Exhaust integrated body, oxygen generator with exhaust integrated body and control method

Abstract

The invention provides an exhaust integrated body, an oxygen generator with the exhaust integrated body and a control method. Gas commutation loops between two molecular sieve towers are integrated in an integration mode to form the exhaust integrated body; a first oxygen outlet adjusting valve and a second oxygen outlet adjusting valve are integrated on the exhaust integrated body, and the flow of gas commutation can be adjusted at corresponding time by controlling opening and closing of valve ports of the first oxygen outlet adjusting valve and the second oxygen outlet adjusting valve; compared with the prior art, the molecular sieve tower in the oxygen generator can meet the requirements in advance in the initial stage.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of oxygen production technology, specifically to an exhaust gas integration unit, an oxygen generator having the exhaust gas integration unit, and a control method thereof. Background Technology

[0002] In special environments where supplemental oxygen is required, users typically use portable oxygen concentrators. These portable oxygen concentrators usually employ the pressure swing adsorption principle, using an air compressor to send compressed air into a molecular sieve tower. The molecular sieve tower selectively adsorbs nitrogen, thereby separating oxygen-enriched gas and delivering it to an oxygen chamber for temporary storage to meet the user's need for high-concentration oxygen.

[0003] Currently, a portable oxygen generator employs a design where two molecular sieve towers operate alternately. A reversing valve controls the gas flow between the two towers, enabling a cycle where one tower produces oxygen while the other desorbs and regenerates. Furthermore, a flow-limiting ring is installed in the gas pipe connecting the two molecular sieve towers. This ring ensures that most of the gas discharged from one molecular sieve tower flows into the oxygen chamber, with a small portion flowing into the other tower, guaranteeing that the majority of the oxygen separated by the molecular sieve towers is forced into the oxygen chamber.

[0004] However, because the molecular sieve tower requires a certain adsorption pressure to reach its designed adsorption capacity, in the initial stage, when the oxygen generator is first turned on, it takes time to establish sufficient working pressure and purify the molecular sieve tower by removing nitrogen. This results in unstable oxygen concentration and flow rate. At this time, the design of setting a flow-limiting ring in the gas pipe further affects the time it takes for the molecular sieve tower to reach sufficient working pressure. It requires a relatively long period of alternating pressure between the two molecular sieve towers before oxygen can be separated and the requirements are met. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide an exhaust gas integration unit, an oxygen generator with an exhaust gas integration unit, and a control method. An adjustment component that can adjust the flow rate of the main flow channel is set between two molecular sieve towers. By controlling the adjustment component, the molecular sieve towers can meet the requirements earlier than the prior art in the initial stage.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following solution: An exhaust system includes a main exhaust channel running through it, with a first exhaust pipe and a second exhaust pipe connected to both ends of the main exhaust channel. The main exhaust channel is equipped with an adjustment component for controlling the exhaust flow rate, and the main exhaust channel is connected to a first secondary flow channel and a second secondary flow channel for supplying oxygen to the oxygen chamber, respectively, between the adjustment component and the first exhaust pipe and the second exhaust pipe.

[0007] A further preferred technical solution is that the regulating component includes a first oxygen outlet regulating valve and a second oxygen outlet regulating valve, the first oxygen outlet valve and the second oxygen outlet regulating valve are disposed on the main flow channel, and the valve ports of the first oxygen outlet regulating valve and the second oxygen outlet regulating valve are connected to the main flow channel. A controller for controlling the opening and closing of the valve ports is also connected to the first oxygen outlet regulating valve and the second oxygen outlet regulating valve.

[0008] A further preferred technical solution is that the end face of the main flow channel is jointly formed by the valve ports of the first oxygen outlet regulating valve and the second oxygen outlet regulating valve, wherein the valve port of the first oxygen outlet regulating valve integrates a flow limiting ring, and the valve port of the first oxygen outlet regulating valve is smaller than the valve port of the second oxygen outlet regulating valve.

[0009] A further preferred technical solution is that the first oxygen outlet regulating valve and the second oxygen outlet regulating valve are connected to a valve core, the central axis of the valve core is perpendicular to the central axis of the main channel on the horizontal plane, and the valve core passes through the main channel.

[0010] A further preferred technical solution is that the output ends of the first and second auxiliary flow channels are provided with oxygen exhaust pipes, the central axis of the oxygen exhaust pipes is perpendicular to the central axis of the main flow channel in the vertical plane, and the oxygen exhaust pipes are connected to the oxygen chamber upwards.

