DEVICE AND METHOD FOR BREATHING AIR GENERATING

Abstract

Device (100) for generating breathing air (9), with an air treatment device (40) for treating air (2), a separation device (60) for separating nitrogen (8) from the air (6) treated by the air treatment device (40), wherein the separating device (60) has a first outlet (70) for discharging oxygen-reduced air (71), which at least partially comprises the nitrogen (8) separated by the separating device (60), and a second outlet (80) for discharging oxygen-enriched air (81), and a mixing device (90) connected downstream of the two outlets (70, 80) of the separating device (60) for providing breathing air (9) based on a mixing of the oxygen-reduced air (71) that can be discharged from the separating device (60) and the oxygen-enriched air (81) that can be discharged from the separating device (60), wherein the mixing device (90) is configured to selectively adjust an oxygen content of the provided breathing air (9) to a value from the value of the oxygen content of the oxygen-reduced air (71) derivable from the separating device (60) to the value of the oxygen content of the oxygen-enriched air (81) derivable from the separating device (60), wherein the air treatment device (40) has a carbon monoxide catalyst (46) for reducing a carbon monoxide content of the air (2) and a carbon dioxide adsorption device (44) for reducing the carbon dioxide content of the air (2), and wherein the carbon monoxide catalyst (46) is arranged upstream of the carbon dioxide adsorption device (44).

Description

Technical area

[0001] The present invention relates to a device and a method for generating breathable air. The present invention also relates to a system for ventilating a human. State of the art

[0002] It is well known that oxygen-enriched air is used for breathing apparatus. For example, oxygen-enriched breathing air, also known as NITROX, is used for diving equipment.

[0003] Further prior art is referred to: DE 37 82 395 T2, DE 10 2012 104 776 A1, DE 10 2014 108 874 A1, DE 698 32 036 T2. Description of the invention

[0004] The present invention relates, in one aspect, to a device for generating breathing air. The device can generate breathing air with an adjustable oxygen content. The device can be designed to generate oxygen-reduced breathing air and oxygen-enriched breathing air. The device can therefore be a breathing air generator for oxygen-reduced and oxygen-enriched breathing air.

[0005] The device may comprise an air conditioning device for conditioning air. The air may be ambient air. Conditioning the air may include removing air humidity, reducing the carbon dioxide content of the air, and / or reducing the carbon monoxide content of the air. The air conditioning device may be connected upstream of the airstream to an air source for providing the air to be treated.

[0006] The air source can be an air compressor for sucking in and compressing air, an air tank for storing and supplying air, or an air supply line of an air duct network for supplying air. The device can comprise the air source.

[0007] The device may comprise a separation device for separating nitrogen from the air treated by the air treatment device.

[0008] The separation device can have a first outlet for discharging oxygen-reduced air. The oxygen-reduced air has a reduced oxygen content compared to the air. The oxygen-reduced air can at least partially contain the nitrogen separated by the separation device. The oxygen-reduced air can, for example, have any percentage value up to 20% of the oxygen content of the air, i.e., any percentage value that is less than the percentage value of the oxygen content of the air.

[0009] The separation device can have a second outlet for discharging oxygen-enriched air. The oxygen-enriched air has a higher oxygen content than the air. The oxygen-enriched air at least partially lacks the nitrogen separated by the separation device. The oxygen-enriched air can, for example, have any percentage value that is greater than the percentage value of the oxygen content of the air and can have up to 40% of the oxygen content of the air.

[0010] The device may comprise a mixing device connected downstream of the two outlets of the separating device for providing breathable air based on a blending of the oxygen-reduced air that can be discharged from the separating device and the oxygen-enriched air that can be discharged from the separating device. The mixing device may comprise a first inlet for the oxygen-reduced air that can be discharged from the separating device. The mixing device may comprise a second inlet for the oxygen-enriched air that can be discharged from the separating device.

[0011] The breathing air provided by the mixing device can have a gas composition that includes the oxygen-reduced air that can be discharged from the separation device and / or the oxygen-enriched air that can be discharged from the separation device. The proportion of the oxygen-reduced air that can be discharged from the separation device can range from 0% to 100% of the gas composition. The proportion of the oxygen-enriched air that can be discharged from the separation device can also range from 0% to 100% of the gas composition.

[0012] The breathing air provided by the mixing device can therefore comprise a gas mixture of the oxygen-reduced air that can be discharged from the separation device and the oxygen-enriched air that can be discharged from the separation device. The respective proportion of the oxygen-reduced air that can be discharged from the separation device and the oxygen-enriched air that can be discharged from the separation device in the gas mixture, and thus also of the breathing air that can be provided, can have a percentage value between 0% and 100%. The breathing air provided by the mixing device can also comprise only the oxygen-reduced air that can be discharged from the separation device or only the oxygen-enriched air that can be discharged from the separation device.

