JP2007044116A - Pressure-fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator - Google Patents

Pressure-fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator Download PDF

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JP2007044116A
JP2007044116A JP2005229293A JP2005229293A JP2007044116A JP 2007044116 A JP2007044116 A JP 2007044116A JP 2005229293 A JP2005229293 A JP 2005229293A JP 2005229293 A JP2005229293 A JP 2005229293A JP 2007044116 A JP2007044116 A JP 2007044116A
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air
moisture
permeable membrane
adsorption
oxygen
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Hitoshi Nakamura
仁志 中村
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Teijin Pharma Ltd
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<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pressure-fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator carrying a dehumidifier which can efficiently remove moisture in raw material air. <P>SOLUTION: The pressure-fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator 1 comprises an adsorption floor filled up with an adsorbent which alternatively adsorbs nitrogen rather than oxygen, an air supply means 120 which provides pressurized air, a raw material, to the adsorption floor and suction removes the exhaust from the adsorption floor, and an oxygen feed means which feeds to a user oxygen enriched air formed from the adsorption floor, and comprises a moisture separating means including a moisture-permeable membrane 131 which separates moisture in air and in which the primary side of the moisture-permeable membrane 131 is connected to a pipe which feeds the pressurized air between the air supply means 120 and the adsorption floor and the secondary side of the moisture-permeable membrane 131 is connected to the pipes for evacuation of the adsorption floor and the air supply means 120. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

本発明は、空気中から酸素濃縮ガスを分離し、呼吸器疾患患者などの使用者に供給する圧力変動吸着型酸素濃縮装置に関する。   The present invention relates to a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator that separates oxygen-enriched gas from the air and supplies it to a user such as a respiratory disease patient.

近年、喘息、肺気腫症、慢性気管支炎等の呼吸器系疾患に苦しむ患者が増加する傾向にあるが、その最も効果的な治療法の一つとして酸素吸入療法があり、酸素ボンベあるいは空気中から酸素濃縮ガスを直接分離する酸素濃縮装置が開発され、酸素吸入療法のための治療装置として使用されている。   In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of patients suffering from respiratory diseases such as asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. One of the most effective therapies is oxygen inhalation therapy, which can An oxygen concentrator that directly separates the oxygen enriched gas has been developed and used as a therapeutic device for oxygen inhalation therapy.

このような酸素濃縮装置として、窒素を選択的に吸着し得る吸着剤を充填した吸着筒に、コンプレッサで圧縮空気を導入して加圧状態で窒素を吸着させることにより、酸素濃縮ガスを得る吸着工程と、吸着筒の内圧を減少させて窒素を脱着させ吸着剤の再生を行う脱着工程とを交互に行うことにより酸素濃縮ガスを連続的に生成する吸着型酸素濃縮装置がある。脱着工程時の圧力が加圧状態から大気圧付近まで開放し吸着窒素を排気する圧力変動吸着（PSA：Pressure Swing Adsorption）型と、真空ポンプを用いて吸着筒内圧力を大気圧以下まで減圧し、より脱着効率を高めた真空圧力変動吸着（VPSA：Vacuum Pressure Swing Adsorption）型の２つの種類が存在する。   As such an oxygen concentrator, an adsorption cylinder filled with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing nitrogen is adsorbed to obtain oxygen-enriched gas by introducing compressed air with a compressor and adsorbing nitrogen in a pressurized state. There is an adsorption-type oxygen concentrator that continuously generates an oxygen-enriched gas by alternately performing a process and a desorption process of desorbing nitrogen by reducing the internal pressure of the adsorption cylinder to regenerate the adsorbent. The pressure in the adsorption cylinder is reduced to below atmospheric pressure using a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) type that releases pressure from the pressurized state to near atmospheric pressure and exhausts adsorbed nitrogen, and a vacuum pump. There are two types of vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA) type with higher desorption efficiency.

