhalation therapy is a treatment method for inhaling oxygen gas or oxygen enriched gas to the diseased patient. Examples of the supply source of therapeutic oxygen gas or concentrated oxygen gas include the use of high-pressure oxygen cylinders, liquid oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators, etc., which can withstand long-term continuous use and are easy to use. For this reason, cases of using oxygen concentrators are increasing.

  The oxygen concentrator is an apparatus that can separate and concentrate oxygen in the air. As an apparatus for separating and concentrating such oxygen, an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing nitrogen in the air is filled in an adsorption bed from the viewpoint that high concentration oxygen of 90% or more is obtained, and a compressor is used as a pressure fluctuation device. The pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrators using the are widely used in the world. Such an apparatus usually supplies compressed air from a compressor to an adsorbent bed filled with an adsorbent that selectively adsorbs nitrogen, adsorbs nitrogen by bringing the inside of the adsorbent bed into a pressurized state, The apparatus has an adsorption step for obtaining high concentration oxygen and a desorption step for desorbing nitrogen by depressurizing the inside of the adsorption bed, and repeating this in a constant cycle to obtain high concentration oxygen.

  In the pressure fluctuation adsorption method, PSA: Pressure Swing Adsorption method that removes adsorbed nitrogen components and regenerates the adsorbent to atmospheric pressure, and VPSA: Vacuum Pressure Swing Adsorption method that depressurizes the adsorption bed to vacuum with a vacuum pump There is. In addition, in order to reduce the power required to pressurize the adsorption bed and improve the purity of the obtained oxygen, two adsorption beds are connected by piping between the adsorption process and the desorption process. There is a case where a pressure equalizing step for equalizing the pressure of the adsorption bed is performed.

JP 2002-273143 A JP 2006-8464 A JP-A-61-187916 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-315504

  In general, when starting up the PSA type oxygen concentrator, it is necessary to pay attention to many things, such as stabilization of early operation and prevention of moisture absorption deterioration of the adsorbent. In order to guarantee the long-term operation performance of the device, measures against moisture absorption deterioration of the adsorbent are an important factor. When the device that has been left in a stopped state is operated again, there is a possibility that condensation has occurred in the pipeline. In particular, when air compressed by a compressor or the like is sent to the adsorption cylinder, there is a high possibility that condensation will occur in the pipe between the compressor and the adsorption cylinder to which pressurized air containing warmed water vapor is supplied.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-273143 discloses that one of the two cylinders is fixed as the start cylinder of the adsorption process when the apparatus is started, and the adsorption cylinder is desorbed when the apparatus is stopped, and the other adsorption cylinder is It is described that the adsorption process is performed and the operation is stopped at the time of completion, and the operation is performed with the concentrated gas supply port closed at the time of the stop. According to this method, since the operation is started from the adsorption cylinder in which the desorption process is always completed and the regeneration of the adsorbent is completed, the nitrogen adsorption characteristic at the start-up becomes good.

  Condensation countermeasures are not envisaged, and in this case, the adsorption process always starts from the same cylinder, so the condensed water will always be sent to one adsorption cylinder, and the moisture deterioration of the adsorbent is on one side. We have the problem that only the tube progresses.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-8464 describes a technique for improving the life of the adsorbent by equalizing the adsorption cylinder to be pressurized at the start of operation. When pressurization is performed from the same adsorption cylinder every time, condensation of moisture in the pipe or high-humidity air is sent in, so that the deterioration of the adsorbent in the adsorption cylinder is accelerated. However, in the present technology, since the adsorption cylinder to be pressurized first at the start of operation is switched, it is said that only the adsorbent in the specific adsorption cylinder is prevented from being deteriorated, and the deterioration of the performance of the oxygen concentrator can be suppressed.

  This technology makes the deterioration of the adsorbent in each adsorption cylinder even and improves the life of the adsorbent as a whole of the oxygen concentrator. However, moisture and high-humidity air in the pipeline are adsorbed without being discharged outside the system. Since it is fed into the cylinder, deterioration due to moisture absorption by the adsorbent is inevitable.