[0013] The mixing of the oxygen-reduced air that can be discharged from the separation device and the oxygen-enriched air that can be discharged from the separation device can therefore comprise mixing the oxygen-reduced air that can be discharged from the separation device with the oxygen-enriched air that can be discharged from the separation device. The mixing of the oxygen-reduced air that can be discharged from the separation device and the oxygen-enriched air that can be discharged from the separation device can further comprise individually selecting one of the oxygen-reduced air that can be discharged from the separation device and the oxygen-enriched air that can be discharged from the separation device.

[0014] The mixing device can be configured to selectively adjust the oxygen content of the provided breathing air from the oxygen content of the reduced-oxygen air discharged from the separation device to the oxygen content of the oxygen-enriched air discharged from the separation device. The oxygen content can define the percentage of oxygen in the provided breathing air. For example, the breathing air can have any percentage value between 0% and 40% oxygen content of the breathing air.

[0015] The mixing device can be configured to adjust the gas composition of the breathing air provided by the mixing device. The mixing device can be configured to adjust the proportion of the oxygen-reduced air that can be discharged from the separating device to the gas composition. The mixing device can be configured to adjust the proportion of the oxygen-enriched air that can be discharged from the separating device to the gas composition. The mixing device can also be configured to adjust a mixing ratio of the oxygen-reduced air that can be discharged from the separating device and the oxygen-enriched air that can be discharged from the separating device.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the device, the mixing device comprises a mixing valve. The mixing valve can be configured to selectively adjust the gas composition of the breathing air provided by the mixing device. For this purpose, the mixing valve can be configured to influence or change a ratio of an air flow of the oxygen-reduced air that can be discharged from the separating device and an air flow of the oxygen-enriched air that can be discharged from the separating device in order to selectively adjust the gas composition of the breathing air that can be provided by the mixing device.

[0017] The breathing air can be provided with the device for a medical application or treatment of a person or for a sports therapy application or training of a person.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the device, the air treatment unit can have a dryer for removing moisture from the air. The dryer can form a stage of the air treatment unit. The dryer can also be a pre-dryer for the air to be treated by the air treatment unit. Liquid water components can thus be removed from the air to be treated by the air treatment unit in a preliminary stage of the air treatment. The dryer can have a condensate drain, which can feed condensate obtained by the dryer to a condensate separator or condensate trap. According to further embodiments of the device, the dryer of the air treatment unit can have at least one of a refrigeration dryer, a membrane dryer, and an adsorption dryer for removing moisture from the air or for obtaining condensate.

[0019] According to a further embodiment of the device, it can have an air compressor arranged upstream of the air treatment device for providing pressurized air. The air compressor can be a compressor. The air compressor can also be arranged upstream of the separation device. The air compressor can be a screw compressor, for example. The air compressor can thus be the air source or a compressed air source with which air can be drawn in from the environment and pressurized. In other words, ambient air can be introduced into the air treatment device or the separation device under excess pressure.The device may comprise a pressurized air line which may connect the air compressor to the air treatment device for supplying the pressurized air provided by the air compressor to the air treatment device.

[0020] According to a further embodiment of the device, it can have a cooling device arranged upstream of the air treatment device for providing cooled air. The cooling device can also be arranged upstream of the separating device. The cooling device can be a refrigeration dryer for removing condensed moisture from the air and for cooling the air. The cooling device can have a condensate drain, which can feed condensate obtained with the cooling device to a condensate separator or condensate collector. The device can have a line for cooled air, which can connect the cooling device to the air treatment device for feeding the cooled air provided by the cooling device to the air treatment device.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the device can comprise the air compressor and the cooling device, wherein the cooling device can be arranged downstream of the air compressor. The temperature of the pressurized air downstream of the air compressor can thus be reduced by the cooling device. According to this embodiment, the cooling device can be designed and arranged as an aftercooler downstream of the air compressor.

[0022] According to a further embodiment of the device, it can have a filter device arranged upstream of the air treatment device for cleaning the air. The filter device can be a filter cascade with at least two filter units. With the filter device, pollutants of various particle sizes can be filtered from the pressurized air. The filter device can be designed to separate or separate moisture or a condensate and / or an aerosol upstream of the air treatment device. The aerosol can be a bioaerosol, for example a virus, or an oil aerosol. The filter device can further have a condensate drain to feed condensate or aerosol accumulating at the filter to a condensate separator or condensate trap.The filter units of the filter cascade can further each have a condensate drain. A first filter unit of the at least two filter units of the filter cascade can be designed as a fine filter. The fine filter can be designed to filter particles that are larger than a first particle size. A second filter unit of the at least two filter units of the filter cascade can be designed as a microfilter or ultrafine filter. The microfilter can be designed to filter particles that are larger than a second particle size, wherein the second particle size is smaller than the first particle size. The device can have a line for purified air, which connects the filter device to the air treatment device for supplying the air purified by the filter device to the air treatment device.

