Hypoxic air supply device and training device

Abstract

To provide a low oxygen air supply device enabling miniaturization.SOLUTION: The low oxygen air supply device comprises a raw material air generator 26. The raw material air generator 26 comprises a gas separating member capable of separating nitrogen and oxygen, and has an air inlet port 30, a first discharge part 31, and a second discharge part 32. In the low oxygen air supply device: raw material air is introduced from the air inlet port 30, low oxygen raw material air having a lower oxygen concentration than that of the raw material air is discharged from the first discharge part 31, and high oxygen raw material air having a higher oxygen concentration than that of the raw material air is discharged from the second discharge part; the low oxygen raw material air and the high oxygen raw material air are mixed to generate a low oxygen mixed air having a lower oxygen concentration than that of the raw material air; flow rate control means 46 is provided at some position, and the flow rate control means 46 is controlled on the basis of a detected value of detection means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a low-oxygen air supply device that uses air as a raw material to generate low-oxygen air with an oxygen concentration lower than that of outside air and supplies the low-oxygen air to other devices. The present invention also relates to a training device capable of performing simulated high-altitude training.

Background Art

[0002] Training devices are known that artificially create an environment different from a normal indoor environment or a normal outdoor environment and perform training under that environment. For example, by creating a low-oxygen environment simulating high altitude and performing training therein, endurance enhancement and improvement of cardiopulmonary function are attempted. The low-oxygen room disclosed in Patent Document 1 is capable of performing training under an artificially created low-oxygen environment.

[0003] Further, Patent Document 2 discloses an air supply device including a first special environment room with a high oxygen concentration and a second special environment room with a low oxygen concentration. FIG. 4 of Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration for switching the inside of one special environment room between an environment with a high oxygen concentration and an environment with a low oxygen concentration.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] As a measure to create a hypoxic environment inside the training room, for example, there is a method of using a raw air generation device of the polymer separation membrane type. The raw air generation device of the polymer separation membrane type is a device that is often used as a device for generating nitrogen gas. It pressurizes air with a compressor or the like, separates oxygen by introducing the pressurized air, and generates a gas with a higher nitrogen ratio than the outside air. Here, the hypoxic air generated by the raw air generation device may have too low an oxygen concentration for high-altitude training, and in some cases, the outside air may be mixed in to adjust the oxygen concentration and then supplied to the training room.

[0006] As a measure to adjust the oxygen concentration, the method of the piping system diagram shown in FIG. 9 and the method of the piping system diagram shown in FIG. 10 can be considered. The measure shown in FIG. 9 is a method of taking in outside air with a separate blower or the like and mixing the outside air into the hypoxic air (hereinafter sometimes referred to as hypoxic raw air) generated by the raw air generation device.

[0007] The measure shown in FIG. 10 is a method of branching the flow path that is pressurized by an air compressor and introduced into the raw air generation device, and mixing the air flowing through the branched flow path into the hypoxic raw air generated by the raw air generation device. That is, the measure shown in FIG. 10 branches the air after pressurization by the compressor and introduces it into the secondary side flow path of the raw air generation device.

[0008] The former measure of using a separate blower requires installing a blower separately from the air compressor. Also, this measure requires duct piping for taking in outside air. Therefore, with this measure, the system including the training room often becomes large.

[0009] The latter measure of branching the primary side flow path of the raw air generation device and flowing air to the secondary side of the raw air generation device may increase the burden on the air compressor because both the air introduced into the raw air generation device and the air introduced into the secondary side are supplied by a single air compressor. Therefore, a large air compressor must be adopted, and the system including the training room may become large-sized.

[0010] In the air supply device disclosed in Patent Document 2, a measure is adopted in which the primary side flow path introduced into the latter raw material air generation device is branched and air is caused to flow to the secondary side of the raw material air generation device. In the air supply device disclosed in FIG. 4 of Patent Document 2, when the special environment room is set to a low oxygen concentration, outside air branched from the primary side flow path is introduced to the secondary side of the raw material air generation device. In the air supply device of Patent Document 2, low oxygen raw air and high oxygen air with a high oxygen concentration generated by the raw material air generation device (hereinafter sometimes referred to as high oxygen raw air) are not simultaneously supplied into the special environment room.

