KR20110068150A - Oxygen supply apparatus including oxygen separation membrane - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An oxygen supply apparatus is provided to effectively separate oxygen from the atmosphere through an oxygen separating film consisting of composite ceramic. CONSTITUTION: An oxygen supply apparatus comprises: an oxygen separating film(110) which selectively separates oxygen from the atmosphere and forms a space thereinside; a housing(120) accepting an oxygen separating film; a heat supply unit(130) supplying heat to the oxygen separating film; and a vacuum pump(140) which maintains the inside of the housing vacuum. The inhaled oxygen inside the oxygen separating film is collected or discharged through a vacuum pump.

Description

Oxygen supply apparatus including oxygen separation membrane

The present invention relates to an oxygen supply device including an oxygen separation membrane, and more particularly, an oxygen supply device including an oxygen separation membrane capable of supplying oxygen where necessary in oxygen by separating oxygen in the air more effectively through an oxygen separation membrane made of a composite ceramic. It is about.

Oxygen supply is commonly used in patients to compensate for weaker body functions and to help them recover faster. In particular, oxygen supply is essential for sustaining and facilitating the recovery of patients suffering from pulmonary function or suffering from various pathologies such as airway abnormalities and hemoglobin abnormalities, unconsciousness, and deterioration of physical functions of the elderly and infants. Element.

Conventionally, for this purpose, it was common to supply oxygen through a high pressure oxygen vessel. The high pressure oxygen container is mainly used to fill a high pressure oxygen container in a 47 L high pressure container at about 100 atm, and to place the high pressure oxygen container near the patient's bed, and to reduce the pressure of the regulator, flow meter, and ambient air for practical use of the high pressure oxygen container. It includes a mixer, a supply line and the like.

However, the supply of oxygen through the high pressure oxygen vessel is required to replace the high pressure oxygen vessel periodically because the oxygen supply is stopped when all the oxygen stored in the high pressure oxygen vessel is exhausted. Therefore, there is a problem that people around the patient should check whether oxygen is supplied to the patient from time to time, and there is a problem that the purchase cost of the high pressure oxygen container is continuously generated.

In addition, if the replacement of the high pressure oxygen container is disrupted, it will adversely affect the nursing care of the patient. In the case of the pressure regulator and flow meter currently in use, the accuracy of oxygen supply cannot be measured because the accuracy of the pressure regulator is insufficient. There is a problem in that it can not confirm the abnormality of the oxygen supply in the case of malfunction.

On the other hand, in a place such as a hospital, if the patient needs oxygen, the high pressure oxygen container is placed next to the patient's bed, and oxygen is supplied to the patient through a pressure reducing regulator, a flow meter, an ambient air mixer, a supply line, and a mask. have.

In this case, when a fire occurs in the vicinity of the high pressure oxygen container, there is a problem that there is a first risk due to the explosion of the high pressure oxygen container and a second fire due to the strong oxidizing action of oxygen generated at the time of explosion.

In addition, due to the heavy weight of the high-pressure oxygen container has a high incidence of physical accidents and movement of the high-pressure oxygen container, there is a problem that the installation of the cradle to securely mount the high-pressure oxygen container is incidentally required. As a result, there is a problem in that installation and maintenance costs of related facilities, such as a transport route of the high pressure oxygen container, should be secured for the safe replacement of the high pressure oxygen container.

Looking at the related prior art, Published Utility Model Publication (Registration No. 20-0334971) discloses an oxygen generator in which an oxygen separation membrane is formed. The invention disclosed in the above publication makes a pressure difference between both sides of the non-porous separator while passing through an oxygen separator membrane unit consisting of a non-porous separator, a porous support membrane, and a communication foam, so that oxygen and nitrogen are dissolved on the membrane surface and then diffused into the membrane. It moves and escapes on the opposite side of the membrane, and it relates to an oxygen generator that can obtain oxygen enriched air from oxygen faster than nitrogen by this rate of dissolution and diffusion. However, the above invention has a problem in that the operation principle is different from the present invention as a method of separating oxygen using a pressure difference, and the separation efficiency is very low and the adjustment is very difficult.