[0011] An oxygen generator with an exhaust system includes a base, on which two molecular sieve towers and an air compressor are mounted, and below the base is the exhaust system described above. A first exhaust pipe and a second exhaust pipe are respectively connected to the exhaust ports of the two molecular sieve towers. The output port of the air compressor is connected to an air inlet channel, and the two ends of the air inlet channel are respectively connected to the air inlets of two molecular sieve towers. A reversing valve is installed in the air inlet channel. The input port of the reversing valve is connected to the output port of the air compressor, and the output port of the reversing valve is respectively connected to the air inlets of the two molecular sieve towers.

[0012] A further preferred technical solution is that an integrated mounting frame is connected to the base, the air compressor and oxygen chamber are set inside the mounting frame, two molecular sieve towers are respectively embedded in the side wall of the mounting frame, and the output port of the oxygen chamber is connected to an oxygen supply pipe to supply oxygen to the user.

[0013] A control method, applied to an oxygen generation system having an exhaust gas integration unit, the control method comprising the following steps: S1. When the oxygen generator is turned on in the initial state, the controller sends an open command to the first oxygen outlet regulating valve and a close command to the second oxygen outlet valve. S2. After the oxygen generator has been operating for a preset time period, the controller sends a closing command to the first oxygen outlet regulating valve and an opening command to the second oxygen outlet valve.

[0014] A further preferred technical solution is that, when the oxygen generator is in its initial state, the internal pressure of the two molecular sieve towers is zero.

[0015] A further preferred technical solution is that the preset working time period of the oxygen generator refers to the working time during which the oxygen generator switches the exhaust path between the two molecular sieve towers multiple times through the reversing valve; and when the exhaust path between the two molecular sieve towers switches, the oxygen discharged from the two molecular sieve towers is alternately input into the oxygen chamber through the exhaust integration unit.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are: This invention provides an oxygen generator with an exhaust system. The oxygen generator adopts a design in which two molecular sieve towers work alternately, and an exhaust system is set between the two molecular sieve towers. Compared with the prior art which sets multiple gas pipes to form a main channel, the exhaust system integrates multiple gas pipes into one design, avoiding the easy breakage between gas pipes, which would lead to oxygen leakage and inaccurate oxygen content delivery.

[0017] Based on this, an adjustable component for the main flow channel is designed for the exhaust gas assembly. This component comprises a first oxygen outlet regulating valve and a second oxygen outlet regulating valve, with different valve orifice sizes. The valve orifices of both valves are connected to the main flow channel, so that the end face of the main flow channel is formed by the valve orifices of both valves. By controlling the opening or closing of the valve orifices of the first and second oxygen outlet regulating valves, the area of ​​the main flow channel end face can be controlled, thus changing the exhaust flow rate through the main flow channel. This change creates a difference compared to the first and second secondary flow channels. A control method is proposed to address this difference. Under this method, in the initial stage, the exhaust flow rate in the main flow channel towards the other molecular sieve tower can be increased, rapidly pressurizing the molecular sieve tower and enabling it to meet requirements earlier than existing technologies. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a top view of the exhaust assembly in Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the exhaust assembly in Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the oxygen generator in Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of airflow path A in Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of airflow path B in Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1-exhaust assembly, 11-main flow channel, 12-first secondary flow channel, 13-second secondary flow channel, 14-first oxygen outlet regulating valve, 141-flow limiting ring, 15-second oxygen outlet regulating valve, 2-first exhaust pipe, 3-second exhaust pipe, 4-oxygen exhaust pipe, 5-first molecular tower, 6-second molecular tower, 7-mounting bracket, 8-oxygen chamber. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative and is in no way intended to limit the present invention or its application or use. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0020] Unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement, numerical expressions, and values ​​of the components and steps described in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention.

[0021] At the same time, it should be understood that, for ease of description, the dimensions of the various parts shown in the accompanying drawings are not drawn according to actual scale.

[0022] Furthermore, for clarity and brevity, descriptions of well-known structures, functions, and configurations may have been omitted. Those skilled in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications can be made to the examples described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

[0023] Techniques, methods, and equipment known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, such techniques, methods, and equipment should be considered part of the specification.

[0024] In all examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values ​​should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not as limitations. Therefore, other examples of exemplary embodiments may have different values.

[0025] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments: Example 1 In this embodiment, an exhaust system 1 is proposed, such as... Figures 1-2As shown, a main exhaust channel 11 runs through the exhaust assembly 1. The two ends of the main exhaust channel 11 are connected to a first exhaust pipe 2 and a second exhaust pipe 3. An adjustment component for controlling the exhaust flow rate is provided on the main exhaust channel 11. The main exhaust channel 11 is connected to a first secondary flow channel 12 and a second secondary flow channel 13 for supplying oxygen to the oxygen chamber 8 between the adjustment component and the first exhaust pipe 2 and the second exhaust pipe 3, respectively.