[0011] The present invention focuses on the above points of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a low oxygen air supply device that can be miniaturized as compared with the prior art. Another object of the present invention is to provide a training device capable of miniaturizing a low oxygen air supply device attached to a training room as compared with the prior art.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0012] The present applicants decided to produce low oxygen air using a gas separation membrane capable of separating nitrogen and oxygen. That is, air is introduced into the gas separation membrane to prepare low oxygen raw air having an oxygen concentration lower than that of the air and high oxygen raw air having an oxygen concentration higher than that of the air, and the high oxygen raw air is mixed with the low oxygen raw air to generate desired low oxygen air. When the inventors of the present invention prototyped a low oxygen air supply device based on this concept, they faced a problem that it may be difficult to stably control the oxygen concentration of the low oxygen air.

[0013] An aspect (related invention) for solving the above-described problems is a low-oxygen air supply device that supplies low-oxygen air having an oxygen concentration lower than that of raw air, and has a special air generation device. The special air generation device has a gas separation member capable of separating nitrogen and oxygen, and has an air inlet, a first discharge part, and a second discharge part. Raw air is introduced from the air inlet, low-oxygen raw air having an oxygen concentration lower than that of the raw air is discharged from the first discharge part, and high-oxygen raw air having an oxygen concentration higher than that of the raw air is discharged from the second discharge part. A mixing part that mixes the low-oxygen raw air and the high-oxygen raw air to generate low-oxygen mixed air having an oxygen concentration lower than that of the raw air, an exhaust part that exhausts excess high-oxygen raw air to the outside of the system, detection means for detecting any one of the oxygen concentration, nitrogen concentration, pressure, or flow rate of the low-oxygen raw air, flow rate control means provided at any position in the first group, and control means for controlling the flow rate control means based on the detection value of the detection means. The low-oxygen air supply device is characterized by having these components. First group (1) Between the second discharge part and the exhaust part. (2) Between the second discharge part and the mixing part. (3) Between the mixing part and the supply destination of the low-oxygen air. (4) Between the first discharge part and the mixing part.

[0014] "Between the second discharge part and the exhaust part" includes the position of the "exhaust part". That is, the flow rate control means may be provided at the exhaust part. As a specific measure for "controlling the flow rate control means based on the detection value of the detection means", for example, it is conceivable to control the flow rate control means so that the detection value of the detection means falls within a certain range. "So that the detection value of the detection means falls within a certain range" means that a target value may have a width, and it does not deny a target value without a width. For example, the flow rate control means may be controlled so that the detection value of the detection means becomes a specific value. Further, based on the nitrogen concentration, pressure, or flow rate of the low-oxygen raw air, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air may be obtained by calculation or the like, and the flow control means may be controlled so that this value falls within a predetermined range. Similarly, based on the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air, the nitrogen concentration, pressure, or flow rate of the low-oxygen raw air may be obtained by calculation or the like, and the flow control means may be controlled so that this value falls within a predetermined range. "So that this value falls within a predetermined range" means that a margin may be provided for the target value, and it does not deny a target value without a margin. The low-oxygen air supply device of this aspect mixes high-oxygen raw air generated by the special air generator with the low-oxygen raw air generated by the special air generator to adjust the oxygen concentration. Therefore, the burden on the upstream device such as an air compressor that supplies air as a raw material to the special air generator is small, and the upstream device can be miniaturized. Also, in the low-oxygen air supply device of this aspect, in addition to the device that supplies raw air to the special air generator, there is no need to provide a blower, an air compressor, or the like. Therefore, the low-oxygen air supply device of this aspect can be miniaturized compared to the conventional ones. Moreover, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen air generated by the low-oxygen air supply device of this aspect is stable. The inventors of the present invention considered that it is necessary to stabilize the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air as a premise for stabilizing the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen air, and made the stabilization of the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air a research subject. In order to stabilize the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air was directly monitored. And the flow control means provided at another position was controlled so that the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air was stabilized. Also, since the ratio of oxygen and nitrogen in the atmosphere is constant, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air can be indirectly detected by detecting the nitrogen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air. Therefore, even if the flow control means provided at another position is controlled based on the nitrogen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air is stabilized. Also, it has been found that the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw material air has a correlation with the pressure of the low-oxygen raw material air and the flow rate of the low-oxygen raw material air, and by monitoring these, it is also possible to indirectly know the fluctuation of the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw material air. Therefore, even if the pressure of the low-oxygen raw material air is detected and the flow rate control means provided at another position is controlled based on this pressure, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw material air is stabilized. Also, even if the flow rate of the low-oxygen raw material air is detected and the flow rate control means provided at another position is controlled based on this flow rate, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw material air is stabilized. In the low-oxygen air supply device of this aspect, since the flow rate control means described in the first group is controlled based on the detection value of the detection means that detects any one of the oxygen concentration, nitrogen concentration, pressure, or flow rate of the low-oxygen raw material air, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw material air is stabilized.