In addition, Patent Publication No. 10-0827026 discloses a portable oxygen generator. The invention disclosed in the above publication relates to a portable oxygen generating device comprising an air pump for compressing air, a cooler for reducing the temperature of the compressed air, and an oxygen generating module for generating oxygen from cooling air introduced from the cooler. However, the present invention is a method of generating oxygen by compressing air by an air pump, cooling the compressed air, and introducing the oxygen into the oxygen generating module, and its operation principle is different from that of the present invention. Due to this problem, the size of the device is increased.

In addition, the published patent publication (Application No. 10-2002-0053390) discloses an indoor oxygen generator. The invention disclosed in the above publication is a housing having an inlet and an outlet, an oxygen permeable membrane which is mounted inside the housing and selectively separates oxygen using a pressure difference from air sucked from the atmosphere, and is connected to an oxygen inlet tube on one side of the oxygen permeable membrane. And a vacuum pump for collecting separated oxygen and discharging it in a predetermined direction, and an oxygen supply pipe installed at the other side of the vacuum pump to deliver the discharged oxygen to a predetermined point. However, the present invention is a method of separating oxygen simply by a pressure difference, which is different from the present invention in which oxygen is separated at a high temperature, and has a problem in that separation efficiency is very low and adjustment is very difficult.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an oxygen supply device including an oxygen separation membrane that can be supplied to the place where oxygen is needed to effectively separate the oxygen in the atmosphere through the oxygen separation membrane made of a composite ceramic To provide.

In addition, the object of the present invention, by using a method of separating the oxygen from the atmosphere and supplying the oxygen where necessary, rather than using a high pressure oxygen vessel, there is no need to periodically replace the high pressure oxygen vessel, oxygen that can be used semi-permanently It is to provide an oxygen supply device including a separator.

Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to include an oxygen concentration meter, a flow rate measuring device, and a control device, so that the oxygen concentration and the total flow rate in the supplied gas can be grasped in real time and the oxygen concentration and the total flow rate can be controlled. It is to provide an oxygen supply device including a separator.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an oxygen supply device comprising an oxygen separation membrane that does not have a risk of explosion and fire due to not using a high pressure oxygen vessel.

It is also an object of the present invention, oxygen supply device comprising an oxygen separation membrane that can be easily stored, installed, transported and managed by the oxygen supply device by not using a heavy, bulky high temperature oxygen vessel, thereby reducing the overall cost To provide.

Oxygen supply device comprising an oxygen separation membrane according to the present invention, the oxygen separation membrane is configured to selectively separate the oxygen in the atmosphere and to form a space therein; A housing that can accommodate the oxygen separation membrane; Heat supply means capable of supplying heat to the oxygen separation membrane; And a vacuum pump disposed to communicate with one side of the housing, wherein the vacuum pump may maintain the inside of the housing in a vacuum, and an atmosphere is introduced into the oxygen separator, and the oxygen in the atmosphere is introduced into the oxygen separator and the oxygen separator. It is separated between the housing is characterized in that it is collected and discharged through the vacuum pump.

Preferably, the oxygen separation membrane is maintained at about 850 ℃ to 1000 ℃, the permeability of the oxygen selectively separated by the oxygen separation membrane is characterized in that the range of 1.2cc / cm ² · min to 5cc / cm ² · min It is done.

Preferably, the oxygen separator is made of a composite ceramic, characterized in that the permeability increases as the temperature of the oxygen separator increases.

Preferably, the oxygen separator is made of a composite ceramic, characterized in that the permeability increases as the thickness of the oxygen separator decreases.

Preferably, the oxygen separation membrane is an inlet port communicating with the outside so that the atmosphere can be introduced from the outside; And a discharge port communicating with the outside so that the atmosphere in the state where the oxygen is selectively separated can be discharged to the outside.

