JP3417730B2 - Oxygen concentrator - Google Patents
Oxygen concentratorInfo
- Publication number
- JP3417730B2 JP3417730B2 JP17085695A JP17085695A JP3417730B2 JP 3417730 B2 JP3417730 B2 JP 3417730B2 JP 17085695 A JP17085695 A JP 17085695A JP 17085695 A JP17085695 A JP 17085695A JP 3417730 B2 JP3417730 B2 JP 3417730B2
- Authority
- JP
- Japan
- Prior art keywords
- adsorbent
- adsorption
- oxygen
- bed
- performance
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
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- Separation Of Gases By Adsorption (AREA)
- Oxygen, Ozone, And Oxides In General (AREA)
Description
【０００１】[0001]
【発明の属する利用分野】本発明は、大気から酸素濃縮
気体を分離して使用するための酸素濃縮装置に関するも
のである。さらに詳細には、圧力変動吸着型酸素濃縮装
置に関するものであって、少量のガス供給量で酸素濃縮
気体を使用者に供給できるようにした、改善された吸着
床を有する酸素濃縮装置を提供するものである。BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an oxygen concentrator for separating and using an oxygen enriched gas from the atmosphere. More particularly, it relates to a pressure swing adsorption type oxygen concentrator, and an oxygen concentrator having an improved adsorbent bed capable of supplying an oxygen enriched gas to a user with a small gas supply amount. It is a thing.
【０００２】[0002]
【従来の技術】近年、ぜんそく、肺気腫症、慢性気管支
炎等の呼吸器系器官の疾患に苦しむ患者が増加する傾向
にあり、その治療法として最も効果的なものの１つに酸
素吸入法がある。かかる酸素吸入法とは、酸素ガスある
いは酸素富化空気を患者に吸入させるものである。その
酸素ガスや酸素富化空気の供給源として酸素ガスボンベ
が従来より用いられていたが、近年、空気中から酸素濃
縮気体を分離する酸素濃縮装置が開発され、使用時の便
利さや保守管理の容易さから次第に普及するようになっ
てきている。2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the number of patients suffering from diseases of respiratory organs such as asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis has been increasing, and one of the most effective treatments is oxygen inhalation. . The oxygen inhalation method is a method in which a patient inhales oxygen gas or oxygen-enriched air. Oxygen gas cylinders have been used as a supply source for oxygen gas and oxygen-enriched air, but in recent years, an oxygen concentrator that separates oxygen-enriched gas from the air has been developed, making it convenient to use and easy to maintain. Therefore, it is becoming more and more popular.
【０００３】現在、酸素濃縮装置として酸素選択透過膜
を用いた膜式酸素濃縮装置と窒素を優先的に吸着し得る
吸着剤を用いた吸着型酸素濃縮装置があるが、本発明は
吸着型酸素濃縮装置について改善を加えようとするもの
である。At present, there are a membrane type oxygen concentrating device using an oxygen selective permeable membrane and an adsorption type oxygen concentrating device using an adsorbent capable of preferentially adsorbing nitrogen, as the oxygen concentrating device. It intends to add improvements to the concentrator.
【０００４】これまでの吸着型酸素濃縮装置の主なもの
としては、コンプレッサーを用いた圧力変動吸着型酸素
濃縮装置がある。かかる装置は通常、窒素を優先的に吸
着し得る吸着剤を充填した吸着床にコンプレッサーで加
圧された圧縮空気を導入し、加圧状態で窒素を吸着させ
ることにより酸素濃縮気体を得る吸着工程と、吸着床内
の圧力を減じて吸着床の再生を行う脱着工程を交互に行
わせることにり酸素濃縮気体を得るものである。この場
合に、吸着床からの酸素濃縮気体を一時的に貯留してお
くためのサージタンクが使用され、サージタンク内に貯
留された酸素濃縮気体を患者に供給するとともに、その
一部を吸着床に逆流させて吸着床の再加圧や吸着床再生
のためのパージに用いられることが多い。The main adsorption type oxygen concentrators up to now are pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrators using a compressor. Such an apparatus is usually an adsorption step of introducing compressed air compressed by a compressor into an adsorption bed filled with an adsorbent capable of preferentially adsorbing nitrogen, and adsorbing nitrogen in a pressurized state to obtain an oxygen-enriched gas. Then, the pressure inside the adsorption bed is reduced to alternately perform the desorption step of regenerating the adsorption bed to obtain an oxygen-enriched gas. In this case, a surge tank is used to temporarily store the oxygen-enriched gas from the adsorption bed, and the oxygen-enriched gas stored in the surge tank is supplied to the patient, and a part of it is adsorbed on the adsorption bed. It is often used for repressurization of the adsorbent bed or purging for regeneration of the adsorbent bed.
【０００５】一般に使用されている吸着型酸素濃縮装置
の吸着床には、吸着における分離係数が２．０〜３．０
の値を有するモレキュラーシーブゼオライト５Ａ、ある
いは１３Ｘを単体で充填したものが広く用いられてい
る。吸着剤の性能を示す単位重量当りの吸着量や選択性
あるいは吸着速度など吸着剤固有の分離性能が酸素濃縮
装置全体の性能を支配することから、かかる吸着剤を使
用している限りにおいては酸素濃縮効率の向上やランニ
ングコストの削減、装置の小型化などの課題の改善には
限界がある。In the adsorption bed of a commonly used adsorption type oxygen concentrator, the separation coefficient in adsorption is 2.0 to 3.0.