  In JP-A-61-187916, in a two-cylinder PSA, the operation is stopped so that both cylinders are at atmospheric pressure or higher when the operation is stopped, and one of the adsorption cylinders is in a state where the regeneration process is completed. A method for controlling the oxygen concentrator is described in which the process is controlled and the adsorption process starts from the adsorption cylinder that has been completely regenerated when the operation is started again. According to this method, at the time of restarting, adsorption of nitrogen and moisture is started from the adsorption cylinder in which the regeneration process is completed. However, even if the regeneration process has been completed, it is highly possible that the pressure swing for moisture is not sufficient, so when this method is used, the moisture remaining in the adsorbent after the regeneration process is There is a possibility that the operation may be further pushed into the cylinder sometimes.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-315504 discloses an operation method in which oxygen-enriched gas can be generated immediately after restarting by stopping the oxygen-enriched gas supplied from the buffer tank to the adsorption cylinder at the end of the apparatus. Are listed. Although this method has an advantage that a high concentration of oxygen can be generated immediately after resuming operation, there is no mention of moisture in the pipe.

  As described above, although it has been known that the performance is lowered if the adsorbent absorbs moisture as a conventional publicly known technique, it cannot be said that the operation of removing moisture by the starting technique has been sufficiently studied, It can be said that there is room for examination.

The present invention solves the above-described problem, and provides a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator that starts an adsorption / desorption process after draining moisture remaining in a pipeline outside the system when the apparatus is started. .
In the present invention, air is supplied in a state where the compressor and the exhaust pipe are in communication in the starting process of the PSA adsorption process using a valve that can be controlled independently when switching the pressurization / depressurization process of each adsorption cylinder. Thus, there is provided a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator that discharges moisture remaining between the compressor and the exhaust pipe to the outside and then starts an oxygen generation operation in an adsorption step and a desorption step.

  In addition, in the process of starting the operation, in addition to the above-described operation method, the operation is terminated while the adsorption cylinder is pressurized during the previous operation, and each adsorption bed is connected to the exhaust pipe at the start of the operation, so that the inside of the adsorption cylinder The moisture inside the adsorption cylinder and between the adsorption cylinder and the exhaust pipe is discharged to the outside together with the pressurized air. After that, by supplying the raw material air with the compressor and the exhaust pipe connected, the normal adsorption / desorption process starts after the water remaining between the compressor and the exhaust pipe is discharged to the outside. A pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrating device is provided.

  The pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator of the present invention starts the compressor in a state where the compressor and the exhaust pipe are in communication at the start of operation, so that water stays between the compressor and the exhaust pipe along with the supplied air. Can be discharged to the outside. In addition, by discharging the air in the adsorption bed maintained in a pressurized state to the outside, the moisture remaining between the adsorption bed and the exhaust pipe and in the adsorption bed can be discharged to the outside. By starting the operation without sending the moisture remaining in the pipeline to the adsorption bed, there is an effect of preventing the moisture absorption deterioration of the adsorbent due to the residual moisture.

  An embodiment of the pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator of the present invention will be described with reference to the following drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic apparatus configuration diagram illustrating a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator as an embodiment of the present invention. The pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator includes an external air intake filter (not shown), a compressor, a two-way solenoid valve (solenoid valve 1, solenoid valve 2, solenoid valve 3, solenoid valve 4), an adsorption bed A , B, pressure equalizing valve, check valve, product tank, pressure regulating valve (not shown), control valve (CV) which is a flow rate setting means, humidifier (not shown) and filter (not shown). Thereby, oxygen-enriched air obtained by concentrating oxygen gas from the raw material air taken in from the outside can be produced.

  First, the raw material air taken in from the outside is taken in from an air intake port provided with an external air intake filter for removing foreign matters such as dust. At this time, the normal air contains 1.2% of oxygen gas of about 21%, nitrogen gas of about 77%, argon gas of 0.8%, water vapor and the like. In such an apparatus, only oxygen gas necessary as a breathing gas is concentrated and taken out.