Preferably, the heat supply means is an electric heater, characterized in that the electric heater is provided inside the oxygen separation membrane, to supply heat to the oxygen separation membrane.

Preferably, the housing is characterized in that it comprises a heat insulator to insulate the heat generated by the heat supply means from the outside.

Preferably, further comprising a mixing unit in communication with the vacuum pump, the mixing unit for mixing the oxygen discharged through the vacuum pump and the air introduced from the outside, wherein the mixing unit is the amount of the air introduced from the outside It characterized in that it comprises a valve that can adjust.

Preferably, the method further comprises an oxygen concentration meter for measuring the oxygen concentration of the mixing unit.

Preferably, the method may further include a flow rate measuring device capable of measuring the total flow rate of oxygen and the atmosphere mixed with the mixing part and discharged to the outside.

Preferably, the method may further include a filtration device for filtering oxygen and impurities discharged to the outside from the mixing unit.

Preferably, the control unit may further include a control device capable of controlling the amount of air flowing into the mixing unit by adjusting the opening and closing degree of the valve based on the oxygen concentration measured from the oxygen concentration meter.

According to the present invention, there is an effect that the oxygen in the air can be more effectively separated through the oxygen separation membrane made of a composite ceramic and supplied to the place where oxygen is needed.

In addition, according to the present invention, by using a method of separating the oxygen from the atmosphere and supplying the oxygen where necessary, rather than using a high pressure oxygen vessel, it is not necessary to periodically replace the high pressure oxygen vessel and use the oxygen supply device semi-permanently It can be effective.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, by including an oxygen concentration meter, a flow rate measuring device, and a control device, the oxygen concentration and the total flow rate in the supplied gas can be grasped in real time, and the oxygen concentration and the total flow rate are appropriately determined according to the user's intention. This can be controlled.

In addition, according to the present invention, there is an effect that can reduce the risk of explosion and fire by not using the high-pressure oxygen container.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, by not using a heavy, bulky high temperature oxygen vessel, there is an effect that it is easy to store, install, transport and manage the oxygen supply device, thereby reducing the overall cost.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of an oxygen supply apparatus including an oxygen separation membrane according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this process, the thickness of the lines or the size of the components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of description. In addition, the terms described below are defined in consideration of the functions of the present invention, which may vary depending on the intention or custom of the user, the operator. Therefore, definitions of these terms should be made based on the contents throughout this specification.

<Examples>

1 is a view schematically showing the configuration of an oxygen supply apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the oxygen supply device 100 according to the present invention may include an oxygen separation membrane 110, a housing 120, a heat supply unit 130, and a vacuum pump 140.

The oxygen separation membrane 110 is accommodated in the housing 120 to be described later and serves to selectively separate oxygen in the atmosphere. Oxygen separator 110 is made of a composite ceramic having a variety of compositions, the material of the oxygen separator 110 is particularly preferably made of BSCF oxide (Ba _0.5 Sr _0.5 Co _0.8 Fe _0.2 O _3-δ ). This is because BSCF oxide has a remarkably good performance of selectively separating oxygen. On the other hand, the detailed composition of the oxygen separation membrane 110 can be changed according to the user's intention, the composition is not particularly limited as long as it can selectively separate the oxygen in the atmosphere.

The oxygen separation membrane 110 is maintained at a temperature range of about 850 ° C. to 1000 ° C. by the heat supply unit 130 to be described later, so that oxygen in the atmosphere can be selectively separated.

In addition, the oxygen separation membrane 110 has a thickness of 2.11 mm to 0.37 mm in the temperature range, it is possible to effectively separate the oxygen in the atmosphere more effectively. For this reason, when the thickness of the oxygen separation membrane 110 is less than 0.37mm, there is a risk that the oxygen separation membrane 110 may be damaged by physical impact, and when the thickness of the oxygen separation membrane 110 exceeds 2.11mm, This is because a higher degree of high temperature is required to obtain oxygen permeability, which leads to a decrease in efficiency. That is, the oxygen separator (151) in this temperature range and the thickness range can be selectively separated from the oxygen in the 1.2cc / cm ² · min to about 5cc / cm ² · min to atmospheric range.