[0015] In the above-described aspect, it is desirable that the detection means is an oxygen concentration detection means provided between the first discharge part and the mixing part.

[0016] According to this aspect, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw material air can be detected by the detection means.

[0017] Another aspect for solving the above-described problems is a low-oxygen air supply device that supplies low-oxygen air having an oxygen concentration lower than that of raw air, the low-oxygen air supply device having a special air generation device, the special air generation device having a gas separation member capable of separating nitrogen and oxygen, the special air generation device having an air inlet, a first discharge portion, and a second discharge portion, raw air being introduced from the air inlet, low-oxygen raw air having an oxygen concentration lower than that of the raw air being discharged from the first discharge portion, and high-oxygen raw air having an oxygen concentration higher than that of the raw air being discharged from the second discharge portion, a mixing portion that mixes the low-oxygen raw air and the high-oxygen raw air to generate low-oxygen mixed air having an oxygen concentration lower than that of the raw air, an exhaust portion that exhausts surplus high-oxygen raw air to the outside of the system, detection means for detecting any one of the oxygen concentration, nitrogen concentration, pressure, or flow rate of the high-oxygen raw air, flow rate control means provided at any position in a first group, and control means for controlling the flow rate control means based on a detection value of the detection means. The low-oxygen air supply device is characterized by having the above components. First group (1) Between the second discharge portion and the exhaust portion. (2) Between the second discharge portion and the mixing portion. (3) Between the mixing portion and the supply destination of the low-oxygen air. (4) Between the first discharge portion and the mixing portion. A specific aspect for solving the above-described problems is a low-oxygen air supply device that supplies low-oxygen air having an oxygen concentration lower than that of raw air, the low-oxygen air supply device having a special air generation device, the special air generation device having a gas separation member capable of separating nitrogen and oxygen, the special air generation device having an air inlet, a first discharge portion, and a second discharge portion, raw air being introduced from the air inlet, low-oxygen raw air having an oxygen concentration lower than that of the raw air being discharged from the first discharge portion, and high-oxygen raw air having an oxygen concentration higher than that of the raw air being discharged from the second discharge portion. Discharged from the first discharge part The low-oxygen raw air and Discharged from the second discharge part the high-oxygen raw air are mixed to form a mixing portion that generates low-oxygen mixed air having an oxygen concentration lower than that of the raw air. Among the high-oxygen raw material air discharged from the second discharge partAn oxygen-deficient air supply device, comprising: an exhaust unit that exhausts surplus high-oxygen raw air outside the system; a detection means that detects any one of the oxygen concentration, nitrogen concentration, pressure, or flow rate of the high-oxygen raw air; a flow rate control means provided at any position in the first group; and a control means that controls the flow rate control means based on the detection value of the detection means. First group (1) Between the second discharge unit and the exhaust unit. (2) Between the mixing unit and the supply destination of the oxygen-deficient air. (3) Between the first discharge unit and the mixing unit. Another aspect for solving the same problem is an oxygen-deficient air supply device that supplies oxygen-deficient air having an oxygen concentration lower than that of raw air, having a special air generation device, the special air generation device having a gas separation member capable of separating nitrogen and oxygen, having an air inlet, a first discharge unit, and a second discharge unit, wherein raw air is introduced from the air inlet, oxygen-deficient raw air having an oxygen concentration lower than that of the raw air is discharged from the first discharge unit, and high-oxygen raw air having an oxygen concentration higher than that of the raw air is discharged from the second discharge unit. Discharged from the first discharge part The oxygen-deficient raw air and Discharged from the second discharge part a mixing unit that mixes the high-oxygen raw air to generate oxygen-deficient mixed air having an oxygen concentration lower than that of the raw air, Among the high-oxygen raw material air discharged from the second discharge part an exhaust unit that exhausts surplus high-oxygen raw air outside the system; a detection means that detects any one of the oxygen concentration, nitrogen concentration, pressure, or flow rate of the high-oxygen raw air; a flow rate control means provided between the second discharge unit and the mixing unit; and a control means that controls the flow rate control means based on the detection value of the detection means.