  This oxygen gas is extracted from the two-way valve solenoid valve 1 with respect to the adsorption beds A and B filled with adsorbent made of zeolite or the like that selectively adsorbs nitrogen gas molecules rather than oxygen gas molecules. The source air is pressurized and supplied by a compressor while sequentially switching the target adsorption beds A and B by the solenoid valve 3, and approximately 77% of nitrogen gas contained in the raw material air is selectively contained in the adsorption bed. Remove by adsorption.

The adsorbent beds A and B are formed of a cylindrical container filled with the adsorbent. Usually, in addition to a single cylinder type, a two-cylinder type is used in order to produce oxygen-enriched air continuously and efficiently. Although a multi-cylinder type having three or more cylinders is used, the present invention can be used regardless of the number of cylinders. As the compressor, a swing type air compressor may be used, and a rotary type air compressor such as a screw type, a rotary type, or a scroll type may be used. Further, the power source of the electric motor that drives the compressor may be alternating current or direct current.
Oxygen-enriched air mainly composed of oxygen gas that has not been adsorbed in the adsorbent beds A and B flows into the product tank via a check valve provided so as not to flow back to the adsorbent bed.

  The nitrogen gas adsorbed by the adsorbent filled in the adsorbent bed needs to be desorbed from the adsorbent in order to adsorb nitrogen gas again from the newly introduced raw material air. For this purpose, the pressurized state realized by the compressor is switched to a reduced pressure state (for example, an atmospheric pressure state or a negative pressure state) by the electromagnetic valves 2 and 4, and the adsorbent is regenerated by desorbing the adsorbed nitrogen gas. . In order to increase the desorption efficiency in this desorption step, oxygen-enriched air may be allowed to flow back as a purge gas from the product end side of the adsorption bed during the adsorption step via a pressure equalizing valve.

Oxygen-enriched air is produced from the raw air and stored in the product tank. The oxygen-enriched air stored in this product tank contains a high concentration of oxygen gas, for example 95%, and the supply flow rate and pressure are controlled by a pressure regulating valve, flow rate setting means (control valve CV), etc. , Supplied to the humidifier, and humidified oxygen-enriched air is supplied to the patient.
In such a humidifier, a moisture permeable membrane module having a moisture permeable membrane takes in moisture from external air and supplies it to dry oxygen-enriched air, a bubbling humidifier using water, Alternatively, a surface evaporation humidifier can be used.

  In addition, the amount of air supplied to the adsorption bed is controlled by detecting the set value of the flow rate setting means CV and controlling the rotation speed of the compressor motor by the control means. When the set flow rate is low, the amount of generated oxygen is suppressed and the power consumption is reduced by reducing the number of rotations.

  In the pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator having four flow path switching means shown in FIG. 1, by performing the sequence of steps 1 to 3 shown below at the start of operation, Moisture remaining between the exhaust pipes can be discharged.

Such an apparatus includes two adsorption beds A and B filled with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing nitrogen rather than oxygen, air supply means for supplying air to the adsorption bed, and air from the air supply means. An adsorbing step for sequentially supplying the adsorbing bed to take out concentrated oxygen, a flow path switching means for repeating the adsorbing bed by depressurizing the adsorbing bed and regenerating the adsorbent at a fixed timing, and the product ends of the adsorbing bed communicate with each other. A pressure equalizing flow path having a pressure equalizing valve, a flow rate control valve means for controlling the supply flow rate of the generated concentrated oxygen, a desorption air exhaust pipe, and a pipe connecting each element, In a pressure fluctuation adsorption oxygen concentrator that separates and generates concentrated oxygen gas,
The flow path switching means consists of four 2-way valves, installed between air supply means and adsorption bed A, between adsorption bed A and exhaust pipe, between air supply means and adsorption bed B, and between adsorption bed B and exhaust pipe. And
Control means for performing valve opening / closing control for opening all the two-way valves installed at the start of operation of the oxygen concentrator, and for starting control for starting the air supply means in a state where the air supply means and the exhaust pipe line are in communication. This is an oxygen concentrator.
The operation start method will be described with reference to FIG.
[Step 1] Solenoid valve 1, solenoid valve 2, solenoid valve 3, and solenoid valve 4 are opened, and the compressor-exhaust pipe is communicated.
[Step 2] Start the compressor and discharge the moisture remaining between the compressor and the exhaust pipe to the outside.
[Step 3] By opening solenoid valve 1 and solenoid valve 4 and closing solenoid valve 2 and solenoid valve 3, pressurized air is supplied to adsorption bed A, nitrogen is adsorbed, and unadsorbed oxygen is passed through check valve Adsorption process to take out to the product tank, the exhaust bed is communicated with the adsorption bed B and the electromagnetic valve 4, and the nitrogen adsorbed on the adsorbent is evacuated from the adsorption bed B and part of the product oxygen gas through the pressure equalizing valve The operation of generating oxygen is started by sequentially switching the desorption process of desorption regeneration by purging the gas.

