JPS6079150A - Oxygen condenser - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve nitrogen adsorbing efficiency at start by splitting an adsorber filled with such adsorbent as adsorbs nitrogen, carbon dioxide, etc. more than oxygen at the border of carbon dioxide and nitrogen intake regions then coupling both splitted sections through a control valve. CONSTITUTION:A pair of adsorbers 15, 16 to be used alternatively are separated into lower adsorbers 25, 26 and upper adsorbers 35, 36 at the border between water, carbon dioxide adsorbing region and nitrogen adsorbing region. One ends of lower right/left adsorbers 26, 25 are coupled through gate valves (b), (c) to the delivery port of surge tank 14 while atmosphere open valves (d), (e) are provided. Upper and lower adsorbers 35, 25 and 26, 26 are coupled through gate valves (f), (g) while the other ends of upper right/left adsorbers 36, 35 are coupled through gate valves (h), (i) to a buffer tank 17. Upon stoppage of pressurized air to the adsorbers 15, 16, said valves (f), (g) are closed to prevent dispersion of carbon dioxide into lower adsorbers 25, 26 resulting in improvement of nitrogen adsorbing efficiency of lower adsorbers 25, 26 at start.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to improvements in oxygen concentrators.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, in an automobile internal combustion engine as shown in Fig. 1,
Pressurized air is supplied from the air pump 1, and moisture (N20) and carbon dioxide (C02) are sequentially adsorbed and removed by the moisture absorbent 3 and carbon dioxide adsorbent 4 of the dehumidifier 2, and then the nitrogen separator The concentrated oxygen (02) after nitrogen (N2) has been adsorbed and removed by the nitrogen adsorbent 6 of 5 is taken out to the mixer 7 and supplied to the engine 8. The pressurized air supply port 9 at the front stage of the humidifier 2 is opened to the atmosphere, or the vacuum pump 10 is used to cause concentrated oxygen, etc. to flow back, thereby absorbing moisture in the adsorption process.

Moisture and carbon dioxide adsorbed on adsorbents 3 and 4.6.

An oxygen concentrator has been proposed that performs a desorption process in which nitrogen and the like are absorbed, separated from the adsorbents 3 and 4.6, and released to the outside (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 45737/1983).

By the way, the distribution of adsorbed components in the dehumidifier 2 and nitrogen separator 5 in the above-mentioned prior art during operation is shown in Figure 2 (
As shown in a) and Fig. 2(b), the adsorbed components remain within the range of 2°5 in the container, but the distribution of adsorbed components inside the container when “stopped” is as shown in Fig. 3(,) and Figure 3(b)
It will look like this.

That is, during "stopping", the dehumidifier 2 and the nitrogen separator 5
The dehumidifier 2 is opened to the atmosphere to release the internal pressure, so although the desorption process progresses to a considerable extent, it is not complete (1°).And if this desorption is left incomplete, the carbon dioxide in the dehumidifier 2 ( CO2) in the nitrogen separator 5
2) It begins to diffuse into the adsorption distribution region.

Then, when the engine is restarted, carbon dioxide, which has poor desorption properties, has diffused into the nitrogen adsorption distribution area, so the nitrogen adsorption efficiency deteriorates and only concentrated oxygen with a low concentration can be taken out. , the startability of the engine 8 and the like deteriorates.

Further, although carbon dioxide gas has good adsorption properties to adsorbents, as mentioned above, it has poor skin adhesion, so there is a problem that even the adsorbents in the nitrogen adsorption distribution region are degraded.

(Object of the Invention) The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems [by preventing nitrogen such as carbon dioxide gas from diffusing into the adsorption distribution region when the concentrated oxygen device is stopped. The basic purpose is to improve the nitrogen adsorption efficiency during restart and to prevent deterioration of the adsorbent.

(Structure of the Invention) Therefore, the present invention separates the adsorber into two at the boundary between the carbon dioxide adsorption distribution region and the nitrogen adsorption distribution region, and communicates the two separated adsorption devices with a communication path. The communication passage is provided with a control valve that closes the communication passage when the supply of pressurized air is stopped.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, the communication path of the adsorber separated into two
Since the control valve closes when the supply of pressurized air is stopped, the carbon dioxide in the upstream adsorber will not diffuse into the downstream adsorber, so the downstream adsorption device will be closed when the pressurized air is restarted. Nitrogen adsorption efficiency in the adsorber improves.

Furthermore, since the diffusion of carbon dioxide gas to the downstream absorber is eliminated, deterioration of the adsorbent in the downstream absorber is prevented.

3- Furthermore, even if the adsorbent in the upstream adsorbent deteriorates due to carbon dioxide gas, which has poor adhesion to the skin, only the upstream adsorbent needs to be replaced, making replacement easy and inexpensive. .

(Example) In the oxygen concentrator A shown in FIG. 5, 13 is a pump for feeding pressurized air, and 14 is a surge tank for rectifying the pressurized air fed from pump 13h.

