Oxygen concentrator
An oxygen concentrator is a device which concentrates the oxygen from a gas supply (typically ambient air) to supply an oxygen enriched gas mixture.
Oxygen concentrators typically use pressure swing adsorption technology and are used very widely for oxygen provision in healthcare applications, especially where liquid or pressurized oxygen is too dangerous or inconvenient, such as in homes or in portable clinics.
Contents
How oxygen concentrators work
Oxygen concentrators operate on the principle of rapid pressure swing adsorption of atmospheric nitrogen onto zeolite minerals and then venting the nitrogen. This type of adsorption system is therefore functionally a nitrogen scrubber leaving the other atmospheric gasses to pass through. This leaves oxygen as the primary gas remaining. PSA technology is a reliable and economical technique for small to mid-scale oxygen generation, with cryogenic separation more suitable at higher volumes and external delivery generally more suitable for small volumes.[1]
At high pressure, the porous zeolite adsorbs large quantities of nitrogen, due to its large surface area and chemical character. After the oxygen and other free components are collected the pressure drops which allows nitrogen to desorb.
An oxygen concentrator has an air compressor, two cylinders filled with zeolite pellets, a pressure equalizing reservoir, and some valves and tubes. In the first half-cycle the first cylinder receives air from the compressor, which lasts about 3 seconds. During that time the pressure in the first cylinder rises from atmospheric to about 1.5 times normal atmospheric pressure (typically 20 psi/138 kPa gauge, or 1.36 atmospheres absolute) and the zeolite becomes saturated with nitrogen. As the first cylinder reaches near pure oxygen (there are small amounts of argon, CO2, water vapor, radon and other minor atmospheric components) in the first half-cycle, a valve opens and the oxygen enriched gas flows to the pressure equalizing reservoir, which connects to the patient's oxygen hose. At the end of the first half of the cycle, there is another valve position change so that the air from the compressor is directed to the 2nd cylinder. Pressure in the first cylinder drops as the enriched oxygen moves into the reservoir, allowing the nitrogen to be desorbed back into gas. Part way through the second half of the cycle there is another valve position change to vent the gas in the first cylinder back into the ambient atmosphere, keeping the concentration of oxygen in the pressure equalizing reservoir from falling below about 90%. The pressure in the hose delivering oxygen from the equalizing reservoir is kept steady by a pressure reducing valve.
Older units cycled with a period of about 20 seconds, and supplied up to 5 liters per minute of 90+% oxygen. Since about 1999, units capable of supplying up to 10 lpm have been available.
Applications
PSA generators provide a cost-efficient source of oxygen. They are a safer,[2] less expensive,[3] and more convenient alternative to tanks of cryogenic oxygen or pressurized cylinders. They can be used in various industries including medical, pharmaceutical production, water treatment and glass manufacture.
PSA generators are particularly useful in remote or inaccessible parts of the world or mobile medical facilities (military hospitals, disaster facilities).[4]...[5]
Portable oxygen concentrators
Since the year 2000, a number of companies have produced portable oxygen concentrators.[6] Typically, these devices produce one to five liters per minute of oxygen, and they use some version of pulse flow or "demand flow" to deliver oxygen only when the patient is inhaling. They can also provide pulses of oxygen either to provide higher intermittent flows or to reduce the power consumption.
Research into oxygen concentration is ongoing and modern techniques suggest that the amount of adsorbent required by a medical oxygen concentrators can be potentially "reduced by a factor of three while offering ∼10–20% higher oxygen recovery compared to a typical commercial unit."[7]
These portable concentrators typically plug into an electrical outlet and may have an internal battery or external battery pack for operation away from home. Portable oxygen concentrators usually can be plugged into the DC outlet of a vehicle, and most of these devices are suitable for ambulatory use.
The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved the use of portable oxygen concentrators on commercial airlines.[8] However, users of these devices should check in advance as to whether a particular brand or model is permitted on a particular airline. Unlike in commercial airlines, users of aircraft without cabin pressurization need oxygen concentrators which are able to deliver enough flowrate even at high altitudes, such as OXYFLY.[9]
Usually, "demand" or pulse-flow oxygen concentrators are not used by patients while they sleep. There have been problems with the oxygen concentrators not being able to detect when the sleeping patient is inhaling. Some larger portable oxygen concentrators are designed to operate in continuous-flow mode in addition to pulse-flow mode. Continuous-flow mode is considered safe for night use when coupled with a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine.
Common models retail at around $1500. Leasing arrangements may be available through various medical-supply companies and/or insurance agencies.
Alternate applications
Repurposed medical oxygen concentrators or specialized industrial oxygen concentrators can be made to operate small oxyacetylene or other fuel gas cutting, welding and lamp-working torches.
Safety
In both clinical and emergency-care situations, oxygen concentrators have the advantage of not being as dangerous as oxygen cylinders, which can, if ruptured or leaking, greatly increase the combustion rate of a fire. As such, oxygen concentrators are particularly advantageous in military or disaster situations, where oxygen tanks may be dangerous or unfeasible.
Oxygen concentrators are considered sufficiently foolproof to be supplied to individual patients as a prescription item for use in their homes. Typically they are used as an adjunct to CPAP treatment of severe sleep apnea. There also are other medical uses for oxygen concentrators, including emphysema and other respiratory diseases.
References
- ↑ Ruthven, Douglas M.; Shamsuzzman Farooq, Kent S. Knaebel (1993). Pressure Swing Adsorption. isbn:9780471188186, Wiley-VCH, p. 6,304
- ↑ Duke, T.; Wandi, F.; Jonathan, M.; Matai, S.; Kaupa, M.; Saavu, M.; Subhi, R.; Peel, D. (2008). Improved oxygen systems for childhood pneumonia: A multihospital effectiveness study in Papua New Guinea. The Lancet 372 (9646): 1328.
- ↑ Friesen, R. M.; Raber, M. B.; Reimer, D. H. (1999). Oxygen concentrators: A primary oxygen supply source. Canadian Journal of Anesthesia/Journal canadien d'anesthésie 46 (12): 1185
- ↑ CO2CRC Research - Storing CO2
- ↑ Shrestha, B. M.; Singh, B. B.; Gautam, M. P.; Chand, M. B. (2002). The oxygen concentrator is a suitable alternative to oxygen cylinders in Nepal. Canadian Journal of Anesthesia/Journal canadien d'anesthésie 49: 8.
- ↑ The Rise of Portable Concentrator Manufacturers Oxygen Concentrator Ratings
- ↑ Rama Rao, V.; Kothare, M. V.; Sircar, S. (2014). "Novel design and performance of a medical oxygen concentrator using a rapid pressure swing adsorption concept". AIChE Journal: n/a.
- ↑ FAA Approved Portable Oxygen Concentrators FAA (2012)
- ↑ Continuous Oxygen Supply for non-pressurized Aircraft OXYFLY (2015)
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