[0023] According to a further embodiment of the device, the air treatment device can comprise a carbon dioxide adsorption device for reducing the carbon dioxide content of the air. The carbon dioxide adsorption device can form a further stage of the air treatment device. The dryer can form a precursor to the carbon dioxide adsorption device, wherein the dryer can be arranged upstream of the carbon dioxide adsorption device. The carbon dioxide adsorption device can, in principle, be any device for adsorbing carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide adsorption device can comprise a carbon dioxide adsorbent for this purpose. The carbon dioxide adsorbent can, for example, be a granular carbon dioxide adsorbent, which can be located in the carbon dioxide adsorption device.To reduce the carbon dioxide content of the air, the air can be passed through the granular carbon dioxide adsorption agent. The carbon dioxide adsorption device can also contain a desiccant for adsorbing atmospheric moisture. The carbon dioxide adsorption device can be designed as a pressure vessel to hold the pressurized air. The carbon dioxide adsorption device can be regenerable.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the air treatment device comprises the dryer and the carbon dioxide adsorption device, wherein the dryer can be arranged upstream of the carbon dioxide adsorption device. In other words, the dryer can form a precursor to the carbon dioxide adsorption device. In particular, according to this embodiment, the device can generate breathing air with a reduced carbon dioxide content and reduced humidity, which can meet or fall below the air quality requirements for breathing apparatus specified in the standard DIN EN 12021, 2nd edition 2014. Thus, the breathing air generated by the device can, in particular, meet or fall below the concentrations of oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, oil, and humidity specified in the standard.

[0025] According to a further embodiment of the device, the air treatment device can have a carbon monoxide catalyst for reducing the carbon monoxide content of the air. The carbon monoxide catalyst can form a further stage of the air treatment device. The carbon monoxide catalyst can form a precursor to the carbon dioxide adsorption device, wherein the carbon monoxide catalyst can be arranged downstream or upstream of the carbon dioxide adsorption device. The air treatment device can thus be designed as an at least two-stage air treatment device with an adsorption stage for adsorbing carbon dioxide and a purification stage for inducing catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide.

[0026] The carbon monoxide catalyst can be arranged downstream of the carbon dioxide adsorption device. Alternatively, according to a further embodiment of the device, the carbon monoxide catalyst can be arranged upstream of the carbon dioxide adsorption device. Thus, the carbon dioxide generated in the carbon monoxide catalyst can also be adsorbed in the carbon dioxide adsorption device arranged downstream of the airstream.

[0027] According to a further embodiment of the device, it can have a post-filter device arranged downstream of the air treatment device for post-cleaning the air treated by the air treatment device. The post-filter device can function to filter particles from the treated air. The post-filter device can have a particle filter, which can be arranged downstream of the air treatment device. Particulate pollutants, in particular pollutants not adsorbed and / or catalytically oxidized in the carbon dioxide adsorption device, can thus be filtered out of the treated air in order to further improve the quality of the treated breathing air or to adapt it to a required industry standard. Alternatively or in addition to the particle filter, the post-filter device can have an activated carbon filter and / or an aerosol filter.The activated carbon filter can be provided or activated, in particular, when the air contains oil. The aerosol filter can, in principle, be designed to filter any aerosol, for example, a bioaerosol. The device can have a line for purified, treated air, which connects the post-filter device to the separating device for supplying the treated air, purified by the post-filter device, to the separating device.

[0028] According to a further embodiment of the device, it can have a condensate separator for separating and processing condensate or condensed moisture from the air. The condensate separator can be connected to the filter device arranged upstream of the air treatment device. Alternatively or additionally, the condensate separator can be connected to the air treatment device, in particular the dryer of the air treatment device. Alternatively or additionally, the condensate separator can be connected to the post-filter device arranged downstream of the air treatment device.

[0029] According to a further embodiment of the device, the separation device can have a membrane for separating nitrogen from the air treated by the air treatment device. The membrane can have a permeability that is higher for oxygen than for nitrogen. The membrane can thus be used to separate nitrogen from the air. The membrane can therefore be an oxygen membrane. The membrane can also be a correspondingly selective membrane. According to a further embodiment of the device, it can have a heating device for heating the air treated by the air treatment device. The heating device can be arranged upstream of the separation device. In particular, the heating device can be arranged upstream of the membrane.

[0030] According to a further embodiment of the device, it can have a line for separated nitrogen between the separation device and the air treatment device or the carbon dioxide adsorption device for supplying nitrogen to the carbon dioxide adsorption device. The carbon dioxide adsorption device can thus be regenerated with the supplied nitrogen. According to a further embodiment of the device, it can have a line for separated nitrogen between the separation device and the air compressor for supplying nitrogen to the air compressor. The air compressor can thus be cooled with the supplied nitrogen.