Table 1 shows the extent to which oxygen can be selectively separated according to the temperature and thickness of the oxygen separation membrane 110 (in the present invention, this is referred to as "oxygen permeability").

Temperature (℃) Oxygen permeability according to thickness (sccm · cm ^-2 ) 2.11mm 1.02mm 0.53mm 0.37mm 1000 1.806 2.94 3.75 4.45 950 1.622 2.48 3.48 3.80 900 1.436 2.25 2.78 3.44 850 1.238 1.96 2.22 2.89

As shown in Table 1, an oxygen separator (110) is from about 850 ℃ to a temperature range of 1000 ℃ and 1.2cc in the thickness range of 2.11mm to 0.37mm / cm ² · min to about 5cc / cm ² · min range It can be seen that it has an oxygen permeability.

That is, as shown in Table 1, the oxygen separation membrane 110 has an oxygen permeability increases as the temperature increases, the oxygen permeability increases as the thickness of the oxygen separation membrane 110 has a characteristic that it can be seen that. have. In addition, although not shown in Table 1, the oxygen permeability increases as the O ₂ concentration gradient at both ends of the oxygen separation membrane 151 increases.

The oxygen separation membrane 110 is disposed inside the housing 120 to be described later to form a space therein. In addition, the inlet port 111 communicates with the outside to allow the air to enter from the outside of the oxygen separation membrane 110 and the discharge port 112 to communicate with the outside so that the air in a state where the oxygen is selectively separated can be discharged to the outside. ).

Due to this configuration, the outside atmosphere can be introduced into the space formed by the oxygen separation membrane 110, the oxygen in the atmosphere can be selectively separated between the housing 120 and the oxygen separation membrane 110 to be described later. .

The housing 120 serves to receive the oxygen separation membrane 110. Note that the shape of the housing 120 is not particularly limited as long as it can accommodate the oxygen separation membrane 110 therein.

On the other hand, the housing 120 may include a heat insulator 121 to insulate the heat generated by the heat supply means 130 to be described later with the outside. At this time, the heat insulating material 121 may be made of a composite ceramic. In addition, the housing 120 includes an air cooling jacket, a water cooling jacket, a thermoelectric element, and the like on the outer wall thereof to insulate the heat generated by the heat supply means 130 from the outside. You may.

The heat supply means 130 serves to supply heat to the oxygen separation membrane 110. In an embodiment of the present invention, the heat supply means 130 is made of an electric heater, and the electric heater is provided inside the oxygen separation membrane 110 to supply heat to the oxygen separation membrane 110. In addition, a power supply unit 131 for supplying power to the electric heater may be provided to supply power to the electric heater in a wired manner.

On the other hand, the heat supply means 130 is not necessarily limited to the electric heater as long as it can supply heat to the oxygen separation membrane 110, it is noted that various kinds of heat supply device can be used.

The vacuum pump 140 is disposed to communicate with one side of the housing 120, and serves to maintain a vacuum between the housing 120 and the oxygen separation membrane 110.

As the vacuum pump 140 becomes closer to the vacuum between the housing 120 and the oxygen separation membrane 110, a difference in oxygen concentration inside and outside the oxygen separation membrane 110 occurs, thereby causing the oxygen separation membrane 110. The oxygen permeability of the) becomes more improved. In addition, the effect of improving the efficiency of the oxygen supply device 100 also occurs.

In addition, the vacuum pump 140 is selectively separated by the oxygen separation membrane 110 serves to collect and discharge the oxygen located between the housing 120 and the oxygen separation membrane 110 to the outside. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the oxygen collected by the vacuum pump 140 passes through the vacuum pump 140 and flows into the oxygen supply passage 141.

The oxygen passing through the oxygen supply passage 141 is a high concentration of oxygen, and when a high concentration of oxygen is required, the oxygen may be directly supplied to the user without combining other devices with the oxygen supply passage 141. On the other hand, it is noted that other mechanical and electronic components may be combined with the oxygen supply passage 141 to supply air having oxygen of a desired concentration to the user.