  Further, in the pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrating device in which the flow path switching means shown in FIG. 1 is composed of four two-way solenoid valves, when the operation is stopped, the operation is terminated while the inside of the adsorption beds A and B is pressurized, and the operation is started. By performing a sequence performed in the order of step 1 to step 4 shown below, it is possible to discharge moisture remaining between the adsorption bed and the exhaust pipe and between the compressor and the exhaust pipe.

That is, in this apparatus, the control means controls the opening and closing of the flow path switching means and the pressure equalizing valve and terminates the operation in a pressurized state in the adsorption beds A and B when the operation of the oxygen concentrator stops. It is a means for performing stop control of the means, and at the start of operation, the flow path switching means installed between the adsorption bed A and the exhaust pipe and between the adsorption bed B and the exhaust pipe is opened to connect the adsorption bed and the exhaust pipe line, Thereafter, the valve opening / closing control for opening the two-way valve installed between the air supply means and the adsorption bed A and between the air supply means and the adsorption bed B, and the air supply means in a state where the air supply means and the exhaust pipe are in communication with each other. The oxygen concentrator is a means for performing start-up control.
The operation start method will be described with reference to FIG.
[Step 1] The solenoid valve 2 and the solenoid valve 4 are opened to communicate between the adsorption bed and the exhaust pipe, and the air stored in the pressurized state in both adsorption beds is discharged from the exhaust pipe. Through this process, moisture remaining between the adsorption bed and the exhaust pipe and in each adsorption bed is discharged to the outside.
[Step 2] Open solenoid valve 1 and solenoid valve 3 to connect the compressor-exhaust pipe.
[Step 3] Start the compressor and discharge the moisture remaining between the compressor and the exhaust pipe to the outside.
[Step 4] Solenoid valve 1 and solenoid valve 4 are opened, and solenoid valve 2 and solenoid valve 3 are closed to supply pressurized air to adsorption bed A to adsorb nitrogen and unadsorbed oxygen through a check valve. Adsorption process to take out to the product tank, the exhaust bed is communicated with the adsorption bed B and the electromagnetic valve 4, and the nitrogen adsorbed on the adsorbent is evacuated from the adsorption bed B and part of the product oxygen gas through the pressure equalizing valve The normal operation of generating oxygen is started by sequentially switching the desorption process for desorption and regeneration by purging the gas.