かかる酸素濃縮装置は、吸着剤として５Ａ型や１３Ｘ型のナトリウムゼオライト、Ｌｉ−Ｘ型ゼオライトなどを使用し、加圧状態での空気成分の吸着率の違いから、窒素を吸着し未吸着の酸素を取出す装置である。吸着剤の特性として、酸素よりも更に水の吸着率が高い為、空気中の水分は全て吸着除去され、生成された酸素濃縮ガスはほぼ絶乾に近い乾燥状態にある。一方で吸着筒に充填された吸着剤が水分を吸着すると、空気中の酸素ガスよりも窒素ガスを選択的に吸着するという吸着能も低下することが指摘されている。このため、通常、吸着筒に供給される原料空気は乾燥させたり、加熱させたりするなどの対応が行なわれている。   Such an oxygen concentrator uses 5A-type or 13X-type sodium zeolite, Li-X-type zeolite or the like as an adsorbent, and adsorbs nitrogen due to the difference in the adsorption rate of air components under pressure. It is a device to take out. As a characteristic of the adsorbent, since the adsorption rate of water is higher than that of oxygen, all the moisture in the air is adsorbed and removed, and the produced oxygen-enriched gas is in a dry state that is almost completely dry. On the other hand, it has been pointed out that when the adsorbent filled in the adsorption cylinder adsorbs moisture, the adsorption ability of selectively adsorbing nitrogen gas over oxygen gas in the air also decreases. For this reason, usually, measures such as drying or heating the raw material air supplied to the adsorption cylinder are performed.

プラント等の大型装置では、熱交換器を介し空気中の水分を凝縮分離する冷却法や、アルミナ等の水分吸着材を充填した乾燥筒を介して乾燥空気を得る吸着法が採用されている。しかし医療用の小型酸素濃縮装置では、上記のような乾燥工程を伴う２段階処理は、機器の複雑化、大型化、コスト増を招き、更にはエネルギーロスを引き起こすなどの理由によりほとんど採用されていない。新たな方法として、特開平２−９９１１３号公報に記載のように、水分透過膜を使用し、加圧空気中の水分を分離膜を介して吸着筒からの再生パージガス中に移行させ、乾燥空気を得る方法が知られている。   In a large apparatus such as a plant, a cooling method in which moisture in the air is condensed and separated through a heat exchanger, and an adsorption method in which dry air is obtained through a drying cylinder filled with a moisture adsorbing material such as alumina are employed. However, in medical small-sized oxygen concentrators, the two-stage process involving the drying process as described above is mostly employed for reasons such as increasing the complexity and size of the equipment, increasing costs, and causing energy loss. Absent. As a new method, as described in JP-A-2-99113, a moisture permeable membrane is used, moisture in the pressurized air is transferred to the regeneration purge gas from the adsorption cylinder through the separation membrane, and dried air. There are known ways to obtain

絶乾状態にある酸素濃縮空気を長期間、多量に使用者に吸入させると、例えば、上気道粘膜の繊毛運動低下、体内水分，熱量の損失及び喀痰の乾燥による喀出困難といった問題が生じる。そこで、このような問題を回避するために、使用者に供給する酸素富化空気は、吸入する前に適度に加湿しておくことが好ましい。このような絶乾状態に近い酸素濃縮ガスを加湿するために、ＰＳＡ型の酸素濃縮装置では加湿器が設けられる。かかる加湿器には加湿源として水を用いたバブリング式、表面蒸発式の加湿器が用いられる他、特開平８−１４１０８７号公報、特開平１０−２８７４０３号公報に記載のような水分透過膜を使用し、原料加圧空気あるいは脱着再生ガス中の水分を製品酸素ガスの加湿に使用する方法を利用した無給水式加湿器が開示されている。   When a user inhales a large amount of oxygen-enriched air in an absolutely dry state for a long period of time, problems such as reduced ciliary movement of the upper airway mucosa, loss of body water and heat, and difficulty in leaching due to dryness of the sputum arise. Therefore, in order to avoid such a problem, it is preferable that the oxygen-enriched air supplied to the user is appropriately humidified before being inhaled. A humidifier is provided in the PSA type oxygen concentrator in order to humidify such an oxygen-concentrated gas close to the absolutely dry state. For such a humidifier, a bubbling type or surface evaporation type humidifier using water is used as a humidifying source, and a moisture permeable membrane as described in JP-A-8-141087 and JP-A-10-287403 is used. There is disclosed a non-water-supply type humidifier using a method of using raw material pressurized air or moisture in a desorption regeneration gas for humidifying product oxygen gas.