Looking back at the principle of operation of the oxygen supply device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the outside atmosphere is introduced into the space formed by the oxygen separation membrane 110 through the inlet port 111, the oxygen separation membrane ( Oxygen in the atmosphere introduced into the inner space of the 110 is selectively separated by the oxygen separation membrane 110 and positioned between the housing 120 and the oxygen separation membrane 110. Such oxygen is collected by the vacuum pump 140 and is discharged to the outside through the oxygen supply passage 141. At this time, the atmosphere in which the oxygen is selectively separated is discharged to the outside through the discharge port 112.

2 is a view schematically showing the configuration of the oxygen supply apparatus 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2, the oxygen supply device 200 according to the present invention includes an oxygen separation membrane 210, a housing 220, a heat supply means 230, a vacuum pump 240, a mixing unit 250, and an oxygen concentration measuring instrument. 260, flow rate measuring device 270, filtration device 280, and control device 290.

Compared with the oxygen supply device 100 shown in FIG. 1, the oxygen supply device 200 shown in FIG. 2 includes a mixing unit 250, an oxygen concentration meter 260, a flow rate measuring device 270, and a filtration device. Since 280 and the control device 290 have the same components except that the description of the same components will be omitted.

The mixing unit 250 communicates with the vacuum pump 240 through the oxygen supply passage 241, and serves to mix and supply oxygen discharged through the vacuum pump 240 and air introduced from the outside.

The mixing unit 250 includes an air supply flow path 242, and the air supply flow path 242 receives air from the outside and serves to introduce air into the mixing part 250. The air supply passage 242 may be provided with a valve 243 to adjust the amount of air introduced from the outside. In addition, the valve 243 is configured such that the opening and closing degree can be controlled by the control device 290 to be described later. On the other hand, since the valve 243 generally employs well-known components, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The oxygen mixed with the mixing unit 250 and the external atmosphere (hereinafter referred to as “mixed air”) may be supplied to the user through the mixed air supply passage 244, and the oxygen concentration may be provided in the mixed air supply passage 244. Meter 260, flow rate measuring device 270 and filtration device 280 may be further provided.

The oxygen concentration measuring unit 260 measures the oxygen concentration in the mixed air discharged from the mixing unit 250, thereby measuring the oxygen concentration in the mixing unit 250.

The flow rate measuring device 270 serves to measure the total flow rate of the mixed air discharged from the mixing unit 250.

The filtering device 280 serves to filter impurities and the like contained in the mixed air discharged from the mixing unit 250. The filtration device 280 is not necessarily limited to a specific type, and a configuration capable of filtering various impurities and the like contained in the mixed air is sufficient.

Since the oxygen concentration meter 260, the flow rate measuring device 270 and the filtration device 280 generally employs well-known components, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Meanwhile, the information on the oxygen concentration in the mixed air measured by the oxygen concentration meter 260 and the information about the total flow rate of the mixed air measured by the flow rate measuring device 270 are transmitted to the control device 290 described later.

The control device 290 receives information on the oxygen concentration in the mixed air measured by the oxygen concentration meter 260 and information on the total flow rate of the mixed air measured by the flow rate measuring device 270, and any of the above information may be used. On the basis of one or more serves to adjust the opening and closing degree of the valve (243).

For example, the control device 290 may adjust the opening and closing degree of the valve 243 based on the information on the oxygen concentration in the mixed air measured by the oxygen concentration meter 260. When it is determined that the oxygen concentration in the mixed air is higher than the preset value, the control device 290 opens the valve 243 to increase the amount of air flowing into the mixing unit 250 to set the oxygen concentration to the preset value. Keep it. On the other hand, when it is determined that the oxygen concentration in the mixed air is lower than the preset value, the control device 290 closes the valve 243 to reduce the amount of air flowing into the mixing unit 250 to reduce the oxygen concentration. Keep it at the set value.