Next, a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen-oxygen concentrating device in which the flow path switching means shown in FIG. 2 is composed of six two-way solenoid valves will be described. Such an apparatus is provided with the electromagnetic valve 5 and the electromagnetic valve 6 on the raw material air inlet side of the adsorption beds A and B of the apparatus of FIG. 1 and closes the adsorption bed inlet side during the discharge operation at the time of startup, thereby moving the moisture adsorption bed side. This prevents part of the inflow. That is, this apparatus includes two adsorption beds A and B filled with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing nitrogen rather than oxygen, an air supply means for supplying air to the adsorption bed, An adsorption process for sequentially supplying air to the adsorption bed to extract concentrated oxygen, a flow path switching means for repeating the desorption process for depressurizing the adsorption bed and regenerating the adsorbent at a fixed timing, and product ends of the adsorption bed A pressure equalizing flow path having a pressure equalizing valve in communication, a flow rate control valve means for controlling the supply flow rate of the generated concentrated oxygen, an exhaust pipe for desorption air, and a pipe for connecting each element are provided. In a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator that separates oxygen and generates concentrated oxygen gas,
The flow path switching means consists of 6 two-way valves, each between air supply means and adsorption bed A, between adsorption bed A and exhaust pipe, between air supply means and adsorption bed B, between adsorption bed B and exhaust pipe, adsorption It is installed directly under floor A and directly under adsorption bed B.
At the start of operation of the oxygen concentrator, the two-way valves installed between the air supply means and the adsorption bed A, between the adsorption bed A and the exhaust pipe, between the air supply means and the adsorption bed B, and between the adsorption bed B and the exhaust pipe are opened. An oxygen concentrator comprising control means for performing valve opening / closing control and activation control for starting the air supply means in a state where the air supply means and the exhaust pipe are in communication with each other.

In such an apparatus, the water remaining between the compressor and the exhaust pipe is discharged by performing the following steps 1 to 3 in the following order at the start of operation. The operation start method will be described with reference to FIG.
[Step 1] Solenoid valve 1, solenoid valve 2, solenoid valve 3, and solenoid valve 4 are opened, and the compressor-exhaust pipe is communicated.
[Step 2] Start the compressor and discharge the moisture remaining between the compressor and the exhaust pipe to the outside. In this process, since the electromagnetic valve 5 and the electromagnetic valve 6 are closed, the moisture carried by the air supplied from the compressor is discharged to the outside without being sent to each adsorption bed.
[Step 3] The solenoid valve 5 and the solenoid valve 6 are opened to start the operation. After the operation is started, the solenoid valve 5 and the solenoid valve 6 are always opened.

  Further, in the pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen-oxygen concentrator having the flow path switching means shown in FIG. 2 consisting of six two-way solenoid valves, when the operation is stopped, the operation is terminated in the pressurized state in the adsorption beds A and B, and the operation is started. It is also possible to discharge the moisture remaining between the adsorption bed and the exhaust pipe and between the compressor and the exhaust pipe by performing a sequence that is sometimes performed in the order of Step 1 to Step 4 shown below.

The operation start method will be described with reference to FIG.
[Step 1] Solenoid valve 2, solenoid valve 4, solenoid valve 5 and solenoid valve 6 are opened to allow communication between the adsorption bed and the exhaust pipe, and the air stored in the pressurized state in both adsorption beds is exhausted. Discharge from the road. Through this process, moisture remaining between the adsorption bed and the exhaust pipe and in each adsorption bed is discharged to the outside.
[Step 2] The solenoid valve 1 and the solenoid valve 3 are opened, and the solenoid valve 5 and the solenoid valve 6 are closed to allow communication between the compressor and the exhaust pipe.
[Step 3] Start the compressor and discharge the moisture remaining between the compressor and the exhaust pipe to the outside. In this process, since the solenoid valve 5 and the solenoid valve 6 are closed, the moisture carried by the air supplied from the compressor is discharged outside without being sent to each adsorption bed.
[Step 4] The solenoid valve 5 and the solenoid valve 6 are opened to start the operation. After the operation is started, the solenoid valve 5 and the solenoid valve 6 are always opened.

FIG. 3 shows a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator in which the flow path switching means is composed of two three-way solenoid valves. Such an apparatus includes two adsorption beds A and B filled with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing nitrogen rather than oxygen, air supply means for supplying air to the adsorption bed, and air from the air supply means. An adsorbing step for sequentially supplying the adsorbing bed to take out concentrated oxygen, a flow path switching means for repeating the adsorbing bed by depressurizing the adsorbing bed and regenerating the adsorbent at a fixed timing, and the product ends of the adsorbing bed communicate with each other. A pressure equalizing flow path having a pressure equalizing valve, a flow rate control valve means for controlling the supply flow rate of the generated concentrated oxygen, a desorption air exhaust pipe, and a pipe connecting each element, In a pressure fluctuation adsorption oxygen concentrator that separates and generates concentrated oxygen gas,
The flow path switching means consists of two three-way valves, which are installed between the air supply means and the adsorption bed A, and between the air supply means and the adsorption bed B, respectively.
Control for controlling the opening and closing of the flow path switching means and the pressure equalizing valve and for stopping the air supply means so that the control means terminates the operation in a pressurized state when the operation of the oxygen concentrator is stopped. A valve opening / closing control for opening the three-way valve so that the adsorption bed communicates with the exhaust pipe at the start of operation of the oxygen concentrator, and the air supply means with the air supply means communicated with the exhaust pipe. An oxygen concentrator comprising control means for performing start-up control for start-up.