[0031] According to a further embodiment of the device, it can have at least one overflow valve arranged downstream of the air treatment device, which is in an open state when a predetermined minimum pressure value downstream of the air treatment device is exceeded. The overflow valve can be arranged upstream of the separating device. The overflow valve can therefore be a safety valve or a pressure reducer, which can prevent or reduce the predetermined minimum pressure value in the device, in particular downstream of the air treatment device and / or upstream of the separating device, from being exceeded. According to a further embodiment, a pressure measuring device or a manometer can be arranged on the overflow valve, wherein the overflow valve can be controllable based on a measured value from the pressure measuring device.

[0032] According to a further embodiment of the device, it can have at least one overflow valve arranged downstream of the separating device, which is in an open state when a predetermined minimum pressure value downstream of the separating device is exceeded. This overflow valve can also be a safety valve or a pressure reducer, which can prevent or reduce the predetermined minimum pressure value in the device, in particular downstream of the separating device, from being exceeded. According to a further embodiment, a pressure measuring device or a manometer can also be arranged on this overflow valve, wherein the overflow valve can be controllable based on a measured value of the pressure measuring device.

[0033] Alternatively or in addition to one or both embodiments regarding an overflow valve, according to a further embodiment, the device can also comprise a compressed air reservoir for compensating pressure fluctuations. The compressed air reservoir can buffer an exceeded maximum pressure condition in the device.

[0034] According to a further embodiment of the device, the mixing device can have an interface for receiving a control signal for selectively adjusting the oxygen content of the provided breathing air. According to a further embodiment of the device, the mixing device can have a control device for generating the control signal for selectively adjusting the oxygen content of the provided breathing air. The control device can be configured to control or regulate the oxygen content of the breathing air. The control device can be connected to the interface of the mixing device for transmitting the generated control signal to the mixing device.

[0035] According to a further embodiment of the device, it can have a pressure equalization vessel arranged downstream of the mixing device for compensating pressure fluctuations that can be caused by a variable demand for provided breathing air by an air consumer downstream of the mixing device. The pressure equalization vessel can have a balloon and / or an air pulsation equalization vessel. The air consumer can be a person. The pressure equalization vessel can be designed as a pulsation damper for damping pulsations in the flow path between the mixing device and the air consumer. For example, the inhalation and exhalation of a person as an air consumer can be compensated or dampened.

[0036] In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a system for ventilating a human. Ventilating the human can be medical ventilation of the human, in particular for medical treatment of the human. Medical ventilation can include intubation of the human. Alternatively or in addition to medical ventilation, ventilating the human can be sports-therapeutic ventilation of the human, in particular for training to increase the human's performance.

[0037] The system may comprise a device according to the preceding aspect. The system may also comprise a ventilation device for ventilating the person with the breathing air provided by the mixing device of the device. The ventilation device may be a ventilation mask or a tube.

[0038] According to one embodiment of the system, it can comprise a pulse oximeter for monitoring the arterial oxygen saturation in the human blood during ventilation. The pulse oximeter can be designed as a finger clip. The system can comprise a control device communicating with the pulse oximeter for controlling the mixing device of the device by means of a control signal for selectively adjusting the oxygen content of the provided respiratory air. The arterial oxygen saturation in the human blood can be a controlled variable that can be regulated to a selective value by controlling the mixing device with the control signal. Controlling the mixing device can comprise controlling a valve position of the mixing valve.

[0039] According to a further embodiment of the device or system, it can have an oxygen sensor for monitoring the current oxygen content of the provided breathing air. The oxygen sensor can thus monitor an oxygen content of the breathing air adjusted by the mixing device. The device or system can have a control device communicating with the oxygen sensor for controlling the mixing device of the device by means of a control signal for selectively adjusting the oxygen content of the provided breathing air. The oxygen content of the provided breathing air can be a controlled variable that can be regulated to a selective value by controlling the mixing device with the control signal. Controlling the mixing device can include controlling a valve position of the mixing valve.

[0040] According to a further embodiment of the device or system, it may comprise a carbon dioxide sensor for monitoring the current carbon dioxide content of the provided breathing air. The device or system may comprise a control device communicating with the carbon dioxide sensor for controlling the air treatment device of the device by means of a control signal for adjusting the carbon dioxide content of the provided breathing air. The carbon dioxide content of the provided breathing air may be a controlled variable that can be regulated to a selective value, in particular to a predetermined maximum value, by controlling the air treatment device with the control signal.

[0041] According to a further embodiment of the device or system, it can have a pressure gauge downstream of the mixing device for monitoring the air pressure of the provided or requested breathing air. The device or system can, for example, have a control device communicating with the device's air compressor and / or with an overflow valve and / or a pressure equalization tank for controlling the air pressure or the pressure of the provided breathing air by means of a control signal.

[0042] In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method for generating breathable air. The device and the system according to the preceding aspects can each be configured to carry out the method. The method can be carried out using the device. The method can also be carried out using the system. In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a control device for carrying out the method, in particular using the device or the system.