The molecular sieve zeolite 5A having the value of or the one filled with 13X alone is widely used. Since the separation performance specific to the adsorbent such as the adsorption amount per unit weight indicating the performance of the adsorbent, the selectivity, or the adsorption rate dominates the performance of the oxygen concentrator as a whole, oxygen is used as long as such adsorbent is used. There is a limit to improvement of problems such as improvement of concentration efficiency, reduction of running cost and downsizing of equipment.
【０００６】近年米国にて、特公平５−２５５２７号公
報に示される従来の吸着剤よりも高性能の窒素吸着剤が
開発され、少量の空気供給量で従来よりも効率的に酸素
を濃縮できる装置を実現した。しかし、充填剤の価格が
従来品よりも高価であるという問題がある。かかる高性
能窒素吸着剤を用いて、特開平５−２６９３３０号公報
においては、吸着床の空気の流れ方向の空気供給手段側
に高性能窒素吸着剤を、他端側に従来の低性能窒素吸着
剤を配した吸着床を用いることにより、効率的に分離を
行うことを提案している。しかし、高い分離係数を有す
る高性能窒素吸着剤は高酸素分圧条件下においてその性
能を発揮し、酸素分圧の低い原料空気が最初に高性能窒
素吸着剤に接するかかる配置においては高性能窒素吸着
剤を使用するメリットを充分利用しているとはいえな
い。Recently, in the United States, a nitrogen adsorbent having a higher performance than that of the conventional adsorbent disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 5-25527 was developed, and oxygen can be concentrated more efficiently than before with a small amount of air supply. Realized the device. However, there is a problem that the price of the filler is higher than that of the conventional product. Using such a high-performance nitrogen adsorbent, in JP-A-5-269330, a high-performance nitrogen adsorbent is provided on the side of the air supply means in the air flow direction of the adsorption bed, and a conventional low-performance nitrogen adsorbent is provided on the other end. It has been proposed that the separation is efficiently performed by using an adsorption bed in which the agent is arranged. However, a high performance nitrogen adsorbent with a high separation coefficient exerts its performance under high oxygen partial pressure conditions, and in such an arrangement where the feed air with a low oxygen partial pressure first contacts the high performance nitrogen adsorbent, It cannot be said that the advantages of using an adsorbent are fully utilized.
【０００７】また、高性能窒素吸着剤を使用する場合に
おいては、吸着剤のコスト上昇を考慮する必要がある。
かかる配置においては吸着剤の水分吸着が高性能窒素吸
着剤側から起こり、高価な吸着剤を劣化させ、酸素濃縮
装置自体の性能低下を招く問題点を有する。現在使用さ
れている吸着型酸素濃縮装置の大部分は機器の小型化を
図るという課題もあり、除湿装置を具備していない。従
って高性能窒素吸着剤の吸湿は酸素濃縮性能の低下の問
題と同時に新たにランニングコスト上昇の問題を引き起
こす。When using a high performance nitrogen adsorbent, it is necessary to consider the cost increase of the adsorbent.
In such an arrangement, water adsorption of the adsorbent occurs from the side of the high-performance nitrogen adsorbent, which deteriorates the expensive adsorbent and leads to deterioration of the performance of the oxygen concentrator itself. Most of the adsorption-type oxygen concentrators currently used do not have a dehumidifier because there is also a problem of downsizing the equipment. Therefore, the moisture absorption of the high-performance nitrogen adsorbent causes a problem that the oxygen concentration performance is deteriorated and a problem that the running cost is newly increased.
【０００８】[0008]
【発明が解決しようとする課題】本願発明の課題は、か
かる圧力変動吸着型酸素濃縮装置における吸着床の酸素
濃縮効率を改善することにより供給空気量を減じ、空気
供給手段の小型化、それに伴う装置の消費電力の低減を
実現することにある。さらに、空気中の水分による吸着
剤の吸湿の影響を吸着床の一部に限定することで酸素濃
縮装置の性能低下を防ぎ、ランニングコストの上昇を最
小限に納めることにある。SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to reduce the amount of supply air by improving the oxygen concentration efficiency of the adsorption bed in such a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentration device, and to reduce the size of the air supply means. The purpose is to reduce the power consumption of the device. Furthermore, the influence of moisture absorption of the adsorbent due to the moisture in the air is limited to a part of the adsorption bed to prevent the performance of the oxygen concentrator from deteriorating and to minimize the increase in running cost.