This configuration allows the user not only to adjust the oxygen concentration in the mixed air to the desired concentration, but also to control the total flow rate of the mixed air. Therefore, when the oxygen supply device 200 is used in the hospital, it is possible to actively adjust the amount of oxygen required for recovery of the patient depending on the time and the degree of treatment.

In addition, the oxygen supply device 200 according to the present invention may display information about the oxygen concentration in the mixed air measured by the oxygen concentration meter 260 and information about the total flow rate of the mixed air measured by the flow rate measuring device 270. A display device (not shown) may be further included. In this case, the user can more effectively grasp the oxygen concentration and the total flow rate of the mixed air by monitoring the information on the oxygen concentration in the mixed air displayed on the display device and the information on the total flow rate of the mixed air in real time.

As mentioned above, although the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the following claims are not limited to the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It can be easily understood by those skilled in the art that can be modified and modified.

1 is a view schematically showing the configuration of the oxygen supply device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention,

2 is a view schematically showing the configuration of the oxygen supply apparatus 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (12)

In the oxygen supply device comprising an oxygen separation membrane, An oxygen separation membrane configured to selectively separate oxygen in the atmosphere and to form a space therein; A housing that can accommodate the oxygen separation membrane; Heat supply means capable of supplying heat to the oxygen separation membrane; And And a vacuum pump disposed to communicate with one side of the housing, and capable of maintaining the inside of the housing in a vacuum. The atmosphere is introduced into the oxygen separation membrane, and the introduced oxygen in the atmosphere is separated between the oxygen separation membrane and the housing and is collected and discharged through the vacuum pump. Oxygen supply device comprising an oxygen separator. The method of claim 1, The oxygen separator is maintained at about 850 ℃ to 1000 ℃, Permeability of the oxygen selectively separated by the oxygen separation membrane, characterized in that in the range of 1.2cc / cm ² · min to 5cc / cm ² · min, Oxygen supply device comprising an oxygen separator. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The oxygen separator is made of a composite ceramic, The permeability is increased as the temperature of the oxygen separation membrane increases, Oxygen supply device comprising an oxygen separator. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The oxygen separator is made of a composite ceramic, The permeability of the oxygen separator increases as the thickness decreases. Oxygen supply device comprising an oxygen separator. The method of claim 1, The oxygen separator is An inlet port communicating with the outside so that the atmosphere can be introduced from the outside; And And an outlet port communicating with the outside so that the atmosphere in the state where the oxygen is selectively separated can be discharged to the outside. Oxygen supply device comprising an oxygen separator. The method of claim 1, The heat supply means is an electric heater, The electric heater is provided inside the oxygen separation membrane, characterized in that for supplying heat to the oxygen separation membrane, Oxygen supply device comprising an oxygen separator. The method of claim 1, The housing is characterized in that it comprises a heat insulator to insulate the heat generated by the heat supply means from the outside, Oxygen supply device comprising an oxygen separator. The method of claim 1, And a mixing unit in communication with the vacuum pump and capable of mixing oxygen discharged through the vacuum pump and air introduced from the outside. The mixing unit includes a valve capable of adjusting the amount of the atmosphere introduced from the outside, Oxygen supply device comprising an oxygen separator. The method of claim 8, Further comprising an oxygen concentration meter for measuring the oxygen concentration of the mixing portion, Oxygen supply device comprising an oxygen separator. 10. The method of claim 9, Further comprising a flow rate measuring device capable of measuring the total flow rate of oxygen and the atmosphere mixed with the mixing portion discharged to the outside, Oxygen supply device comprising an oxygen separator. The method of claim 10, Further comprising a filtration device for filtering the oxygen discharged to the outside from the mixing unit and impurities in the air, Oxygen supply device comprising an oxygen separator. The method of claim 11, On the basis of the oxygen concentration measured from the oxygen concentration meter, by adjusting the opening and closing degree of the valve further comprising a control device for controlling the amount of air flowing into the mixing unit, Oxygen supply device comprising an oxygen separator.

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