When the operation is stopped, the operation is terminated in the pressurized state in the adsorption bed A and the adsorption bed B, and at the start of operation, the sequence performed in the order of step 1 and step 2 shown below is performed. The water staying in is discharged. The operation start method will be described with reference to FIG.
[Step 1] The solenoid valve 1 and the solenoid valve 2 are opened so that the adsorption bed and the exhaust pipe communicate with each other, and the air stored in a pressurized state in both adsorption beds is discharged from the exhaust pipe. By this step, moisture remaining between the adsorption bed and the exhaust pipe and in each adsorption bed is discharged to the outside.
[Step 2] Start operation.

The schematic flowchart which shows the example of an embodiment of the pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator of this invention. The schematic flowchart which shows another example of an embodiment of the pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator of this invention. The schematic flowchart which shows another example of an embodiment of the pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator of this invention. The pattern diagram which shows the one aspect | mode of the driving | operation sequence of this invention. The pattern figure which shows the one aspect | mode of another driving | operation sequence of this invention. The pattern figure which shows the one aspect | mode of another driving | operation sequence of this invention. The pattern figure which shows the one aspect | mode of another driving | operation sequence of this invention. The pattern figure which shows the one aspect | mode of another driving | operation sequence of this invention.

Claims (4)

An adsorbent bed filled with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing nitrogen over oxygen, an air supply means for supplying air to the adsorbent bed, and air from the air supply means are sequentially supplied to the adsorbent bed to concentrate oxygen A pressure fluctuation adsorption type comprising flow path switching means for repeating the desorption step of desorbing the adsorbent by depressurizing the adsorbent bed and regenerating the adsorbent at a fixed timing, and separating oxygen in the air to generate concentrated oxygen gas In the oxygen concentrator,
At the start of operation of the oxygen concentrator, it comprises control means for performing start-up control for starting the air supply means in a state where the air supply means and the exhaust pipe are in communication with each other,
The adsorption bed is composed of two adsorption beds A and B, and a pressure equalizing flow path having a pressure equalizing valve communicating the product ends of the adsorption bed, and a flow rate control valve means for controlling the supply flow rate of the generated concentrated oxygen. , Equipped with desorption air exhaust piping,
The flow path switching means consists of four 2-way valves, installed between air supply means and adsorption bed A, between adsorption bed A and exhaust pipe, between air supply means and adsorption bed B, and between adsorption bed B and exhaust pipe. And
Control means for performing valve opening / closing control for opening all the two-way valves installed at the start of operation of the oxygen concentrator and for starting control for starting the air supply means in a state where the air supply means and the exhaust pipe are in communication with each other. ,
When the operation of the oxygen concentrator is stopped, the control means performs control to open / close the flow path switching means and the pressure equalizing valve and stop the air supply means so that the operation is terminated in the pressurized bed A and B. At the start of operation, the flow path switching means installed between the adsorption bed A and the exhaust pipe and between the adsorption bed B and the exhaust pipe is opened to connect the adsorption bed and the exhaust pipe, and then the air supply means -Valve opening / closing control that opens the two-way valve installed between the adsorption bed A and the air supply means-adsorption bed B, and start-up control that activates the air supply means with the air supply means and the exhaust pipe connected. oxygen concentrator it is a means for performing. An adsorbent bed filled with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing nitrogen over oxygen, an air supply means for supplying air to the adsorbent bed, and air from the air supply means are sequentially supplied to the adsorbent bed to concentrate oxygen A pressure fluctuation adsorption type comprising flow path switching means for repeating the desorption step of desorbing the adsorbent by depressurizing the adsorbent bed and regenerating the adsorbent at a fixed timing, and separating oxygen in the air to generate concentrated oxygen gas In the oxygen concentrator,