[0018] "Between the second discharge unit and the exhaust unit" includes the position of the "exhaust unit". That is, a flow rate control means may be provided in the exhaust unit. As a specific measure for "controlling the flow rate control means based on the detection value of the detection means", for example, it is conceivable to control the flow rate control means so that the detection value of the detection means falls within a certain range. The phrase "such that the detection value of the detection means falls within a certain range" means that a target value may have a margin, and it does not deny a target value without a margin. For example, the flow rate control means may be controlled such that the detection value of the detection means becomes a specific value. Alternatively, based on the oxygen concentration, nitrogen concentration, pressure, or flow rate of the high-oxygen source air, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen source air may be obtained by calculation or the like, and the flow rate control means may be controlled such that this value falls within a predetermined range. Similarly, based on the oxygen concentration, nitrogen concentration, pressure, or flow rate of the high-oxygen source air, the oxygen concentration, nitrogen concentration, pressure, or flow rate of the low-oxygen source air may be obtained by calculation or the like, and the flow rate control means may be controlled such that this value falls within a predetermined range. The phrase "such that this value falls within a predetermined range" means that a target value may have a margin, and it does not deny a target value without a margin. It has been found that the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen source air separated by the gas separation member is correlated with the oxygen concentration of the high-oxygen source air, the nitrogen concentration of the high-oxygen source air, the pressure of the high-oxygen source air, or the flow rate of the high-oxygen source air. It has also been found that the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen source air can be stabilized by monitoring these and controlling the flow rate control means. In the low-oxygen air supply device of this aspect, since the flow rate control means described in the first group is controlled based on the detection value of the detection means that detects any one of the oxygen concentration, nitrogen concentration, pressure, or flow rate of the high-oxygen source air, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen source air is stabilized.

[0019] In each of the above-described aspects, it is desirable to have a high-oxygen air flow path from the second discharge portion to the mixing portion and an exhaust path branched from the high-oxygen air flow path and leading to the exhaust portion, and the flow rate control means is provided in the exhaust path.

[0020] It has been found that the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen source air can be changed by increasing or decreasing the exhaust amount of the high-oxygen source air. This aspect is based on this finding, and the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen source air can be stabilized by adjusting the exhaust amount to the outside of the system.

[0021] In each of the above-described aspects, there are a high-oxygen air flow path from the second discharge portion to the mixing portion, a branch portion that branches the high-oxygen air flow path, and an exhaust path that branches at the branch portion and reaches the exhaust portion, and it is desirable that the flow rate control means is provided between the second discharge portion and the branch portion.

[0022] According to this aspect, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air can be changed by increasing or decreasing the exhaust amount of the high-oxygen raw air to the outside of the system.

[0023] In each of the above-described aspects, it is desirable to have an inflow rate control means for controlling the amount of the high-oxygen raw air mixed into the low-oxygen raw air, and the opening degree of the flow rate control means and the opening degree of the inflow rate control means are controlled in association with each other.

[0024] According to this aspect, when the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air changes, the oxygen concentration can be quickly stabilized.

[0025] In each of the above-described aspects, it is desirable to have an inflow rate control means for controlling the amount of the high-oxygen raw air mixed into the low-oxygen raw air, and the inflow rate control means is controlled based on the oxygen concentration of the flow path after the mixing portion.

[0026] According to this aspect, the oxygen concentration of the flow path after the mixing portion can be adjusted to a desired oxygen concentration value with high precision.

[0027] An aspect of the training device is a training room in which a person can exercise inside, and has a low-oxygen air supply device according to any one of the above-described aspects, and is characterized in that it is possible to make the inside of the training room a low-oxygen environment having an oxygen concentration lower than that of the raw air.

[0028] According to this aspect, the low-oxygen air supply device attached to the training room can be miniaturized.