【０００９】[0009]
【課題を解決するための手段】本発明者は、かかる酸素
濃縮装置における問題点を解決することを目的として鋭
意研究した結果、吸着床に異なる２種以上の吸着剤を用
い、該吸着床の空気の流れ方向の空気供給手段側に低性
能窒素吸着剤を配し、その他端に該低性能窒素吸着剤と
比べ２成分系吸着平衡に基づく分離係数が２以上高い高
性能窒素吸着剤を配した積層充填吸着床を有する酸素濃
縮装置が酸素濃縮性能及びコスト的にも非常に有効であ
ることをみいだし、本発明に到達したものである。As a result of intensive studies aimed at solving the problems in the oxygen concentrator, the present inventor has used two or more different adsorbents in the adsorbent bed and A low-performance nitrogen adsorbent is arranged on the side of the air supply means in the air flow direction, and a high-performance nitrogen adsorbent having a separation coefficient based on a two-component system adsorption equilibrium that is 2 or more higher than that of the low-performance nitrogen adsorbent is arranged at the other end. The present inventors have found that the oxygen concentrating device having the above-mentioned laminated packed adsorption bed is very effective in terms of oxygen concentrating performance and cost, and have reached the present invention.
【００１０】即ち本発明は、酸素よりも窒素を優先的に
吸着し得る吸着剤を充填した少なくとも１個の吸着床
と、該吸着床に空気を供給するための空気供給手段と、
該吸着床で濃縮された酸素濃縮気体を貯留しておくため
のサージタンクを有した圧力変動吸着型の酸素濃縮装置
において、該吸着床に異なる少なくとも２種の吸着剤を
層別に充填し、該吸着床の空気の流れ方向の該空気供給
手段側に低性能窒素吸着剤を配し、他端に該低性能窒素
吸着剤に比べ、２成分系吸着平衡に基づく分離係数が２
以上高い高性能窒素吸着剤を配した積層充填吸着床を有
することを特徴とする酸素濃縮装置を提案するものであ
る。That is, the present invention comprises at least one adsorbent bed filled with an adsorbent capable of preferentially adsorbing nitrogen over oxygen, and an air supply means for supplying air to the adsorbent bed.
In a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator having a surge tank for storing the oxygen-enriched gas concentrated in the adsorption bed, the adsorption bed is filled with at least two different adsorbents layer by layer, A low-performance nitrogen adsorbent is arranged on the side of the air supply means in the air flow direction of the adsorption bed, and the separation coefficient based on the two-component system adsorption equilibrium is 2 at the other end as compared with the low-performance nitrogen adsorbent.
The present invention proposes an oxygen concentrator having a layered packed adsorption bed in which a high-performance nitrogen adsorbent is arranged.
【００１１】尚、分離係数とは空気中の窒素、酸素の分
離の難易度を示す尺度であり、吸着平衡時における分圧
比に対する吸着量比の割合を示す。The separation coefficient is a scale showing the degree of difficulty in separating nitrogen and oxygen in the air, and represents the ratio of the adsorption amount ratio to the partial pressure ratio at the adsorption equilibrium.
【００１２】該高性能窒素吸着剤には、SiO2/Al2O3比が
２．０〜３．０であるＸ型ゼオライトであり、かつその
AlO4四面体単位の少なくとも８８％がリチウムカチオン
と会合した結晶性ゼオライトが含まれる。該低性能窒素
吸着剤には、５Ａ型ゼオライトまたは１３Ｘ型ゼオライ
トが含まれる。また、本発明には、該高性能窒素吸着剤
が吸着床全体の２５〜７５％を占める酸素濃縮装置が含
まれる。The high-performance nitrogen adsorbent is X-type zeolite having a SiO 2 / Al 2 O 3 ratio of 2.0 to 3.0, and
Included are crystalline zeolites in which at least 88% of the AlO 4 tetrahedral units are associated with lithium cations. The low performance nitrogen adsorbent includes 5A type zeolite or 13X type zeolite. The present invention also includes an oxygen concentrator in which the high-performance nitrogen adsorbent accounts for 25 to 75% of the entire adsorption bed.
【００１３】更に本発明には、積層充填吸着床の空気の
流れ方向の該空気供給手段側に５Ａ型ゼオライト吸着剤
を配し、他端に該高性能窒素吸着剤を配し、しかもそれ
ら２種の吸着剤層の間に１３Ｘ型ゼオライト吸着剤を配
することにより構成される積層充填吸着床を有する酸素
濃縮装置が含まれる。該高性能窒素吸着剤には、SiO2/A
l2O3比が２．０〜３．０であるＸ型ゼオライトであり、
かつそのAlO4四面体単位の少なくとも８８％がリチウム
カチオンと会合している結晶性ゼオライトが含まれる。
また、該高性能窒素吸着剤の量が吸着床全体の25〜50％
を占める積層充填吸着床を含む酸素濃縮装置が含まれ
る。Further, in the present invention, a 5A type zeolite adsorbent is arranged on the side of the air supply means in the direction of air flow of the laminated packed adsorption bed, and the high performance nitrogen adsorbent is arranged on the other end. An oxygen concentrator is included that has a layered packed adsorbent bed constructed by placing a 13X zeolite adsorbent between the seed adsorbent layers. The high performance nitrogen adsorbent contains SiO 2 / A
An X-type zeolite having an l 2 O 3 ratio of 2.0 to 3.0,
And a crystalline zeolite in which at least 88% of its AlO 4 tetrahedral units are associated with lithium cations.
Further, the amount of the high-performance nitrogen adsorbent is 25 to 50% of the whole adsorbent bed.
An oxygen concentrator that includes a stacked packed bed.