15 and 16 are adsorbers filled with adsorbent, and each adsorber 15
．． 16 is the moisture and carbon dioxide adsorption distribution area (N20.Co
2) and the nitrogen adsorption distribution region (N2), the lower adsorbers 25.26 and 35.36 are separated, respectively.

17 is a buffer tank for storing concentrated oxygen; 18 is a supplied device such as an engine mixer in the case of an automobile engine; and 19 is a computer that controls Dalian's answering machine ak.

The surge tank 14 is provided with an atmosphere release valve a, and the discharge port of the surge tank 14 is opened and closed at one end 25a, 26a of the left and right lower adsorbers 25, 26.
They are connected to each other via c.

One end portion 25a of the left and right lower suction devices 25, 26.

26a is provided with atmospheric release valves d and e, respectively, and the other ends 25b of the left and right lower adsorbers 25 and 26.

26b, and one end portion 35a of the left and right lower suction devices 35, 36.

36a are connected to each other via on-off valves Lg.

The other ends 35b of the left and right lower suction devices 35, 36.

36b is connected to the buffer 7-tank 17 via an on-off valve h;
It is connected to e i via an on-off valve j.

The buffer 7-tank 17 and the supplied device 18 are connected via an on-off valve k.

The above answer a- is controlled by the computer 19 as shown in Table 1, as will be explained below.

[During driving] - See Figure 8 (,) - (1) For example, when the ignition switch of a car is turned on, the timer is set from 0 to t1 seconds, and
In step M1 as shown in No. 61(a), opening and closing are controlled in response a-.

The pump 13 sends pressurized air to the pump 13 → surge tank 14 → valve b → lower left adsorber 25 as shown by the solid arrow.
→ Valve f → Upper left adsorption device 35 → Valve h → Buff 7 - Tank 17
Concentrated oxygen is fed in the order of →valve →supplied device 18, and concentrated oxygen is supplied to the supplied device 18 by the adsorption action (adsorption process) of the lower left and upper left absorbers 25,35.

At this time, since the valve e at one end 26a of the lower right adsorption device 26 is "open" and exposed to the atmosphere, the lower right adsorption device 26.
As the internal pressure of 36 decreases, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, etc. are gradually released to the outside as shown by the dotted arrow, and the desorption process progresses.

(2) After the time t1 of the above step M1 has elapsed, the timer is reset and immediately set from 0 to t2 seconds, and the answer a to step M2 as shown in FIG. 6(b) is set.
- is controlled to open and close.

Then, the pressurized air of the pump 13 flows as shown by the solid line and dotted arrows: pump 13 → surge tank 14 → valve 1) → lower left adsorber 2
5 → Valve f → Upper left adsorption device 35 → Valve j → Upper right adsorption device 36 → Valve g → Lower right adsorption device 26 → Valve e → Atmospheric air is supplied in this order, and the internal pressure of the lower right and upper adsorption devices 26.36 is Since it has already been removed at M1, the backflow of concentrated oxygen is smoother, and the lower right
Carbon dioxide, nitrogen, etc. in the upper adsorber 26 and 36 are quickly discharged to the outside, and the desorption process progresses.

At this time, the valve of the buffer tank 17 is "open" and concentrated oxygen continues to be supplied to the supplied device 18 without interruption.

(3) After the time t2 of the above step M2 has elapsed, the timer is reset and immediately set to O-+t3 seconds, and the opening/closing control is performed in step M3 as shown in FIG. 6(c). be done.

The pump 13 sends pressurized air to the pump 13 → surge tank 14 → valve C → lower right adsorber 26 as shown by the solid arrow.
→ Valve g → Upper right adsorption device 36 → Valve i → Buffer 7 - Tank 17
→ to the valve → to the supplied device 18 . Carbon dioxide gas etc. is efficiently adsorbed by the lower right absorber 26 , and nitrogen is efficiently adsorbed by the upper left absorber 36 . Concentrated oxygen is supplied.

At this time, the valve d at one end 25a of the lower left adsorbent 25 is "open" and exposed to the atmosphere.
As the internal pressure decreases, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, etc. are gradually released to the outside as shown by the dotted arrows, and the desorption process progresses.

(4) After the time t3 of the above step M3 has elapsed, the timer is reset and the timer is immediately changed to 0 +1. The opening/closing control is set to seconds, and the opening/closing control is performed in response a- to step M4 as shown in FIG. 6(d).

Then, the pressurized air from the pump 13 flows as shown by solid and dotted arrows: pump 13 → surge tank 14 → valve C → lower right adsorption device 26
→ Valve g → Upper right adsorption device 36 → Valve j → Upper left adsorption device 35 → Valve
→ Lower left adsorption device 25 → Valve d → Atmosphere is supplied in this order, and the lower left,
Since the internal pressure of the upper adsorber 25.35 has already been released in step M3, the backflow of concentrated oxygen becomes smooth, and carbon dioxide, nitrogen, etc. in the upper adsorption device 25.35 at the lower left are quickly released to the outside. The desorption process progresses.