[0043] The method may comprise, as one step, air conditioning with an air conditioning device. The method may comprise, as a further step, separating nitrogen from the air treated by the air conditioning device with a separation device, wherein the separation device may comprise a first outlet for discharging oxygen-reduced air, which at least partially comprises the nitrogen separated by the separation device, and a second outlet for discharging oxygen-enriched air.

[0044] The method may comprise, as a further step, providing breathing air based on mixing the oxygen-reduced air that can be discharged from the separation device and the oxygen-enriched air that can be discharged from the separation device with a mixing device connected downstream of the two outlets of the separation device.

[0045] The step of providing may be based on selectively adjusting a value of an oxygen content of the provided breathing air from the value of the oxygen content of the oxygen-reduced air derivable from the separation device to the value of the oxygen content of the oxygen-enriched air derivable from the separation device.

[0046] Embodiments described in relation to one aspect of the invention may also be understood as corresponding embodiments of another aspect of the invention. Embodiments described in relation to one aspect of the invention may also be combined with embodiments described in relation to another aspect of the invention. Short description of the drawings Fig. 1 shows a device for generating breathing air according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 shows a system for ventilating a human according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 3 shows a flowchart of method steps for carrying out a method for generating breathing air according to an embodiment of the invention. Detailed description of embodiments

[0047] Fig. 1 shows a device 100 for generating breathable air 9. The device 100 has an air treatment device 40 for treating air 2. The device 100 also has a separation device 60 for separating nitrogen 8 from the air 6 treated by the air treatment device 40. The air 2 can be ambient air.

[0048] The separation device 60 has a first outlet 70 for discharging oxygen-reduced air 71, which may contain nitrogen 8 separated by the separation device 60. The oxygen-reduced air 71 partially or completely contains the separated nitrogen 8. The separation device 60 also has a second outlet 80 for discharging oxygen-enriched air 81, which partially or completely does not contain the nitrogen 8 separated by the separation device 60.

[0049] The device 100 also has a mixing device 90 connected downstream of the two outlets 70, 80 of the separating device 60 for providing the breathing air 9. The mixing device 90 is arranged downstream of the separating device 60. The provision of the breathing air 9 is based on a blending of the oxygen-reduced air 71 discharged from the separating device 60 and the oxygen-enriched air 81 discharged from the separating device 60.

[0050] The mixing device 90 is configured to selectively adjust an oxygen content of the provided breathing air 9 to a value ranging from the value of the oxygen content of the oxygen-reduced air 71 that can be discharged from the separating device 60 to the value of the oxygen content of the oxygen-enriched air 81 that can be discharged from the separating device 60.

[0051] The air treatment device 40 can have a dryer 42, which can have a refrigeration dryer 43. The air treatment device 40 can have a carbon dioxide adsorption device 44, which can have a plurality, i.e., at least two, carbon dioxide adsorption units (not shown). The air treatment device 40 can have a carbon monoxide catalyst 46. The carbon dioxide adsorption units can be arranged in series in terms of air flow. The carbon dioxide adsorption device 44 and / or the carbon monoxide catalyst 46 can be arranged downstream of the dryer 42. The carbon monoxide catalyst 46 can be arranged downstream of the carbon dioxide adsorption device 44, as shown, or upstream of the carbon dioxide adsorption device 44, in a further embodiment not shown.The dryer 42 and / or the carbon dioxide adsorption device 44 can be connected to a respective condensate drain 111, which can feed a condensate 112 separated from the air 2 to a condensate separator 110. The first outlet 70 for discharging oxygen-reduced air 71 can be connected to the carbon dioxide adsorption device 44 in order to supply nitrogen 8 to the carbon dioxide adsorption device 44 for regenerating the carbon dioxide adsorption device 44.

[0052] An air compressor 10 for compressing the air 2 can be arranged upstream of the air treatment device 40. The air compressor 10 can be a compressor. The first outlet 70 for discharging oxygen-reduced air 71 can be connected to the air compressor 10 in order to supply the air compressor 10 with nitrogen 8 for cooling.

[0053] A cooling device 20 for cooling the air 2 can be arranged upstream of the air treatment device 40. The cooling device 20 can be arranged downstream of the air compressor 10. The air compressor 10 can be connected to the cooling device 20 by a line 12 for pressurized air 3.