【００１４】本発明には、該積層充填吸着床に供給する
空気が加圧空気であり、大気圧以上で窒素吸着を行い、
大気圧またはそれ以下で窒素脱着を行うことを特徴とす
る酸素濃縮装置、或は該積層充填吸着床における窒素吸
着過程を大気圧近傍で行い、脱着過程を大気圧以下で行
うことを特徴とする酸素濃縮装置が含まれる。In the present invention, the air supplied to the laminated packed adsorption bed is pressurized air, and nitrogen adsorption is carried out at atmospheric pressure or higher,
An oxygen concentrator characterized by performing nitrogen desorption at or below atmospheric pressure, or characterized in that the nitrogen adsorption process in the laminated packed adsorption bed is carried out near atmospheric pressure and the desorption process is carried out below atmospheric pressure. An oxygen concentrator is included.
【００１５】本発明について必要に応じて図面を用いな
がら、さらに詳細に説明する。The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings as necessary.
【００１６】本発明に用いられる積層充填吸着床の態様
例として、図１に示すように低性能窒素吸着剤とかかる
吸着剤よりも高性能、即ち分離係数が２以上高い窒素吸
着剤を層別して充填した積層充填吸着床が用いられる。
各々の吸着剤は空気供給側に従来の低性能窒素吸着剤
を、その他端側に高性能窒素吸着剤を充填する。As an example of the embodiment of the laminated packed adsorbent bed used in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a low-performance nitrogen adsorbent and a nitrogen adsorbent having a higher performance than the adsorbent, that is, a separation coefficient of 2 or more are stratified. A packed laminated packed adsorbent bed is used.
Each adsorbent is filled with a conventional low-performance nitrogen adsorbent on the air supply side and a high-performance nitrogen adsorbent on the other end side.
【００１７】本吸着床には該低性能窒素吸着剤及び該高
性能窒素吸着剤をそれぞれユニット化し、それらを組合
わせて１基の吸着塔に組込んだ吸着床を含む。また、該
低性能窒素吸着剤と該高性能窒素吸着剤をそれぞれ異な
る吸着塔に充填し、空気の流れ方向の該空気供給手段側
に該低性能窒素吸着剤充填塔を配し、次いで該高性能窒
素吸着剤充填塔を直列に配した吸着床を含む。かかる装
置により該高性能窒素吸着剤及び該低性能窒素吸着剤の
交換が容易にできる。The present adsorbent bed includes an adsorbent bed in which the low-performance nitrogen adsorbent and the high-performance nitrogen adsorbent are unitized, and these are combined into one adsorber. Further, the low-performance nitrogen adsorbent and the high-performance nitrogen adsorbent are respectively packed in different adsorption towers, the low-performance nitrogen adsorbent packed tower is arranged on the side of the air supply means in the air flow direction, and then the high-performance nitrogen adsorbent is installed. Performance Includes an adsorption bed with nitrogen adsorbent packed columns arranged in series. Such a device facilitates replacement of the high performance nitrogen adsorbent and the low performance nitrogen adsorbent.
【００１８】本発明における吸着床の空気供給手段側に
配する吸着剤は、酸素よりも窒素を優先的に吸着し得る
ものであれば、いかなるものであってもよく、例えばモ
レキュラーシーブゼオライト５Ａ、１３Ｘやこれらを改
質したものなどがあげられる。The adsorbent disposed on the air supply means side of the adsorption bed in the present invention may be any adsorbent capable of preferentially adsorbing nitrogen over oxygen, such as molecular sieve zeolite 5A. 13X and the thing which modified these etc. are mentioned.
【００１９】また、その他端である酸素濃縮空気の排出
側に配する吸着剤としては、空気供給側に配した吸着剤
よりも分離係数が２以上高い高性能窒素吸着剤を配す
る。例えばSiO2/Al2O3比が２．０〜３．０であるＸ型ゼ
オライトであり、かつそのAlO4四面体単位の少なくとも
８８％がリチウムカチオンと会合している結晶性ゼオラ
イトが含まれる。従来から用いられている低性能窒素吸
着剤は、２成分系吸着平衡における分離係数が２．０〜
３．０程度であるに対して該高性能窒素吸着剤の分離係
数は単成分系吸着平衡の値から６．０以上の高値を示
し、窒素の吸着量も該低性能窒素吸着剤に比べ非常に高
い吸着能力を示し、酸素濃縮装置の評価結果からこの事
実を確認した。Further, as the adsorbent to be disposed on the discharge side of the oxygen-enriched air which is the other end, a high performance nitrogen adsorbent having a separation coefficient of 2 or more higher than that of the adsorbent disposed on the air supply side is disposed. For example, a crystalline zeolite that is an X-type zeolite having a SiO 2 / Al 2 O 3 ratio of 2.0 to 3.0 and in which at least 88% of its AlO 4 tetrahedral units are associated with lithium cations is included. . Conventionally used low-performance nitrogen adsorbents have a separation factor of 2.0-
On the other hand, the separation coefficient of the high-performance nitrogen adsorbent is as high as 6.0 or more from the value of the single component adsorption equilibrium, while the adsorption amount of nitrogen is much higher than that of the low-performance nitrogen adsorbent. It showed a high adsorption capacity, and confirmed this fact from the evaluation results of the oxygen concentrator.