[0026] The regulating assembly includes a first oxygen outlet regulating valve 14 and a second oxygen outlet regulating valve 15. The first and second oxygen outlet valves are disposed on the main flow channel 11, and their valve ports are connected to the main flow channel 11. A controller for controlling the opening and closing of the valve ports is also connected to the first and second oxygen outlet regulating valves 14 and 15. Figure 2 As can be seen, the end face of the main flow channel 11 is jointly formed by the valve ports of the first oxygen outlet regulating valve 14 and the second oxygen outlet regulating valve 15. The valve port of the first oxygen outlet regulating valve 14 integrates a flow limiting ring 141, so the valve port of the first oxygen outlet regulating valve 14 is smaller than the valve port of the second oxygen outlet regulating valve 15.

[0027] The first oxygen outlet regulating valve 14 and the second oxygen outlet regulating valve 15 are connected to a valve core. The central axis of the valve core is perpendicular to the central axis of the main flow channel 11 on the horizontal plane, and the valve core passes through the main flow channel 11.

[0028] The first secondary flow channel 12 and the second secondary flow channel 13 are provided with oxygen exhaust pipes 4 at their output ends. The central axis of the oxygen exhaust pipe 4 is perpendicular to the central axis of the main flow channel 11 in the vertical plane, and the oxygen exhaust pipe 4 is connected to the oxygen chamber 8 facing upward.

[0029] The exhaust gas assembly 1, via a controller, can control the opening and closing of the valves of the first oxygen outlet regulating valve 14 and the second oxygen outlet regulating valve 15. Specifically, the exhaust gas assembly 1 has the following four operating states: the first state is that the valve of the first oxygen outlet regulating valve 14 is open and the valve of the second oxygen outlet regulating valve 15 is closed; the second state is that the valve of the first oxygen outlet regulating valve 14 is closed and the valve of the second oxygen outlet regulating valve 15 is open; the third state is that the valve of the first oxygen outlet regulating valve 14 is open and the valve of the second oxygen outlet regulating valve 15 is open; and the fourth state is that the valve of the first oxygen outlet regulating valve 14 is closed and the valve of the second oxygen outlet regulating valve 15 is closed. By combining the opening and closing of different valves, the size of the end face area of ​​the main flow channel 11 can be adjusted. A larger end face area indicates a larger exhaust flow rate that can pass through the main flow channel 11; conversely, a smaller end face area indicates a smaller exhaust flow rate.

[0030] Based on the aforementioned exhaust gas assembly 1, this invention proposes an oxygen generator having the exhaust gas assembly 1, such as... Figure 3As shown, it includes a base, on which two molecular sieve towers and an air compressor are mounted, and below the base is an exhaust system 1, with a first exhaust pipe 2 and a second exhaust pipe 3 respectively connected to the exhaust ports of the two molecular sieve towers; The output port of the air compressor is connected to an air inlet channel, and the two ends of the air inlet channel are respectively connected to the air inlets of two molecular sieve towers. A reversing valve is installed in the air inlet channel. The input port of the reversing valve is connected to the output port of the air compressor, and the output port of the reversing valve is respectively connected to the air inlets of the two molecular sieve towers.

[0031] A further preferred technical solution is that an integrated mounting frame 7 is connected to the base, an air compressor and an oxygen chamber 8 are set inside the mounting frame 7, two molecular sieve towers are respectively embedded in the side wall of the mounting frame 7, and the output port of the oxygen chamber 8 is connected to an oxygen supply pipe to supply oxygen to the user.

[0032] Based on the aforementioned oxygen generator, this invention also proposes a control method comprising the following steps: S1. When the oxygen generator is started in the initial state, the controller sends an opening command to the first oxygen outlet regulating valve 14 and a closing command to the second oxygen outlet valve. At this time, the exhaust flow rate from the molecular sieve tower to the other molecular sieve tower is a small flow rate. When the oxygen generator is in its initial state, the internal pressure of the two molecular sieve towers is zero. Therefore, when it is first turned on, the exhaust flow rate from one molecular sieve tower to the other needs to be small. This small flow rate allows the molecular sieve tower to release nitrogen, creating a pressure difference between the two towers. This allows for a larger exhaust flow rate from one molecular sieve tower to the other later. Furthermore, if a large flow rate is used to flush the other molecular sieve tower when the internal pressure of the two towers is zero, it can easily damage the tower. S2. After the oxygen generator has been operating for a preset time period, the controller sends a closing command to the first oxygen outlet regulating valve 14 and an opening command to the second oxygen outlet valve.