[0054] A filter device 30 for cleaning the air 2 can be arranged upstream of the air treatment device 40. The filter device 30 can be designed as a filter cascade having at least two filter units 31, 33, 35. In the embodiment shown, the filter device 30 has three filter units 31, 33, 35. According to one embodiment of the filter device 30, it can be a stepped filter cascade with an optional activated carbon filter. A first filter unit 31 can be a fine filter. The second filter unit 33 can be an ultra-fine filter. The third filter unit 35 can be an optional activated carbon filter. According to a further embodiment of the filter device 30, it can be a stepped filter cascade with an optional pre-filter. A first filter unit 31 can be the optional pre-filter.The second filter unit 33 can be a fine filter. The third filter unit 35 can be an ultrafine filter. The filter device 30 can be connected to the cooling device 20 via a line 22 for cooled air 4. The filter device 30 or the filter units 31, 33, 35 can be connected to a respective condensate drain 111, which can feed a condensate 112 separated from the air 2 to the condensate separator 110. The air treatment device 40 can be connected to the filter device 30 via a line 32 for purified air 5.

[0055] The air treatment device 40 and the separation device 60 can be connected by a line 41 for treated air 6 in order to supply the air 6 treated by the air treatment device 40 to the separation device 60. A post-filter device 50 can be arranged in an air flow path between the air treatment device 40 and the separation device 60 in order to further clean the treated air 6. The post-filter device 50 can be connected to a condensate drain 111, which can supply condensate 112 separated from the treated air 6 to the condensate separator 110. The post-filter device 50 can be connected to the separation device 60 by a line 52 for further cleaned treated air 7.

[0056] In the air flow path between the air treatment device 40 and the separation device 60, in particular downstream of the post-filter device 50 and / or upstream of the post-filter device 50, a respective overflow valve 120 can be arranged, which can have a silencer 122.

[0057] A heating device 64 for heating the treated air 6 can be arranged in the air flow path between the air treatment device 40 and the separation device 60. The carbon dioxide adsorption device 44 can have a membrane 62 for separating the nitrogen 8. If the heating device 64 is provided in the air flow path between the air treatment device 40 and the separation device 60, heated treated air 6 can be supplied to the membrane 62.

[0058] The mixing device 90 may have a mixing valve 91, wherein the mixing device 90 or the mixing valve 91 may be connected to a line 82 for oxygen-enriched air 81 and to a line 72 for oxygen-reduced air 71. An overflow valve 124, which may be designed as a safety valve, may be arranged on at least one of the two lines 72, 82.

[0059] The mixing device 90 can mix the oxygen-enriched air 81 and the oxygen-reduced air 71 to provide breathing air 9, which can have an oxygen content or an oxygen concentration that can have a value from the oxygen content of the oxygen-reduced air 71 to the oxygen content of the oxygen-enriched air 81. The mixing device 90 can be controlled by a control device 200 for selectively adjusting the oxygen content of the breathing air 9. For this purpose, the control device 200 can communicate with the mixing device 90 via an interface 92 for communicating a control signal 94. In one embodiment, the control device 200 can communicate with the mixing valve 91 to change a valve position of the mixing valve 91 such that the oxygen content of the breathing air 9 is selectively adjusted.

[0060] An air consumer 300, for example, a person, can be located downstream of the mixing device 90. A pressure equalization tank 130 can be arranged in an air flow path between the mixing device 90 and the air consumer 300, or downstream of the mixing device 90, to dampen pressure fluctuations in the air flow path caused by the air consumer 300. An overflow valve 120 can also be arranged in the air flow path between the mixing device 90 and the air consumer 300.

[0061] A pressure measuring device 132 can be arranged downstream of the mixing device 90 to monitor the pressure of the provided breathing air 9. A gas concentration measuring device 134 can be arranged downstream of the mixing device 90, with which the oxygen content of the breathing air 9 can be measured. The gas concentration measuring device 134 can be an oxygen measuring device. The gas concentration measuring device 134 can be connected to the control device 200 to regulate the oxygen content of the breathing air 9 via the control signal 94 by controlling the mixing device 90.

[0062] Fig. Figure 2 shows a system 400 for ventilating a human. The system 400 comprises the device 100, which includes the air treatment device 40 and the mixing device 90. The breathing air 9 generated from the air 2 by the device 100 is supplied to a ventilation device 410, which can be, for example, a ventilation mask. A human can be ventilated via the ventilation device 410 with the breathing air 9 provided by the mixing device 90 of the device 100.

[0063] The device 100 may include a pulse oximeter 420, which may in particular be configured as a finger clip, for monitoring the arterial oxygen saturation in the human blood during ventilation. The device 100 may also include an oxygen sensor 430 and / or a carbon dioxide sensor 440.

[0064] The system 400 can include the control device 200. The pulse oximeter 420 can be connected to the control device 200 to control the mixing device 90 based on the arterial oxygen saturation in the person's blood with the control signal 94 in order to adjust the oxygen content of the breathing air 9. The arterial oxygen saturation in the person's blood can be a controlled variable, which can thus be influenced based on the oxygen content of the breathing air 9. The oxygen sensor 430 and / or the carbon dioxide sensor 440 can also be connected to the control device 200 to control the air conditioning device 40 and / or the mixing device 90 based on the oxygen content and / or the carbon dioxide content of the breathing air 9.The oxygen content and / or the carbon dioxide content can be a respective controlled variable, which can be influenced based on carbon dioxide adsorption in the air treatment device 40 and / or a mixing ratio of oxygen-reduced air 71 and oxygen-enriched air 81.