At the start of operation of the oxygen concentrator, it comprises control means for performing start-up control for starting the air supply means in a state where the air supply means and the exhaust pipe are in communication with each other,
The adsorption bed is composed of two adsorption beds A and B, and a pressure equalizing flow path having a pressure equalizing valve communicating the product ends of the adsorption bed, and a flow rate control valve means for controlling the supply flow rate of the generated concentrated oxygen. , Equipped with desorption air exhaust piping,
The flow path switching means is composed of six two-way valves further provided on the entrance side of the adsorption bed A and the adsorption bed B, respectively, between the air supply means and the adsorption bed A, between the adsorption bed A and the exhaust pipe, and air supply. Installed between the means-adsorbent bed B, between adsorbent bed B-exhaust piping, directly under adsorbent bed A, directly under adsorbent bed B,
At the start of operation of the oxygen concentrator, with the two-way valve closed just below the adsorption bed A and adsorption bed B, the air supply means-adsorption bed A, the adsorption bed A-exhaust piping, the air supply Valve opening / closing control that opens the two-way valve installed between the means and the adsorption bed B, and between the adsorption bed B and the exhaust pipe, and the start control that activates the air supply means in a state where the air supply means and the exhaust pipe are in communication with each other. oxygen concentrator you further comprising a control means for performing. Means for controlling the opening and closing of the flow path switching means, the pressure equalizing valve, and the stop control of the air supply means so that the control means terminates the operation in the pressurized state in the adsorption beds A and B when the operation of the oxygen concentrator is stopped. At the start of operation, open the two-way valve installed between the adsorption bed A and the exhaust pipe, between the adsorption bed B and the exhaust pipe, directly under the adsorption bed A, and directly under the adsorption bed B, and connect the adsorption bed and the exhaust pipe. Then, the two-way valve installed between the air supply means and the adsorption bed A and between the air supply means and the adsorption bed B is opened, and the two-way valve installed immediately below the adsorption bed A and immediately below the adsorption bed B is closed. 3. The oxygen concentrator according to claim 2, wherein the oxygen concentrator is a means for performing opening / closing control and activation control for activating the air supply means in a state where the air supply means and the exhaust pipe are in communication with each other. An adsorbent bed filled with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing nitrogen over oxygen, an air supply means for supplying air to the adsorbent bed, and air from the air supply means are sequentially supplied to the adsorbent bed to concentrate oxygen A pressure fluctuation adsorption type comprising flow path switching means for repeating the desorption step of desorbing the adsorbent by depressurizing the adsorbent bed and regenerating the adsorbent at a fixed timing, and separating oxygen in the air to generate concentrated oxygen gas In the oxygen concentrator,
At the start of operation of the oxygen concentrator, it comprises control means for performing start-up control for starting the air supply means in a state where the air supply means and the exhaust pipe are in communication with each other,
The adsorption bed is composed of two adsorption beds A and B, and a pressure equalizing flow path having a pressure equalizing valve communicating the product ends of the adsorption bed, and a flow rate control valve means for controlling the supply flow rate of the generated concentrated oxygen. , Equipped with desorption air exhaust piping,
The flow path switching means consists of two three-way valves, which are installed between the air supply means and the adsorption bed A, and between the air supply means and the adsorption bed B, respectively.
Control for controlling the opening and closing of the flow path switching means and the pressure equalizing valve and for stopping the air supply means so that the control means terminates the operation in a pressurized state when the operation of the oxygen concentrator is stopped. A valve opening / closing control for opening the three-way valve so that the adsorption bed communicates with the exhaust pipe at the start of operation of the oxygen concentrator, and the air supply means with the air supply means communicated with the exhaust pipe. oxygen concentrator you further comprising a control means for performing activation control of starting to.

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