Effects of the Invention

[0029] According to the present invention, it is possible to miniaturize the low-oxygen air supply device compared with the prior art. Also according to the present invention, it is possible to miniaturize the training device compared with the prior art.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0030]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0031] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. The training device 1 of the present embodiment has two training rooms 2a and 2b, one low-oxygen air supply device 3, and a control device 5. The two training rooms 2a and 2b have the same structure. The training rooms 2a and 2b are rooms with a volume sufficient for several people to exercise. The training rooms 2a and 2b adopted in this embodiment can arbitrarily adjust the internal environment.

[0032] Specifically, the temperature and humidity in the training rooms 2a and 2b can be adjusted. Also, in this embodiment, the oxygen concentration in the training rooms 2a and 2b can be arbitrarily adjusted. That is, the training rooms 2a and 2b have temperature sensors and humidity sensors (not shown). Also, the training rooms 2a and 2b have first oxygen concentration sensors 13a, 13b and second oxygen concentration sensors 15a, 15b. The first oxygen concentration sensor 13 is used for controlling the oxygen concentration in the training room 2 and is referred to as the "indoor oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 13" for convenience of explanation. The second oxygen concentration sensor 15 monitors that the oxygen concentration in the training room 2 does not drop excessively and is referred to as the "minimum oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 15" for convenience of explanation.

[0033] Ventilation devices (not shown) are provided in the training rooms 2a and 2b, and carbon dioxide concentration sensors 17a, 17b are provided downstream of the ventilation devices.

[0034] Known air conditioning devices (not shown) are in the training rooms 2a and 2b. Signals from the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor are input to the air conditioning devices, and the air conditioning devices are controlled so that the temperature and humidity in the training rooms 2a and 2b become a desired environment.

[0035] In the training device 1 of this embodiment, there is one low-oxygen air supply device 3, and low-oxygen air is supplied to the two training rooms 2a and 2b by one low-oxygen air supply device 3. As will be described later, low-oxygen air with a reduced oxygen concentration is generated by the raw air generation device 26 (special air generation device) of the low-oxygen air supply device 3, and then air with a high oxygen content is mixed to adjust the oxygen concentration. However, the air after mixing is low-oxygen air with a lower oxygen concentration than the outside air (raw air). To distinguish between two types of low-oxygen air with different oxygen concentrations, the low-oxygen air generated by the raw air generation device 26 is referred to as "low-oxygen raw air", and the low-oxygen air after mixing is referred to as "low-oxygen mixed air".

[0036] The low-oxygen air supply device 3 has an air compressor 25 and a raw air generation device 26 as shown in FIG. 1. The raw air generation device 26 is a known nitrogen gas generation device using a polymer separation membrane method. By introducing the air pressurized by the air compressor 25, oxygen is separated, and low-oxygen raw air with a higher nitrogen ratio than the introduced air and high-oxygen raw air with a higher oxygen ratio than the introduced air are discharged.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the raw air generation device 26 has an air inlet 30, a first discharge part 31 for discharging low-oxygen raw air, and a second discharge part 32 for discharging high-oxygen raw air. When outside air is introduced from the air inlet 30 of the raw air generation device 26, low-oxygen raw air with a low oxygen concentration and high-oxygen raw air with a high oxygen concentration are generated inside. Then, the low-oxygen raw air is discharged from the first discharge part 31, and the high-oxygen raw air is discharged from the second discharge part 32. The specific structure of the raw air generation device 26 will be described later.

[0038] The training device 1 supplies low-oxygen mixed air to two training rooms 2a and 2b with one low-oxygen air supply device 3 as described above. The piping branches into two systems in the middle, but the configuration of the branch piping is the same. Therefore, the flow path from the air compressor 25 to one of the training rooms 2a will be described as a representative. In FIG. 1, the flow path leading to the first training room 2a is shown by a thick line, and the flow path leading to the second training room 2b is shown by a thin line.

[0039] The low-oxygen air supply device 3 has a main flow path 23 and a high-oxygen air flow path 36. The main flow path 23 is a flow path that enters from the air compressor 25 into the raw air generation device 26 and reaches the first training room 2a via the first discharge part 31 of the raw air generation device 26 and the mixing part 33a. The high-oxygen air flow path 36 is a flow path that reaches the mixing part 33a from the second discharge part 32 of the raw air generation device 26. The mixing part 33a is a confluence part of the main flow path 23 and the high-oxygen air flow path 36 and the pipeline on the downstream side thereof.