特開平２−９９１１３号公報JP-A-2-99113 特開平８−１４１０８７号公報JP-A-8-141087 特開平１０−２８７４０３号公報JP-A-10-287403

原料空気中に含まれる水分は、吸着剤の性能劣化を引き起こす。結果として酸素濃縮器の場合は製品酸素濃縮ガスの酸素濃度の低下、長期耐久性の低下を招き、更にロータリーバルブを用いて流路を切り替え、吸脱着制御を行う装置の場合には、摺動面に水分が入るとメニスカス力が働き回転トルクの上昇を引き起こし、機器停止を引き起こす可能性もある。   Moisture contained in the raw material air causes performance deterioration of the adsorbent. As a result, in the case of an oxygen concentrator, the oxygen concentration of the product oxygen-concentrated gas is lowered and the long-term durability is reduced. When moisture enters the surface, the meniscus force works and causes an increase in rotational torque, which may cause the equipment to stop.

これを防ぐ手段として上記の水分透過膜を使用した除湿器を採用することが出来る。このような除湿器は、他の気体よりも水蒸気を選択的に透過させる水分透過膜、例えば、官能基としてスルフォン酸基を配位させた水分透過膜などを用いて、水分透過膜内外の水蒸気の分圧差を利用し、原料空気中の水分を絶乾状態の酸素濃縮ガス、或いは再生パージガス中へ透過させて加湿（除湿）するものである。   As a means for preventing this, a dehumidifier using the above-described moisture permeable membrane can be employed. Such a dehumidifier uses a water permeable membrane that selectively permeates water vapor over other gases, for example, a water permeable membrane in which a sulfonic acid group is coordinated as a functional group. Using the partial pressure difference, moisture in the raw material air is permeated into an oxygen-concentrated gas in a dry state or a regenerative purge gas to humidify (dehumidify).

原料空気中の水分を除去する為には、湿度ゼロの製品酸素濃縮ガスと原料加圧空気との間の水分交換を行うのが水蒸気の分圧差を最大限に活用する上でベストである。しかし、生成供給される製品酸素濃縮ガスに対して原料空気中の水分量の方が多い為、製品酸素濃縮ガスが供給中に外気に冷やされて結露を起こす可能性があり、特に酸素供給流量が少ない場合には、除湿・加湿の水分コントロールが困難となる。   In order to remove moisture in the raw material air, it is best to make the maximum use of the partial pressure difference of water vapor by exchanging the water between the product oxygen-enriched gas with zero humidity and the raw material pressurized air. However, since the amount of moisture in the raw material air is larger than the product oxygen-enriched gas produced and supplied, the product oxygen-enriched gas may be cooled by the outside air during supply, causing condensation, especially the oxygen supply flow rate. When the amount of water is small, it is difficult to control the moisture of dehumidification / humidification.

一方、ＰＳＡの脱着工程で発生する排気ガスと原料加圧空気との間で水分交換を行う場合、かかる排気ガス中には水分が含まれており、充分な水蒸気分圧差が確保できないといった問題がある。   On the other hand, when moisture is exchanged between the exhaust gas generated in the PSA desorption process and the raw material pressurized air, the exhaust gas contains moisture, and a sufficient water vapor partial pressure difference cannot be secured. is there.

上記課題に対して本願発明は、以下の酸素濃縮装置を提供する。すなわち、本願発明は、酸素よりも窒素を選択的に吸着する吸着剤を充填した吸着床と、該吸着床に原料である加圧空気を供給し且つ該吸着床からの排気を吸引除去する空気供給手段と、該吸着床から生成した酸素濃縮ガスを使用者に供給する酸素供給手段を具備した圧力変動吸着型酸素濃縮装置であり、空気中の水分を分離する水分透過膜を備え、且つ該水分透過膜の１次側が該空気供給手段と該吸着床との間の加圧空気を供給する導管に接続され、該水分透過膜の２次側が該吸着床と該空気供給手段との真空排気用の導管に接続された水分分離手段を備えることを特徴とするＶＰＳＡ型の圧力変動吸着型酸素濃縮装置を提供するものである。   The present invention provides the following oxygen concentrator for the above problems. That is, the present invention provides an adsorption bed filled with an adsorbent that selectively adsorbs nitrogen over oxygen, and air that supplies pressurized air as a raw material to the adsorption bed and sucks and removes exhaust from the adsorption bed. A pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrating apparatus comprising a supply means and an oxygen supply means for supplying oxygen enriched gas generated from the adsorption bed to a user, comprising a moisture permeable membrane for separating moisture in the air, and The primary side of the moisture permeable membrane is connected to a conduit for supplying pressurized air between the air supply means and the adsorption bed, and the secondary side of the moisture permeable membrane is evacuated between the adsorption bed and the air supply means. The present invention provides a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator of the VPSA type characterized in that it comprises a water separation means connected to a conduit for use.