[0065] Fig. 3 shows a flow diagram of process steps of a method for producing breathing air 9. The method can be carried out with the Fig. 1 and the device 100 shown in Fig. 2 shown system 400.

[0066] The method comprises, as one step, air drying S0. In this step, moisture is removed from the air 2 using the dryer 42 of the air treatment device 40. The method comprises, as a further step, air treatment S1. In this step, the air 2 is treated in the air treatment device 40, in particular the carbon dioxide content is reduced using the carbon dioxide adsorption device 44. The method comprises, as a further step, nitrogen separation S2. In this step, nitrogen 8 is separated from the air 2 using the separation device 60. The method comprises, as a further step, selective oxygen content adjustment S3. In this step, the oxygen content of the breathing air 9 is selectively adjusted using the control device 200.In further steps of the method, oxygen-reduced air 71 is discharged S4a and oxygen-enriched air 81 is discharged S4b from the separating device 60, and the oxygen-reduced air 71 and oxygen-enriched air 81 discharged from the separating device 60 are mixed S5. The air mixing S5 is based on the oxygen content setting S3 and is carried out by the mixing device 90. The method comprises, as a further step, a provision of breathing air S6. In this step, the breathing air 9 generated by the device 100 is provided to the air consumer 300, in particular a human. Reference symbol 2 Air 3 pressurized air 4 cooled air 5 purified air 6 treated air 7 purified treated air 8 Nitrogen 9 Breathing air 10 air compressors 12 Line for pressurized air 20 Cooling device 22 Line for cooled air 30 filter device 31 first filter unit 32 Line for purified air 33 second filter unit 35 third filter unit 40 Air treatment unit 41 Line for treated air 42 dryers 43 refrigeration dryers 44 Carbon dioxide adsorption device 46 Carbon monoxide catalyst 50 post-filter device 52 Line for purified air 60 separating device 62 membrane 64 Heating device 70 first outlet 71 oxygen-reduced air 72 Line for oxygen-reduced air 80 second outlet 81 oxygen-enriched air 82 Line for oxygen-enriched air 90 Mixing device 91 Mixing valve 92 Interface 94 Control signal 100 device 110 Condensate separator 111 Steam trap 112 Condensate 120 overflow valve 122 silencers 124 Overflow valve 130 pressure equalization tanks 132 pressure gauge 134 Gas concentration measuring device 200 control device 300 air collectors 400 system 410 Ventilation device 420 pulse oximeters 430 oxygen sensor 440 Carbon Dioxide Sensor S0 air drying S1 Air treatment S2 Nitrogen separation S3 Oxygen content setting S4a Discharge of oxygen-reduced air S4b Discharge of oxygen-enriched air S5 Air mixing S6 Breathing air supply