[0040] The main flow path 23 is composed of a raw air introduction path 37 and a low-oxygen air flow path 38. The raw air introduction path 37 is a flow path that connects the air compressor 25 and the air inlet 30 of the raw air generation device 26. The low-oxygen air flow path 38 is a flow path that reaches the training room 2a from the first discharge part 31 of the raw air generation device 26. In the low-oxygen air flow path 38, an oxygen concentration sensor 41 is provided between the first discharge part 31 and the mixing part 33a. The oxygen concentration sensor 41 monitors the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air generated by the raw air generation device 26, and may be referred to as the "low-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 41" for convenience of explanation.

[0041] A constant flow means (needle valve) 61a is provided from the downstream side of the low-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 41 to the mixing part 33a side. Therefore, the fluctuation of the flow rate of the low-oxygen raw air discharged from the first discharge part 31 of the raw air generation device 26 can be reduced. Also, since the constant flow means 61a is provided at this position, the internal pressure of the mixing part 33a is low, and the high-oxygen raw air is smoothly mixed into the low-oxygen raw air.

[0042] The high-oxygen air flow path 36 is a flow path from the second discharge part 32 of the raw air generation device 26 to the mixing part 33a as described above. The high-oxygen air flow path 36 is provided with a mixing flow rate control means 42a. Specifically, the mixing flow rate control means 42a is a motor valve and can adjust the opening degree. The high-oxygen air flow path 36 is also provided with an oxygen concentration sensor 43. The oxygen concentration sensor 43 monitors the oxygen concentration of the high-oxygen raw air generated by the raw air generation device 26 and is referred to as the "high-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 43" for convenience of explanation.

[0043] The high-oxygen air flow path 36 is further provided with an exhaust flow path (exhaust path) 45. In the present embodiment, there is a branch part 65 in the high-oxygen air flow path 36, and the exhaust flow path (exhaust path) 45 is branched. The exhaust flow path 45 connects the branch part 65 and the exhaust part 48 and is a flow path for exhausting excess high-oxygen raw air from the exhaust part 48 to the outside of the system. In the present embodiment, a part of the high-oxygen raw air discharged from the second discharge part 32 is exhausted from the exhaust part 48 to the outside of the system and discarded into the atmosphere. The exhaust flow path 45 is provided with an exhaust flow rate control means 46. Specifically, the exhaust flow rate control means 46 is a motor valve and can adjust the opening degree. The exhaust flow rate control means 46 may be provided at the end of the exhaust flow path 45.

[0044] Since the piping system leading to the second training room 2b is the same as the piping system leading to the first training room 2a described above, the same members are numbered with the same numbers, and in order to distinguish the two, the symbol b is attached, and duplicate explanations are omitted.

[0045] As described above, an exhaust flow rate control means 46 is provided in the exhaust passage 45. When the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46 is changed in the opening direction, the amount of high-oxygen raw air discharged to the outside of the system increases. Instead, the discharge amount of the low-oxygen raw air discharged from the first discharge part 31 tends to decrease, and the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air decreases. When the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46 is changed in the throttling direction, the amount of high-oxygen raw air discharged to the outside of the system decreases. Instead, the discharge amount of the low-oxygen raw air discharged from the first discharge part 31 tends to increase, and the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air increases.

[0046] The control device 5 is a known computer. In the present embodiment, it functions as a setting means for setting the oxygen concentration, a concentration control means for the low-oxygen raw air for controlling the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air, and an oxygen concentration control means for controlling the oxygen concentration in the training rooms 2a and 2b. Specifically, the control device 5 has an oxygen concentration setting unit, a low-oxygen raw air control unit, and an oxygen concentration control unit. These are realized by a computer program. The low-oxygen raw air control unit has an oxygen concentration detection unit (an oxygen concentration detection unit for the low-oxygen raw air), a comparison unit, and an exhaust flow rate control unit. The oxygen concentration control unit has an oxygen concentration detection unit (an oxygen concentration detection unit for the training room) and a mixing flow rate control unit.

[0047] Signals of all sensors are input to the control device 5, and all flow rate control means are controlled by the control device 5. Input signals particularly related to this aspect are, as shown in FIG. 1, the detection signal of the low-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 41 and the detection signal of the indoor oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 13. Control targets particularly related to this aspect are the exhaust flow rate control means 46 and the mixing flow rate control means 42a and 42b.