また本願発明は、かかる水分分離手段が、中空糸状水分透過膜及びそれを含む筐体を供え、該中空糸状水分透過膜の中空側が該水分透過膜の１次側、該中空糸状水分透過膜の外側を該水分透過膜の２次側とすることを特徴とする圧力変動吸着型酸素濃縮装置であり、特に該水分透過膜がパーフルオロスルホン酸型イオン交換中空糸膜であることを特徴とする圧力変動吸着型酸素濃縮装置を提供するものである。   In the present invention, the moisture separation means includes a hollow fiber-shaped moisture permeable membrane and a casing including the hollow fiber-shaped moisture permeable membrane, the hollow side of the hollow fiber-shaped moisture permeable membrane is the primary side of the moisture permeable membrane, A pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator characterized in that the outer side is the secondary side of the moisture permeable membrane, and in particular, the moisture permeable membrane is a perfluorosulfonic acid type ion exchange hollow fiber membrane. A pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator is provided.

以下、本発明の圧力変動吸着型酸素濃縮装置の実施態様について、図面を参照しながら詳細に説明する。図１は、本発明の一実施形態である圧力変動吸着型酸素濃縮装置を例示した概略装置構成図である。   Hereinafter, embodiments of the pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic apparatus configuration diagram illustrating a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator as an embodiment of the present invention.

かかる圧力変動吸着型（VPSA型）酸素濃縮装置１は、外部空気取り込みフィルター101、空気供給手段120、切り替え弁104、吸着筒105、逆止弁106、製品タンク107、調圧弁108、流量設定手段109、フィルター110、加湿器111を備える。これにより外部から取り込んだ原料空気から酸素ガスを濃縮した酸素濃縮ガスを製造することができる。   The pressure fluctuation adsorption type (VPSA type) oxygen concentrator 1 includes an external air intake filter 101, an air supply means 120, a switching valve 104, an adsorption cylinder 105, a check valve 106, a product tank 107, a pressure regulating valve 108, and a flow rate setting means. 109, a filter 110, and a humidifier 111. Thereby, the oxygen enriched gas which concentrated oxygen gas from the raw material air taken in from the outside can be manufactured.

先ず、外部から取り込まれる原料空気は、塵埃などの異物を取り除くための外部空気取り込みフィルター101などを備えた空気取り込み口から取り込まれる。このとき、通常の空気中には、約２１％の酸素ガス、約７７％の窒素ガス、０．８％のアルゴンガス、水蒸気ほかのガスが１．２％含まれている。かかる装置では、呼吸用ガスとして必要な酸素ガスのみを濃縮して取り出す。   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 101 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 extracted.

この酸素ガスの取り出しは、原料空気を酸素ガス分子よりも窒素ガス分子を選択的に吸着するゼオライトなどからなる吸着剤が充填された吸着筒105に対して、切り替え弁104によって対象とする吸着筒105を順次切り替えながら、原料空気を空気供給手段120の加圧ポートである加圧ポンプ121により加圧して供給し、吸着筒105内で原料空気中に含まれる約７７％の窒素ガスを選択的に吸着除去する。通常、窒素ガスとともに水蒸気も吸着除去されるために、吸着筒105に供給される加圧空気を一旦、中空糸水分透過膜131を内蔵した除湿器モジュール130の中空糸内側を通し、除湿した後に吸着筒に供給する。一方、中空糸外側は吸着筒105からの脱着空気を真空ポンプ122を介して真空除去するＶＰＳＡの真空排気ラインに接続し、除湿に必要な水分透過膜を介した水蒸気分圧差を充分に確保する。   The oxygen gas is taken out from the adsorption cylinder 105 filled with an adsorbent made of zeolite or the like that selectively adsorbs the nitrogen gas molecules rather than the oxygen gas molecules. While sequentially switching 105, the source air is pressurized and supplied by a pressurizing pump 121 which is a pressurizing port of the air supply means 120, and approximately 77% of nitrogen gas contained in the source air is selectively selected in the adsorption cylinder 105. Remove by adsorption. Usually, since water vapor is also adsorbed and removed together with nitrogen gas, the pressurized air supplied to the adsorption cylinder 105 is once passed through the inside of the hollow fiber of the dehumidifier module 130 incorporating the hollow fiber moisture permeable membrane 131 and dehumidified. Supply to the suction cylinder. On the other hand, the outer side of the hollow fiber is connected to the evacuation line of the VPSA where the desorption air from the adsorption cylinder 105 is removed by vacuum through the vacuum pump 122, and a sufficient water vapor partial pressure difference through the moisture permeable membrane necessary for dehumidification is secured. .