【００２０】特に本発明の特長である吸着床に異なる少
なくとも２種の吸着剤を層別に充填し、該吸着床の空気
の流れ方向の該空気供給手段側に低性能窒素吸着剤を配
し、他端に該低性能窒素吸着剤と比べ高性能窒素吸着剤
を配した配置は、該低性能窒素吸着剤により原料ガスで
ある空気の粗精製を行い、その後該高性能窒素吸着剤を
用いることにより、気相中に残留する酸素量を従来より
多くする、すなわち酸素の回収率を高められるという吸
着剤の特徴を利用する。In particular, the adsorption bed, which is a feature of the present invention, is filled with at least two different adsorbents layer by layer, and a low-performance nitrogen adsorbent is arranged on the side of the air supply means in the air flow direction of the adsorption bed, The arrangement in which a high-performance nitrogen adsorbent is arranged at the other end as compared with the low-performance nitrogen adsorbent is that the low-performance nitrogen adsorbent is used to roughly purify air as a raw material gas, and then the high-performance nitrogen adsorbent is used. This makes use of the characteristic of the adsorbent that the amount of oxygen remaining in the gas phase can be increased more than before, that is, the recovery rate of oxygen can be increased.
【００２１】従って、本願発明の積層充填吸着床の一例
としては、空気供給手段側からモレキュラーシーブゼオ
ライト５Ａ：上記高性能窒素吸着剤の組合わせ、或はモ
レキュラーシーブゼオライト１３Ｘ：上記高性能窒素吸
着剤の組合わせが好ましい。Therefore, as an example of the laminated packed adsorption bed of the present invention, a combination of the molecular sieve zeolite 5A: the high performance nitrogen adsorbent described above from the air supply means side, or the molecular sieve zeolite 13X: the high performance nitrogen adsorbent described above is used. Is preferred.
【００２２】該高性能窒素吸着剤の吸着剤全体に占める
割合は、酸素濃縮装置の製品ガス流量や吸着剤充填量、
また装置の運転条件等によって変化し、好ましくは該高
性能窒素吸着剤が吸着剤全体の２５〜７５％を占めるこ
とが良い。The ratio of the high-performance nitrogen adsorbent to the whole adsorbent is determined by the product gas flow rate of the oxygen concentrator and the adsorbent filling amount,
It also changes depending on the operating conditions of the device, and preferably the high-performance nitrogen adsorbent occupies 25 to 75% of the whole adsorbent.
【００２３】積層充填吸着床の別の態様例としては図２
に示すように、該積層充填吸着床の該空気供給手段側に
低性能窒素吸着剤の５Ａ型ゼオライトを配し、他端に高
性能窒素吸着剤を配し、それら２種の吸着剤層の間に低
性能窒素吸着剤として13Ｘ型ゼオライトを配する吸着床
が用いられる。該空気供給手段の他端側では、窒素の吸
着帯長さを短くすることが非常に好ましく、そのために
は低性能窒素吸着剤に吸着速度の良好な１３Ｘ型ゼオラ
イトを高性能窒素吸着剤の前に配することが理想的であ
る。FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the stacked packed adsorption bed.
As shown in FIG. 3, a low performance nitrogen adsorbent 5A type zeolite is arranged on the side of the air supply means of the laminated packed adsorption bed, and a high performance nitrogen adsorbent is arranged on the other end, and the two types of adsorbent layers An adsorption bed with a 13X zeolite as a low performance nitrogen adsorbent in between is used. At the other end of the air supply means, it is very preferable to shorten the length of the nitrogen adsorption zone. For that purpose, a low-performance nitrogen adsorbent is admixed with 13X type zeolite having a good adsorption rate before the high-performance nitrogen adsorbent. Ideally it should be placed in
【００２４】本発明における吸着床は１基または２基以
上のいずれであってもよいが、医療用の小型の酸素濃縮
装置の場合には２基以下が好ましく、特に１基の場合が
装置全体を小型化出来る点で優れている。The number of adsorption beds in the present invention may be one or two or more, but in the case of a small-sized oxygen concentrator for medical use, two or less are preferable, and in the case of one, the whole apparatus is preferable. It is excellent in that it can be miniaturized.
【００２５】本願発明の積層充填吸着床を組込んだ酸素
濃縮装置としては、図３に示すような酸素濃縮装置が好
ましい。An oxygen concentrator as shown in FIG. 3 is preferable as the oxygen concentrator incorporating the laminated packed adsorption bed of the present invention.
【００２６】酸素濃縮装置の積層充填吸着床に供給され
る空気が加圧空気であり、大気圧以上で吸着を行い、大
気圧、または大気圧以下で減圧脱着を行う圧力変動型酸
素濃縮装置、或いは積層充填吸着床における吸着過程が
大気圧近傍で行われ、大気圧以下で減圧脱着を行う圧力
変動型酸素濃縮装置があげられる。The air supplied to the laminated packed adsorption bed of the oxygen concentrator is pressurized air, and adsorbs at atmospheric pressure or higher, and performs desorption under reduced pressure at or below atmospheric pressure. Alternatively, there is a pressure fluctuation type oxygen concentrating device in which an adsorption process in a stacked packed adsorption bed is performed near atmospheric pressure and decompression / desorption is performed at atmospheric pressure or lower.