[0033] The above control methods will be further elaborated as follows: First, it should be noted that the oxygen generator proposed in this invention adopts the design of two molecular sieve towers working alternately and a flow-limiting ring 141 set between the two molecular sieve towers, which is in the prior art. However, this design cannot meet the requirement of the oxygen generator to start oxygen production quickly in the initial stage. Because the molecular sieve towers need a certain adsorption pressure to reach the designed adsorption capacity, and the flow-limiting ring 141 will restrict a large amount of flow to the oxygen chamber 8, the oxygen generator needs time to establish sufficient working pressure and purify and remove nitrogen from the molecular sieve towers in the initial stage. As a result, the concentration and flow rate of the oxygen produced are unstable and cannot meet the requirements.

[0034] Therefore, this invention proposes that, in the initial stage, by cooperating with the first oxygen outlet regulating valve 14 and the second oxygen outlet regulating valve 15 in the exhaust gas integration 1, the exhaust gas flow rate of the oxygen generator flowing to another molecular sieve tower in the main channel 11 can be increased in the initial stage, and the molecular sieve tower can be quickly pressurized, so that the molecular sieve tower meets the requirements earlier than the prior art.

[0035] Specifically, in step S1, when the oxygen generator is in its initial state, the valve port of the first oxygen outlet regulating valve 14 is opened, and simultaneously, the valve port of the first oxygen outlet regulating valve 14 is closed. Since the end face of the flow channel is formed by the valve ports of the first oxygen outlet regulating valve 14 and the second oxygen outlet regulating valve 15, at this time, as... Figure 4 As shown, based on the valve port of the first oxygen outlet regulating valve 14 and the valve port of the second oxygen outlet regulating valve 15, the main channel 11 can be divided into upper and lower passages from the central axis of the main channel 11. The opening and closing of the valve port of the first oxygen outlet regulating valve 14 controls the opening and closing of the upper passage, and the opening and closing of the valve port of the second oxygen outlet regulating valve 15 controls the opening and closing of the lower passage. Since the valve port of the first oxygen outlet regulating valve 14 is smaller than the valve port of the second oxygen outlet regulating valve 15, the flow rate in the upper passage is less than the flow rate in the lower passage. At this time, the molecular sieve tower on the right exhausts gas into the exhaust assembly 1. The specific gas flow path A in this exhaust process is as follows: Figure 4 After the gas enters through the exhaust pipe on the right, it splits into two paths. One path involves a small portion of the gas flowing along the upper passage through the valve port of the first oxygen outlet regulating valve 14 to the left molecular sieve tower. The other path involves the majority of the gas flowing along the main flow channel 11 to the corresponding secondary flow channel. Similarly, when the reversing valve switches between the two molecular sieve towers, the left molecular sieve tower also experiences a similar flow path (A). After the gas enters through the exhaust pipe on the left, it splits into two paths: one path involves a small portion of the gas flowing along the upper passage through the valve port of the first oxygen outlet regulating valve 14 to the right molecular sieve tower, and the other path involves the majority of the gas flowing along the main flow channel 11 to the corresponding secondary flow channel.

[0036] Based on the above, the reversing valve can be switched several times to ensure the molecular sieve tower meets a certain pressure, which is lower than the working pressure of the molecular sieve tower. The goal is simply to maintain a pressure difference between the two molecular sieves. Specifically, a preset number of reversing valve switches or a preset time period can be achieved through multiple actual measurements. Then, the valve of the first oxygen outlet regulating valve 14 is closed, while the valve of the second oxygen outlet valve is opened. At this time, if... Figure 5 As shown, the molecular sieve tower on the right exhausts gas into the exhaust assembly 1. The specific gas flow path B is as follows: Figure 5 After the gas enters from the exhaust pipe on the right, the gas is divided into two paths. One path is for most of the gas to flow along the upper passage through the valve port of the first oxygen outlet regulating valve 14 to the molecular sieve tower on the left. The other path is for a small portion of the gas to flow along the main flow channel 11 to the corresponding secondary flow channel.

[0037] It can be seen that when one molecular sieve tower exhausts gas to another molecular sieve tower, gas flow path A and gas flow path B deliver gas of different flow rates to the other molecular sieve tower through the valve ports of the first oxygen outlet regulating valve 14 and the second oxygen outlet regulating valve 15. Combined with the above control method, the oxygen generator can quickly pressurize the molecular sieve tower in the initial stage, so that the molecular sieve tower meets the requirements earlier than the existing technology.