At this time, the valve of the buffer tank 17 is "open" and concentrated oxygen continues to be supplied to the supplied device 18 without interruption.

After the time t4 of step M4 has elapsed, the timer is reset and the process returns to (1) above to set the timer.

Each process M1 to M4 is repeated.

[When stopped] - See Figure 8 (b) - (5) For example, when the ignition switch of a car is turned off, an interrupt routine causes one of the processes M1
~The timer in M4 is reset and O → t immediately
It is set to 5 seconds and is controlled to open and close in response to step M5 shown in FIG. 7(a).

Then, the concentrated oxygen in the buffer tank 17 flows as shown by the dotted arrows: buffer tank 17→valve, i→left and right upper adsorber 35.
36 → Valve Lg → Lower left and right adsorber 25, 26 → Valve S, c → Surge tank 14 → Valve a → Atmospheric air is supplied in this order, and the buffer 7
- Tank 17. Bottom left and right.

Upper adsorber 25, 35, 26, 36. As the internal pressure of the surge tank 14 is released, the carbon dioxide, nitrogen, etc. in the left and right lower and upper adsorbers 25, 26, 35, 36 are discharged to the outside by the reverse flow of concentrated oxygen, and a desorption process is performed.

(6) After time t5 in step M5 has elapsed, fully closed control is performed in step M6 as shown in FIG. 7(b).

In this way, when the left and right adsorbers 15, 16 (25, 3
5, 26, 36), etc., and performs the desorption process (no matter which stage of steps M1 to M4 is stopped, the desorbed adsorber 15, 16) is removed during the next operation.
(25, 35, 26°36) can be used, so the adsorption efficiency can be increased from the start.

11- Also, in step M6, the answering valves a-k are fully closed because, when stopped, external air enters the left and right lower adsorbers 25 and 26 from the atmosphere release valve a+ 48, and moisture is absorbed into each adsorbent.

This is to prevent carbon dioxide, nitrogen, etc. from being adsorbed and the adsorption efficiency at the start being reduced.

Furthermore, when the control valve Lg is closed in step M6, FIG.
) and as shown in Figure 4(b), carbon dioxide gas (C02)
Carbon dioxide gas in the left and right lower adsorbers 25 and 26, which correspond to the adsorption distribution area of , no longer diffuses into the adsorbent in the left and right upper adsorbers 35 and 36, which correspond to the nitrogen (N2) adsorption distribution area.
When valve f1g is opened during restart, the left and right upper adsorber 35.
36 is improved, and deterioration of the adsorbents in the left and right upper adsorbers 35 and 36 is also prevented. In addition, the adsorber 1 in FIGS. 6(,)-(d) and FIG. 7(a)
Among the arrows shown within 5.16 (25°26.35, 36), the solid line indicates that the adsorber is in the adsorption process, and the dotted line indicates that the adsorber is in the desorption process.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a system diagram of a conventional oxygen concentrator, Figures 12-2 (a) and 2 (1)) are explanatory diagrams showing the distribution and concentration of adsorbed components during operation of the equipment in Figure Figures 3(a) and 3(b) are explanatory diagrams showing the distribution and concentration of adsorbed components when the apparatus in Figure 1 is stopped, and Figures 4(a) and 4(b)
is an explanatory diagram showing the distribution and concentration of adsorbed components when the device of FIG. 5 according to the present invention is stopped, FIG. 5 is a system diagram of the oxygen concentrator according to the present invention, and FIGS. 6 (,) to (d) are An explanatory diagram of the operation of the device in Figure 5, Figure 7 (,) and Figure 7 (b)
is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the device in FIG. 5 when it is stopped, FIG. 8(a) is a 70-chart when the device in FIG. 5 is in operation, and FIG. 8(b) is
is a 70-chart when the apparatus of FIG. 5 is stopped. A...Oxygen concentrator, 13...Pump, 14...Surge tank, 15.
16... Adsorption device (25... Lower left adsorption device, 35...
upper left adsorption device, 26... lower right adsorption device, 36... upper right adsorption device), 17... buff 7-tank, 18... supplied device, 19... computer, a-e, h -k
...Valve, f+g...Opening/closing valve (control valve). History 11 Kuguchi 1J Kaisho GO-79150 (6) (a) Figure 8 (b)

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) Pressurized air is supplied to an adsorbent filled with an adsorbent that adsorbs more nitrogen, carbon dioxide, etc. than oxygen in the air, and the oxygen concentrated by the adsorbent is extracted from the adsorber.) In the oxygen concentrator, the adsorber is separated into two at the boundary between the carbon dioxide adsorption distribution region and the nitrogen adsorption distribution region, and the two separated adsorption devices are connected through a communication passage. An oxygen concentrator comprising a control valve that closes the communication passage when the supply of pressurized air is stopped.