Claims

[1] Device (100) for generating breathing air (9), with an air treatment device (40) for treating air (2), a separation device (60) for separating nitrogen (8) from the air (6) treated by the air treatment device (40), wherein the separating device (60) has a first outlet (70) for discharging oxygen-reduced air (71), which at least partially comprises the nitrogen (8) separated by the separating device (60), and a second outlet (80) for discharging oxygen-enriched air (81), and a mixing device (90) connected downstream of the two outlets (70, 80) of the separating device (60) for providing breathing air (9) based on a mixing of the oxygen-reduced air (71) that can be discharged from the separating device (60) and the oxygen-enriched air (81) that can be discharged from the separating device (60), wherein the mixing device (90) is configured to selectively adjust an oxygen content of the provided breathing air (9) to a value from the value of the oxygen content of the oxygen-reduced air (71) derivable from the separating device (60) to the value of the oxygen content of the oxygen-enriched air (81) derivable from the separating device (60), wherein the air treatment device (40) has a carbon monoxide catalyst (46) for reducing a carbon monoxide content of the air (2) and a carbon dioxide adsorption device (44) for reducing the carbon dioxide content of the air (2), and wherein the carbon monoxide catalyst (46) is arranged upstream of the carbon dioxide adsorption device (44). [2] Device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the air conditioning device (40) comprises a dryer (42) for removing moisture from the air (2). [3] Device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, with an air compressor (10) arranged upstream of the air treatment device (40) for providing pressurized air (3), and a line (12) for pressurized air (3), which connects the air compressor (10) to the air treatment device (40) for supplying the pressurized air (3) provided by the air compressor (10) to the air treatment device (40). [4] Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, with a cooling device (20) arranged upstream of the air treatment device (40) for providing cooled air (4), and a line (22) for cooled air (4), which connects the cooling device (20) to the air treatment device (40) for supplying the cooled air (4) provided by the cooling device (20) to the air treatment device (40). [5] Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, with a filter device (30) arranged upstream of the air treatment device (40), in particular a filter cascade with at least two filter units (31, 33, 35), for cleaning the air (2), and a line (32) for purified air (5), which connects the filter device (30) to the air treatment device (40) for supplying the air (5) purified by the filter device (30) to the air treatment device (40). [6] Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the dryer (42) of the air treatment device (40) comprises at least one of a refrigeration dryer (43), a membrane dryer and an adsorption dryer for removing moisture from the air (2). [7] Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, with a post-filter device (50) arranged downstream of the air treatment device (40) for post-cleaning the air (6) treated by the air treatment device (40), and a line (52) for post-cleaned conditioned air (7), which connects the post-filter device (50) to the separating device (60) for supplying the conditioned air (7) post-cleaned by the post-filter device (50) to the separating device (60). [8] Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, with a condensate separator (110) for separating and processing a condensate (112) from the air (2), which is connected to at least one of the filter device (30) arranged upstream of the air treatment device (40), the air treatment device (40), in particular the dryer (42) of the air treatment device (40), and the post-filter device (50) arranged downstream of the air treatment device (40). [9] Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the separation device (60) has a membrane (62), in particular a selective membrane, for separating nitrogen (8) from the air (6) treated by the air treatment device (40). [10] Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, with a heating device (64) for heating the air (6) treated by the air treatment device (40), wherein the heating device (64) is arranged upstream of the separating device (60). [11] Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, with at least one overflow valve (120) arranged downstream of the air treatment device (40), which is in an open state when a predetermined minimum pressure value downstream of the air treatment device (40) is exceeded. [12] Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, with at least one overflow valve (124) arranged downstream of the separating device (60), which is in an open state when a predetermined minimum pressure value downstream of the separating device (60) is exceeded. [13] Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the mixing device (90) has an interface (92) for receiving a control signal (94) for selectively adjusting the value of the oxygen content of the provided breathing air (9). [14] Device (100) according to claim 13, with a control device (200) for generating the control signal (94) for selectively adjusting the value of the oxygen content of the provided breathing air (9), wherein the control device (200) is connected to the interface (92) of the mixing device (90) for transmitting the generated control signal (94) to the mixing device (90). [15] Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, with a pressure compensation container (130) arranged downstream of the mixing device (90) for compensating pressure fluctuations which can be caused by a variable demand for provided breathing air (9) by an air receiver (300) downstream of the mixing device (90). [16] Method for producing breathing air (9), comprising the steps: Processing (S1) of air (2) with an air processing device (40), wherein the processing (S1) comprises reducing the carbon dioxide content of the air and reducing the carbon monoxide content of the air upstream of the air to reduce the carbon dioxide content of the air, Separating (S2) nitrogen (8) from the air (6) treated by the air treatment device (40) using a separation device (60), wherein the separating device (60) has a first outlet (70) for discharging (S4a) oxygen-reduced air (71), which at least partially comprises the nitrogen (8) separated by the separating device (60), and a second outlet (80) for discharging (S4b) oxygen-enriched air (81), Providing (S6) breathing air (9) based on a mixing (S5) of the oxygen-reduced air (71) that can be discharged from the separating device (60) and the oxygen-enriched air (81) that can be discharged from the separating device (60) with a mixing device (90) connected downstream of the two outlets (70, 80) of the separating device (60), wherein the step of providing (S6) is based on a selective adjustment (S3) of a value of an oxygen content of the provided breathing air (9) from the value of the oxygen content of the oxygen-reduced air (71) that can be derived from the separating device (60) to the value of the oxygen content of the oxygen-enriched air (81) that can be derived from the separating device (60). [17] System (400) for ventilating a human, with a device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 15, and a ventilation device (410), in particular a ventilation mask, for ventilating the person with the breathing air (9) provided by the mixing device (90) of the device (100). [18] System (400) according to claim 17, with a pulse oximeter (420), in particular designed as a finger clip, for monitoring the arterial oxygen saturation in the human blood during ventilation, and a control device (200) communicating with the pulse oximeter (420) for controlling the mixing device (90) of the device (100) by means of a control signal (94) for selectively adjusting the oxygen content of the provided breathing air (9). [19] System (400) according to claim 17 or 18, with an oxygen sensor (430) for monitoring the current oxygen content of the provided breathing air (9), and a control device (200) communicating with the oxygen sensor (430) for controlling the mixing device (90) of the device (100) by means of a control signal (94) for selectively adjusting the oxygen content of the provided breathing air (9). [20] System (400) according to one of claims 17 to 19, with a carbon dioxide sensor (440) for monitoring the current carbon dioxide content of the provided breathing air (9), and a control device (200) communicating with the carbon dioxide sensor (440) for controlling the air treatment device (40) of the device (100) by means of a control signal (94) for adjusting the carbon dioxide content of the provided breathing air (9).

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