[0038] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Based on the technical essence of the present invention, any simple modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made to the above embodiments within the spirit and principles of the present invention shall still fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An exhaust integrated body characterized by comprising: The exhaust integration body (1) is provided with a main flow channel (11) penetrating through the exhaust integration body (1), two ends of the main flow channel (11) are connected with a first exhaust pipe (2) and a second exhaust pipe (3), the main flow channel (11) is provided with an adjusting assembly for controlling the exhaust flow size, and the main flow channel (11) is respectively communicated with a first auxiliary flow channel (12) and a second auxiliary flow channel (13) for supplying oxygen to an oxygen cabin (8) between the adjusting assembly and the first exhaust pipe (2) and between the adjusting assembly and the second exhaust pipe (3).

2. The exhaust assembly of claim 1, wherein, The adjusting assembly comprises a first oxygen outlet adjusting valve (14) and a second oxygen outlet adjusting valve (15), the first oxygen outlet valve and the second oxygen outlet valve are arranged on the main flow channel (11), valve ports of the first oxygen outlet adjusting valve (14) and the second oxygen outlet adjusting valve (15) are communicated with the main flow channel (11), and the first oxygen outlet adjusting valve (14) and the second oxygen outlet adjusting valve (15) are further connected with controllers for controlling opening and closing of the valve ports.

3. The exhaust assembly of claim 2, wherein, End faces of the main flow channel (11) are jointly formed by the valve ports of the first oxygen outlet adjusting valve (14) and the second oxygen outlet adjusting valve (15), wherein the valve port of the first oxygen outlet adjusting valve (14) is integrated with a flow limiting ring (141), and the valve port of the first oxygen outlet adjusting valve (14) is smaller than the valve port of the second oxygen outlet adjusting valve (15).

4. The exhaust assembly according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that The first oxygen outlet adjusting valve (14) and the second oxygen outlet adjusting valve (15) are jointly connected with a valve core, a central axis of the valve core is perpendicular to a central axis of the main flow channel (11) on a horizontal plane, and the valve core penetrates through the main flow channel (11).

5. The exhaust assembly of claim 1, wherein: Output ends of the first auxiliary flow channel (12) and the second auxiliary flow channel (13) are provided with oxygen outlet pipes (4), central axes of the oxygen outlet pipes (4) are perpendicular to the central axis of the main flow channel (11) on a vertical plane, and the oxygen outlet pipes (4) are connected with the oxygen cabin (8) upward.

6. An oxygen generator with exhaust integration body, comprising a base, the base is provided with two molecular sieve towers, an air compressor, characterized in that, The base is provided with the exhaust integration body (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, the first exhaust pipe (2) and the second exhaust pipe (3) are connected with exhaust outlets of two molecular sieve towers respectively; an output port of the air compressor is communicated with an air inlet flow channel, two ends of the air inlet flow channel are connected with air inlet ports of the two molecular sieve towers respectively, and a reversing valve is arranged in the air inlet flow channel, an input port of the reversing valve is connected with the output port of the air compressor, and output ports of the reversing valve are connected with the air inlet ports of the two molecular sieve towers respectively.

7. The oxygen generator having an exhaust integrated body according to claim 6, wherein The base is provided with an integrated mounting rack (7), the air compressor and the oxygen cabin (8) are arranged in the mounting rack (7), the two molecular sieve towers are embedded in side walls of the mounting rack (7) respectively, and an oxygen outlet port of the oxygen cabin (8) is connected with an oxygen supply pipe for supplying oxygen to a user.

8. A control method characterized by, The control method is applied to the oxygen production system with the exhaust integration body as claimed in any one of claims 6-7, and the control method comprises the following steps: S1, when an oxygen generator in an initial state is started, an opening instruction is sent to the first oxygen outlet adjusting valve (14) through a controller, and a closing instruction is sent to the second oxygen valve through the controller; S2, when the oxygen generator works for a preset period of time, a closing instruction is sent to the first oxygen outlet adjusting valve (14) through the controller, and an opening instruction is sent to the second oxygen valve.

9. The control method of claim 8, wherein, When the oxygen generator is in the initial state, internal pressures of the two molecular sieve towers are zero.

10. The control method of claim 8, wherein The working preset time period of the oxygen generator refers to the working time of the oxygen generator for multiple switching of the exhaust path between the two molecular sieve towers controlled by the reversing valve; and when the exhaust path between the two molecular sieve towers is switched, the oxygen discharged from the two molecular sieve towers is alternately input into the oxygen cabin (8) through the exhaust integrated body (1).

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