【００２７】本願発明の酸素濃縮装置には、濃縮した酸
素富化空気を一時貯留しておくためのサージタンクを有
しており、該タンクを介して使用者に酸素濃縮空気を連
続供給すると同時に、該サージタンク手段に貯留された
酸素濃縮気体が吸着床に逆流する工程が圧力変動吸着・
脱着工程に含まれる圧力変動型酸素濃縮装置があげられ
る。かかる工程により吸着床の再加圧工程や脱着工程で
のパージ等のために、サージタンク手段の酸素濃縮気体
が吸着床に逆流するような構成になっていることが発明
の効果を発揮するうえで好ましい。The oxygen concentrator of the present invention has a surge tank for temporarily storing the concentrated oxygen-enriched air, and the oxygen-concentrated air is continuously supplied to the user through the tank at the same time. , The process in which the oxygen-enriched gas stored in the surge tank means flows back to the adsorption bed is pressure fluctuation adsorption.
An example is a pressure fluctuation type oxygen concentrator included in the desorption process. In order to exert the effect of the invention, the oxygen-enriched gas in the surge tank means is configured to flow back into the adsorption bed due to the repressurization step of the adsorption bed and the purge in the desorption step by such a step. Is preferred.
【００２８】また本発明の該高性能窒素吸着剤を層別し
て充填した積層充填吸着床を用いた酸素濃縮装置では、
酸素濃縮気体供給手段において、例えば使用者の希望や
医師の処方に応じて酸素濃縮気体の供給量を設定するた
めの流量設定手段を具備していることが望ましい。この
場合の流量設定手段としては、通常用いられるロータメ
ータと組み合わせられたニードルバルブや気体の流動抵
抗が異なった複数の開口部を備えて希望の流量にあった
開口部を選択して流量設定ができるようにしたバルブな
どを用いることが出来る。Further, in the oxygen concentrating device using the laminated packed adsorption bed in which the high performance nitrogen adsorbent of the present invention is layered and packed,
It is desirable that the oxygen-concentrated gas supply means be provided with a flow rate setting means for setting the supply amount of the oxygen-concentrated gas in accordance with the user's request or the doctor's prescription. In this case, the flow rate setting means includes a needle valve combined with a commonly used rotor meter and a plurality of openings with different gas flow resistances, and the flow rate can be set by selecting the opening that matches the desired flow rate. It is possible to use such a valve.
【００２９】本発明の積層充填吸着床を有する酸素濃縮
装置により、高性能窒素吸着剤が示す高い窒素吸着能力
と酸素の分離性能を確認し、かかる性能により装置の小
型化と消費電力の低減を実現した。また大気中水分の影
響を受ける吸着剤が該低性能窒素吸着剤に限定すること
ができ、高価である該高性能窒素吸着剤が水分の影響を
受けずに長期的利用に際しても交換する必要がないこ
と、積層充填吸着床の吸湿に対する耐久性とコスト低減
を確認した。With the oxygen concentrator having a laminated packed adsorbent bed of the present invention, the high nitrogen adsorption capacity and oxygen separation performance exhibited by the high performance nitrogen adsorbent were confirmed, and the performance made possible to downsize the device and reduce power consumption. It was realized. Further, the adsorbent that is affected by moisture in the atmosphere can be limited to the low-performance nitrogen adsorbent, and the expensive high-performance nitrogen adsorbent needs to be replaced during long-term use without being affected by moisture. It was confirmed that the laminated packed adsorbent bed has durability against moisture absorption and cost reduction.
【００３０】本発明の該積層充填吸着床を有する酸素濃
縮装置の用途としては、特に限定されるものではなく、
例えば家庭等で使用される医療用等の用途に適してい
る。The use of the oxygen concentrator having the laminated packed adsorption bed of the present invention is not particularly limited,
For example, it is suitable for medical purposes such as home use.
【００３１】[0031]
［実施例１］口径８５mm、高さ３２０mmの吸着塔にモレ
キュラーシーブゼオライト５Ａ（分離係数２．４）と、
ＳiＯ2/Ａl2Ｏ3比が２．５であるＸ型ゼオライトであり
且つそのＡlＯ4四面体単位の９０％がリチウムカチオン
と会合した結晶性ゼオライトである高性能窒素吸着剤
（分離係数６．４）を２：３の容積割合で積層充填し、
上記モレキュラーシーブゼオライト５Ａを空気供給手段
側、上記高性能窒素吸着剤をその他端であるサージタン
ク側に配した吸着床を作製した。かかる吸着床を用い
て、コンプレッサー及びサージタンクを有する酸素濃縮
装置を製造した。[Example 1] The molecular sieve zeolite 5A (separation coefficient 2.4) was placed in an adsorption tower having a diameter of 85 mm and a height of 320 mm.