ここで、本発明に使用する除湿器130について説明する。この除湿器130は、前述のように中空糸状の水分透過膜モジュールを備えており、水分透過膜を形成した中空糸131、水分透過膜モジュール本体及び中空糸の内側（１次側）と外側（２次側）の出入り口を備える。水分透過膜を形成した中空糸131の内側に加圧ポンプで加圧された原料空気が中空糸内部を通して吸着筒105に供給される。   Here, the dehumidifier 130 used in the present invention will be described. As described above, the dehumidifier 130 includes a hollow fiber-shaped moisture permeable membrane module, and includes a hollow fiber 131 formed with a moisture permeable membrane, a moisture permeable membrane module main body, and inner (primary side) and outer (outside) of the hollow fiber. Secondary side entrance / exit. The raw material air pressurized by the pressure pump inside the hollow fiber 131 in which the moisture permeable membrane is formed is supplied to the adsorption cylinder 105 through the hollow fiber.

この水分透過膜モジュールの実施形態としては、例えば、水分透過膜が形成された中空糸131を適当な長さに切断し、これを多数本束ねた中空糸131の束を作成して、この中空糸束の両端部の中空が塞がらないように両端をエポキシ樹脂のような樹脂で水分透過膜モジュール本体の内壁部に一体に固めて納め、図１に例示したようにモジュ−ル化したものを好適に使用することができる。   As an embodiment of this moisture permeable membrane module, for example, a hollow fiber 131 on which a moisture permeable membrane is formed is cut into an appropriate length, and a bundle of a plurality of hollow fibers 131 is created to create a bundle of hollow fibers 131. The both ends of the yarn bundle are firmly fixed to the inner wall of the moisture permeable membrane module main body with a resin such as epoxy resin so that the hollows at both ends are not blocked, and the module is modularized as illustrated in FIG. It can be preferably used.

図１に例示した実施形態例では水分透過膜を形成した中空糸モジュールを使用しているが、本発明は、このような中空糸膜モジュールに限定されることはなく、例えば、平膜モジュールや平膜をスパイラル状に形成したモジュールを用いることもできる。このとき、前述の平膜モジュールでは、例えば、良好な通気性を有する平板状支持体の両面に水分透過膜を形成し、水分透過膜支持体の表裏両面に圧力差を付けることによって、加圧空気側（１次側）の水蒸気を水分透過膜の表面に溶解させて水分透過膜内を拡散移動させた後、真空側（２次側）の水分透過膜の表面から離脱させるという原理を使用したものがある。このような平膜モジュールでは、水分透過膜膜を形成した前記平板状支持体は隔壁を挟んだサンドイッチ構造を繰り返し単位として、これを複数個積層したものが通常使用される。   In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, a hollow fiber module having a moisture permeable membrane is used. However, the present invention is not limited to such a hollow fiber membrane module. A module in which a flat membrane is formed in a spiral shape can also be used. At this time, in the above-mentioned flat membrane module, for example, a moisture permeable membrane is formed on both surfaces of a flat support having good air permeability, and a pressure difference is applied to both the front and back surfaces of the moisture permeable membrane support. Uses the principle that air-side (primary-side) water vapor is dissolved on the surface of the moisture-permeable membrane, diffused and moved through the moisture-permeable membrane, and then separated from the surface of the vacuum-side (secondary-side) moisture-permeable membrane There is what I did. In such a flat membrane module, the plate-like support on which the moisture permeable membrane is formed is usually used by laminating a plurality of laminates with a sandwich structure sandwiching a partition wall as a repeating unit.