A high performance nitrogen adsorbent that is an X-type zeolite with a SiO 2 / Al 2 O 3 ratio of 2.5 and crystalline zeolite with 90% of its AlO 4 tetrahedral units associated with lithium cations (separation factor 6. 4) is stacked and filled in a volume ratio of 2: 3,
An adsorption bed was prepared in which the molecular sieve zeolite 5A was arranged on the air supply means side and the high-performance nitrogen adsorbent was arranged on the surge tank side at the other end. An oxygen concentrator having a compressor and a surge tank was manufactured using such an adsorption bed.
【００３２】［比較例１］口径８５mm、高さ３２０mmの
吸着塔に分離係数２．４のモレキュラーシーブゼオライ
ト５Ａ（分離係数２．４）とモレキュラーシーブゼオラ
イト１３Ｘ（分離係数２．７）を２：３の容積割合で積
層充填し、上記モレキュラーシーブゼオライト５Ａを空
気供給手段側、上記モレキュラーシーブゼオライト１３
Ｘをその他端であるサージタンク側に配した吸着床を作
製した。かかる吸着床を用いて、コンプレッサー及びサ
ージタンクを有する酸素濃縮装置を製造した。[Comparative Example 1] A molecular sieve zeolite 5A (separation coefficient 2.4) and a molecular sieve zeolite 13X (separation coefficient 2.7) having a separation coefficient of 2.4 were placed in an adsorption tower having a diameter of 85 mm and a height of 320 mm in a ratio of 2: Laminated and packed in a volume ratio of 3, the molecular sieve zeolite 5A is provided on the air supply means side, and the molecular sieve zeolite 13 is provided.
An adsorption bed was prepared in which X was placed on the other end, the surge tank side. An oxygen concentrator having a compressor and a surge tank was manufactured using such an adsorption bed.
【００３３】実施例１及び比較例１に記載の酸素濃縮装
置の吸着塔からサージタンクへの酸素濃縮気体の製品ガ
ス流量が３．０Ｌ/minとなるようにコンプレッサーから
吸着床への空気供給量を制御し、両者の供給空気量、製
品ガス中の酸素濃度、酸素収率（製品酸素量／供給酸素
量）及び酸素濃縮装置の消費電力量の結果を表１に示
す。The amount of air supplied from the compressor to the adsorption bed so that the product gas flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas from the adsorption tower of the oxygen concentrator described in Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 to the surge tank is 3.0 L / min. Table 1 shows the results of the supply air amount of both, the oxygen concentration in the product gas, the oxygen yield (product oxygen amount / supply oxygen amount), and the power consumption of the oxygen concentrator.
【００３４】[0034]
【表１】 [Table 1]
【００３５】実施例１記載の吸着床を有する酸素濃縮装
置を使用することにより比較例１に比して、供給空気量
が１．５Ｌ/cycle、７．５％の削減が可能となった。ま
た製品ガス中の酸素濃度が９０％に上昇し、比較例１よ
りも６％高くなった。この結果、酸素収率が向上し、酸
素濃縮装置の消費電力が減少した。By using the oxygen concentrator having the adsorption bed described in Example 1, it was possible to reduce the supply air amount by 1.5 L / cycle by 7.5% as compared with Comparative Example 1. Further, the oxygen concentration in the product gas increased to 90%, which was 6% higher than that of Comparative Example 1. As a result, the oxygen yield was improved and the power consumption of the oxygen concentrator was reduced.
【００３６】[0036]
【発明の効果】本発明の酸素濃縮装置では、吸着床内に
高性能窒素吸着剤を配置することにより、吸着工程にお
ける窒素の吸着効率を高め、かつ気相に残留する酸素量
を増加させることにより酸素濃縮気体の収率を高めるよ
うに改善したものである。In the oxygen concentrator of the present invention, the high-performance nitrogen adsorbent is arranged in the adsorption bed to enhance the adsorption efficiency of nitrogen in the adsorption step and increase the amount of oxygen remaining in the gas phase. Is improved so as to increase the yield of oxygen-enriched gas.
【００３７】この改善がもたらす収率向上により、供給
空気量を減少させられることから空気供給手段の小型
化、消費電力の軽減にも効果を奏するものである。Due to the improvement in yield brought about by this improvement, the amount of air supplied can be reduced, so that the air supply means can be miniaturized and the power consumption can be reduced.
【００３８】さらに、空気中に存在する水分吸着に対し
ても本発明の吸着剤配置をとることにより、長期的な性
能の安定性向上、および該高性能窒素吸着剤交換頻度低
下に伴うコスト低減に関しても効果を奏するものであ
る。Further, by arranging the adsorbent of the present invention for adsorption of moisture existing in the air, the stability of long-term performance is improved and the cost is reduced due to the decrease in the frequency of replacement of the high-performance nitrogen adsorbent. Also has an effect.
【図１】本発明の吸着床における好ましい実施態様例を
模式的に示した概略図である。FIG. 1 is a schematic view schematically showing an example of a preferred embodiment of the adsorption bed of the present invention.
【図２】本発明の吸着床における好ましい実施態様例を
模式的に示した概略図である。FIG. 2 is a schematic view schematically showing an example of a preferred embodiment of the adsorption bed of the present invention.