また、本発明では前記水分透過膜として周知のものを使用することができ、例えば、特開昭５４−１５２６７９号公報、特開昭６０−１８３０２５号公報、特開昭６１−１９５１１７号公報、特開昭６２−４２７２３号公報等に記載された吸水性高分子膜、特開昭５３−８６６８４号公報、特開昭６０−２５７８１９号公報、特開昭６０−２６１５０３号公報、特開昭６２−４２７７２号公報等に記載されたポリスルホン多孔膜、ポリプロピレン多孔膜、ポリテトラフルオロエチレン多孔膜およびこれらと他の膜との複合膜、特開昭６２−４２７２３号公報等に記載された芳香族ポリイミド膜を挙げることができ、更に、パーフルオロスルホン酸系イオン交換膜、炭化水素スルフォン酸系イオン交換膜、またイオン交換膜と吸水性高分子膜との複合膜などを例示することができる。また、市場に供されている水分透過膜を挙げるならば、その商品名／商標名が、ＮＡＦＩＯＮ膜（ＤｕＰｏｎｔ社製）、ダウ膜（ダウケミカル製）、フレミオン（旭硝子製）、アシプレックス（旭化成製）などと称されているものを例示することができる。   In the present invention, well-known water-permeable membranes can be used. For example, JP 54-152679 A, JP 60-183025 A, JP 61-195117 A, The water-absorbing polymer membranes described in JP-A-62-42723, JP-A-53-86684, JP-A-60-257819, JP-A-60-261503, JP-A-62-2 Polysulfone porous membranes, polypropylene porous membranes, polytetrafluoroethylene porous membranes and composite membranes of these with other membranes, aromatic polyimide membranes described in JP-A-62-42723, etc. Furthermore, perfluorosulfonic acid ion exchange membranes, hydrocarbon sulfonic acid ion exchange membranes, and ion exchange membranes and water-absorbing polymer membranes And the like can be exemplified composite membrane. In addition, if the moisture permeable membranes on the market are listed, their trade names / trade names are NAFION membrane (DuPont), Dow membrane (Dow Chemical), Flemion (Asahi Glass), Aciplex (Asahi Kasei). What is called "made" etc. can be illustrated.

その中でも、水蒸気の分圧差を利用し、加圧及び真空の圧力差に伴う機械的強度と水分透過性能を実現する上で中空糸型の水分透過膜を使用するのが好ましく、強度、製膜性、透過性能の点からパーフルオロスルホン酸型イオン交換中空糸膜を使用することが出来る。   Among them, it is preferable to use a water-permeable membrane of a hollow fiber type in order to realize mechanical strength and moisture permeation performance associated with pressure difference between pressure and vacuum by utilizing the partial pressure difference of water vapor, Perfluorosulfonic acid type ion exchange hollow fiber membranes can be used from the viewpoint of the property and permeability.

前記の吸着筒105としては、前記吸着剤を充填した円筒状容器で形成され、通常、１筒式、２筒式の他に３筒以上の多筒式が用いられるが、連続的かつ効率的に原料空気から酸素富化空気を製造するためには、多筒式の吸着筒105を使用することが好ましい。また、前記の空気供給手段120としては、揺動型空気圧縮機が用いられるほか、スクリュー式、ロータリー式、スクロール式などの回転型空気圧縮機が用いられる場合もある。ＶＰＳＡとして加圧ポンプ121及び真空ポンプ122の２つの機能が必要である為、２ヘッドのコンプレッサーが使用される。また、この空気圧縮装置120を駆動する電動機の電源は、交流であっても直流であってもよい。   The adsorbing cylinder 105 is formed of a cylindrical container filled with the adsorbent, and usually a multi-cylinder type of three or more cylinders is used in addition to the one-cylinder type and the two-cylinder type. In order to produce oxygen-enriched air from the raw material air, it is preferable to use a multi-cylinder type adsorption cylinder 105. The air supply means 120 may be a rotary air compressor such as a screw type, a rotary type, or a scroll type in addition to a swing type air compressor. Since the VPSA requires two functions of the pressure pump 121 and the vacuum pump 122, a two-head compressor is used. Further, the power source of the electric motor that drives the air compressor 120 may be alternating current or direct current.

前記吸着筒105で吸着されなかった酸素ガスを主成分とする酸素富化空気は、吸着筒105へ逆流しないように設けられた逆止弁106を介して、製品タンク107に流入する。   Oxygen-enriched air mainly composed of oxygen gas that has not been adsorbed by the adsorption cylinder 105 flows into the product tank 107 through a check valve 106 provided so as not to flow backward to the adsorption cylinder 105.