【図３】本発明の吸着床を用いた酸素濃縮装置における
好ましい実施態様を示した概略図である。FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a preferred embodiment of an oxygen concentrator using the adsorption bed of the present invention.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────── フロントページの続き (58)調査した分野(Int.Cl.7，ＤＢ名) C01B 13/02 A61M 16/10 B01D 53/04 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. 7 , DB name) C01B 13/02 A61M 16/10 B01D 53/04
Claims (6)
着剤を充填した少なくとも１個の吸着床と、該吸着床に
加圧空気を供給するための空気供給手段と、該吸着床で
濃縮された酸素濃縮気体を貯留しておくためのサージタ
ンクを有した圧力変動吸着型の酸素濃縮装置において、
該吸着床に異なる少なくとも２種の吸着剤を層別に充填
し、該吸着床の空気の流れ方向の該空気供給手段側に低
性能窒素吸着剤を配し、他端に該低性能窒素吸着剤に比
べ２成分系吸着平衡に基づく分離係数が２以上高い高性
能窒素吸着剤を配した積層充填吸着床を有し、該低性能
吸着剤が５Ａ型ゼオライト及び／又は１３Ｘ型ゼオライ
トであり、且つ該高性能窒素吸着剤が、SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 比が
２．０〜３．０であるＸ型ゼオライトであり、かつその
AlO 4 四面体単位の少なくとも８８％がリチウムカチオン
と会合している結晶性ゼオライトであることを特徴とす
る酸素濃縮装置。1. At least one adsorption bed packed with an adsorbent capable of preferentially adsorbing nitrogen over oxygen, and the adsorption bed
And air supply means for supplying pressurized air, the pressure swing adsorption-type oxygen concentrator of having a surge tank to keep storing the concentrated oxygen enriched gas in adsorber bed,
At least two different adsorbents are packed in layers in the adsorption bed, a low-performance nitrogen adsorbent is arranged on the air supply means side in the air flow direction of the adsorption bed, and the low-performance nitrogen adsorbent is provided at the other end. separation factor based on two-component adsorption equilibrium compared to having a layered packed adsorbent bed arranged more high performance nitrogen adsorbents, low performance
Adsorbent is 5A type zeolite and / or 13X type Zeoli
And the high-performance nitrogen adsorbent has a SiO 2 / Al 2 O 3 ratio of
X-type zeolite of 2.0 to 3.0, and
At least 88% of the AlO 4 tetrahedral units are lithium cations
An oxygen concentrator , which is a crystalline zeolite associated with .
〜７５％を占める吸着床を有することを特徴とする請求
項１記載の酸素濃縮装置。2. The high-performance nitrogen adsorbent is 25
Oxygen concentrator according to claim 1 Symbol mounting and having an adsorbent bed that occupies 75%.
気供給手段側に５Ａ型ゼオライト吸着剤を配し、他端に
該高性能窒素吸着剤を配し、それら２種の吸着剤層の間
に１３Ｘ型ゼオライト吸着剤を配することにより構成さ
れる積層充填吸着床を有する請求項１記載の酸素濃縮装
置。3. A 5A type zeolite adsorbent is disposed on the side of the air supply means in the direction of air flow of a laminated packed adsorption bed, and the high performance nitrogen adsorbent is disposed on the other end, and these two types of adsorbent layers are provided. The oxygen concentrator according to claim 1, further comprising a layered packed adsorption bed constituted by disposing a 13X type zeolite adsorbent between the two.
〜５０％を占める請求項３記載の酸素濃縮装置。4. The high performance nitrogen adsorbent comprises 25% of the total adsorbent bed.
The oxygen concentrator according to claim 3 , occupying -50%.
あり、大気圧以上で吸着を行い、大気圧、または大気圧
以下で減圧脱着を行うことを特徴とする請求項１〜４記
載のいずれかの酸素濃縮装置。Wherein the air supplied to the adsorption bed is pressurized air, subjected to adsorption at atmospheric pressure or higher, according to claim 1-4, characterized in that performing the vacuum desorption below atmospheric or ambient pressure, Any of the oxygen concentrators described.
減圧脱着を行うことを特徴とする請求項１〜４記載のい
ずれかの酸素濃縮装置。6. The oxygen concentrator according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein adsorption is carried out near atmospheric pressure and desorption under reduced pressure is carried out under atmospheric pressure.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP17085695A JP3417730B2 (en) | 1995-07-06 | 1995-07-06 | Oxygen concentrator |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP17085695A JP3417730B2 (en) | 1995-07-06 | 1995-07-06 | Oxygen concentrator |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| JPH0920503A JPH0920503A (en) | 1997-01-21 |
| JP3417730B2 true JP3417730B2 (en) | 2003-06-16 |
Family
ID=15912594
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP17085695A Expired - Fee Related JP3417730B2 (en) | 1995-07-06 | 1995-07-06 | Oxygen concentrator |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JP3417730B2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP3022538B1 (en) * | 1998-12-14 | 2000-03-21 | 山陽電子工業株式会社 | Oxygen concentrator |
| JP7318407B2 (en) * | 2019-08-08 | 2023-08-01 | 株式会社豊田中央研究所 | adsorber |
-
1995
- 1995-07-06 JP JP17085695A patent/JP3417730B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPH0920503A (en) | 1997-01-21 |
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