なお、吸着筒105内に充填された吸着剤に吸着された窒素ガスは、新たに導入される原料空気から再度窒素ガスを吸着するために吸着剤から脱着させる必要がある。このために、空気供給手段120の加圧ポンプ121によって実現される加圧状態から、切り替え弁104によって真空減圧状態に切り替え、吸着されていた窒素ガスを脱着させて吸着剤を再生させる。この脱着工程において、その脱着効率を高めるため、吸着工程中の吸着筒の製品端側或いは製品タンク107から酸素富化空気をパージガスとして逆流させるようにしてもよい。   Note that the nitrogen gas adsorbed by the adsorbent filled in the adsorption cylinder 105 needs to be desorbed from the adsorbent in order to adsorb the nitrogen gas again from the newly introduced raw material air. For this purpose, the pressurization state realized by the pressurization pump 121 of the air supply means 120 is switched to the vacuum decompression state by the switching valve 104, and the adsorbent is regenerated by desorbing the adsorbed nitrogen gas. In this desorption process, in order to increase the desorption efficiency, oxygen-enriched air may be allowed to flow back as a purge gas from the product end side of the adsorption cylinder or the product tank 107 during the adsorption process.

原料空気から酸素濃縮空気が製造され、製品タンク107へ蓄えられる。この製品タンク107に蓄えられた酸素濃縮空気は、例えば９５％といった高濃度の酸素ガスを含んでおり、調圧弁108や流量設定手段109などによってその供給流量と圧力とが制御されながら、加湿器121へ供給される。水加湿器あるいは同様の中空糸型の無給水式加湿器によって加湿したのち、呼吸器疾患患者等の使用者に供給される。   Oxygen-enriched air is produced from the raw air and stored in the product tank 107. The oxygen-enriched air stored in the product tank 107 contains high-concentration oxygen gas, for example, 95%, and the humidifier is controlled while the supply flow rate and pressure are controlled by the pressure regulating valve 108, the flow rate setting means 109, and the like. Supplied to 121. After being humidified by a water humidifier or a similar hollow fiber type non-water supply type humidifier, it is supplied to a user such as a patient with respiratory disease.

内径250μm、長さ200mmのパーフルオロスルホン酸型イオン交換中空糸膜（ナフィオン膜）、1000本使用し、両端をエポキシ樹脂で固定し中空糸水分透過膜モジュールを作成した。空気供給手段としてはThomas 社製の２ヘッドタイプのレシプロ型コンプレッサを使用し、中空糸内側にはコンプレッサから平均150kPaABSの圧力で加圧空気を供給し、吸着筒に供給した。酸素濃縮器の吸着床には4本の吸着筒を順次ロータリーバルブで切替えて使用する多筒式吸着筒を採用し、吸着材にはLi-X型ゼオライトを使用した。一方、吸着筒からの脱着空気は、上記コンプレッサの真空ポンプ機能を利用し、平均圧力50kPaABSで引き、コンプレッサと吸着筒の間の真空ラインを中空糸膜モジュールの２次側（外側）と接続することにより、原料空気側の水分を真空排気ガス中に移動させ除湿した。   A perfluorosulfonic acid type ion-exchange hollow fiber membrane (Nafion membrane) with an inner diameter of 250 μm and a length of 200 mm was used, and both ends were fixed with an epoxy resin to prepare a hollow fiber moisture permeable membrane module. As the air supply means, a two-head type reciprocating compressor manufactured by Thomas was used. Inside the hollow fiber, pressurized air was supplied from the compressor at an average pressure of 150 kPa ABS and supplied to the adsorption cylinder. The adsorption bed of the oxygen concentrator employs a multi-cylinder adsorption cylinder that uses four adsorption cylinders that are sequentially switched by a rotary valve, and Li-X zeolite is used as the adsorbent. On the other hand, the desorption air from the adsorption cylinder is drawn at an average pressure of 50 kPa ABS using the vacuum pump function of the compressor, and the vacuum line between the compressor and the adsorption cylinder is connected to the secondary side (outside) of the hollow fiber membrane module. Thus, the moisture on the raw material air side was moved to the vacuum exhaust gas and dehumidified.

３５℃相対湿度９０％RHの外気環境下で実験を行った結果、除湿器なしでは結露する条件下であるが、上記除湿器を使用することにより、３５℃で６０％RH まで、原料空気の水分を除湿することができた。   As a result of conducting an experiment in an outside air environment at 35 ° C. and a relative humidity of 90% RH, it is a condition that condensation occurs without a dehumidifier. By using the above dehumidifier, the raw material air is reduced to 60% RH at 35 ° C. The moisture could be dehumidified.

本発明の圧力変動吸着型酸素濃縮装置の実施態様例の模式図。The schematic diagram of the embodiment of the pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator of this invention.

符号の説明Explanation of symbols

１：酸素濃縮装置
101：外部空気取り込みフィルター
104：切り替え弁
105：吸着筒
106：逆止弁
107：製品タンク
108：調圧弁
109：流量設定手段
110：フィルター
111：加湿器
120：空気供給手段
121：加圧ポンプ
122：真空ポンプ
130：除湿器
131：中空糸水分透過膜 1: Oxygen concentrator
101: External air intake filter
104: Switching valve
105: Adsorption cylinder
106: Check valve
107: Product tank
108: Pressure regulating valve
109: Flow rate setting method
110: Filter
111: Humidifier
120: Air supply means
121: Pressurizing pump
122: Vacuum pump
130: Dehumidifier
131: Hollow fiber moisture permeable membrane

Claims (3)

酸素よりも窒素を選択的に吸着する吸着剤を充填した吸着床と、該吸着床に原料である加圧空気を供給し且つ該吸着床からの排気を吸引除去する空気供給手段と、該吸着床から生成した酸素濃縮ガスを使用者に供給する酸素供給手段を具備した圧力変動吸着型酸素濃縮装置であり、空気中の水分を分離する水分透過膜を備え、且つ該水分透過膜の１次側が該空気供給手段と該吸着床との間の加圧空気を供給する導管に接続され、該水分透過膜の２次側が該吸着床と該空気供給手段との真空排気用の導管に接続された水分分離手段を備えることを特徴とする圧力変動吸着型酸素濃縮装置。   An adsorbent bed filled with an adsorbent that selectively adsorbs nitrogen over oxygen; air supply means for supplying pressurized air as a raw material to the adsorbent bed and sucking and removing exhaust from the adsorbent bed; and the adsorption A pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator equipped with an oxygen supply means for supplying oxygen-enriched gas generated from a bed to a user, comprising a water-permeable membrane for separating moisture in the air, and the primary of the water-permeable membrane The side is connected to a conduit for supplying pressurized air between the air supply means and the adsorption bed, and the secondary side of the moisture permeable membrane is connected to a vacuum exhaust conduit for the adsorption bed and the air supply means. A pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrating apparatus, characterized by comprising a water separation means. 該水分分離手段が、中空糸状水分透過膜及びそれを含む筐体を供え、該中空糸状水分透過膜の中空側が該水分透過膜の１次側、該中空糸状水分透過膜の外側を該水分透過膜の２次側とすることを特徴とする請求項１記載の圧力変動吸着型酸素濃縮装置。   The moisture separation means includes a hollow fiber-shaped moisture permeable membrane and a casing including the hollow fiber-shaped moisture permeable membrane. The pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is on the secondary side of the membrane. 該水分透過膜がパーフルオロスルホン酸型イオン交換中空糸膜であることを特徴とする請求項１または２に記載の圧力変動吸着型酸素濃縮装置。   The pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the moisture permeable membrane is a perfluorosulfonic acid type ion exchange hollow fiber membrane.
JP2005229293A 2005-08-08 2005-08-08 Pressure-fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator Pending JP2007044116A (en)

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CN102491277A (en) * 2011-12-22 2012-06-13 合肥恒诚智能技术有限公司 Intelligent low-oxygen generating device system and control method
JP2014136130A (en) * 2013-01-18 2014-07-28 Fukuda Denshi Co Ltd Air supply device and oxygen enricher
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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2009136851A (en) * 2007-12-11 2009-06-25 Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd Apparatus for removing water and fuel cell power generation system utilizing the same
CN102491277A (en) * 2011-12-22 2012-06-13 合肥恒诚智能技术有限公司 Intelligent low-oxygen generating device system and control method
JP2014136130A (en) * 2013-01-18 2014-07-28 Fukuda Denshi Co Ltd Air supply device and oxygen enricher
US20180369532A1 (en) * 2015-12-18 2018-12-27 Inova Labs, Inc. Water removal system for an oxygen concentrator system
CN106215572A (en) * 2016-07-26 2016-12-14 苏州大学 A kind of bionic nano oxygen permeable membrane
CN108392715A (en) * 2017-02-06 2018-08-14 碧果制药株式会社 Oxygen concentrating device
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CN116605842A (en) * 2023-07-19 2023-08-18 成都荣创医疗科技股份有限公司 Oxygen generator

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