[0048] As described above, the detection signal of the low-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 41 is input to the control device 5, and the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46 is controlled so that the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air detected by the low-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 41 falls within a certain value or a certain range. In the low-oxygen raw air control unit of the control device 5, the signal of the low-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 41 is input to the oxygen concentration detection unit (the oxygen concentration detection unit of the low-oxygen raw air), and the actual oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air is recognized. Then, in the comparison unit, the preset oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air is compared with the actual oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air, and in the exhaust gas flow rate control unit, an output corresponding to the difference between the two is calculated. That is, in the present embodiment, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air is fed back to the opening degree of the exhaust gas flow rate control means 46, and is fed back to the amount of the high-oxygen raw air discarded from the exhaust unit 48 to the outside of the system.

[0049] In the present embodiment, when the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air detected by the low-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 41 is higher than the set value, the opening degree of the exhaust gas flow rate control means 46 is opened to lower the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air. Conversely, when the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air detected by the oxygen concentration sensor 41 is lower than the set value, the opening degree of the exhaust gas flow rate control means 46 is reduced to increase the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air. The set value of the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air may be directly set by the user. Further, the set value of the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air may be set automatically or manually in association with the oxygen concentration set value of the training room. For example, a value obtained by subtracting a predetermined value from the oxygen concentration set value of the training room can be used as the set value of the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air. Also, the set value of the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air may be controlled so as to be automatically changed in association with the control amount of the oxygen concentration of the training room. The control of the low-oxygen raw air control unit may be PID control.

[0050] By changing the opening degree of the exhaust gas flow rate control means 46, the flow rate balance in the raw air generation device 26 changes, and the oxygen concentration contained in the low-oxygen raw air changes. That is, when the opening degree of the exhaust gas flow rate control means 46 becomes smaller, the amount of the high-oxygen raw air discarded from the exhaust unit 48 to the outside of the system decreases. On the one hand, the discharge amount of the low-oxygen raw material air from the first discharge unit 31 shows an increasing trend. As a result, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw material air increases.

[0051] Conversely, when the opening degree of the exhaust flow control means 46 increases, the amount of high-oxygen raw material air discarded from the exhaust unit 48 to the outside of the system increases. On the one hand, the discharge amount of the low-oxygen raw material air from the first discharge unit 31 shows a decreasing trend. As a result, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw material air decreases.

[0052] Next, the functions of the training device 1 and the low-oxygen air supply device 3 will be described. Prior to the use of the training device 1, the oxygen concentrations in the respective training rooms 2a and 2b are set in the control device 5. In the low-oxygen air supply device 3, the air pressurized by the air compressor 25 is introduced into the air inlet 30 of the raw material air generator 26 via the raw material air introduction path 37. Inside the raw material air generator 26, oxygen and nitrogen are separated, and low-oxygen raw material air with an oxygen concentration of about 8% is discharged from the first discharge unit 31. In addition, high-oxygen raw material air with an oxygen concentration of about 38% is discharged from the second discharge unit 32.

[0053] That is, although the oxygen ratio in the atmosphere is about 21%, the low-oxygen raw material air with the oxygen ratio reduced to about 8% by passing through the raw material air generator 26 is discharged from the first discharge unit 31, and the high-oxygen raw material air with the oxygen concentration increased to about 38% is discharged from the second discharge unit 32.

[0054] The oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw material air is detected by the low-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 41 and input to the control device 5. In the present embodiment, the amount and pressure of the air introduced from the upstream air compressor 25 to the raw material air generator 26 are adjusted by a control valve (not shown) or the like so that the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw material air discharged from the raw material air generator 26 is stabilized at approximately the above-described level.

[0055] Particularly in this embodiment, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air detected by the low-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 41 is fed back to the exhaust gas flow rate control means 46 by the control device 5 (low-oxygen raw air control unit), and the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air discharged from the raw air generation device 26 is stabilized.

[0056] In the low-oxygen air supply device 3 of this embodiment, the high-oxygen raw air generated by the raw air generation device 26 passing through the high-oxygen air flow path 36 is mixed with the low-oxygen raw air flowing through the main flow path 23 (low-oxygen air flow path 38), and low-oxygen mixed air adjusted to an appropriate oxygen concentration is produced and supplied to each training room 2a, 2b.

[0057] Then, by the control device 5 (oxygen concentration control unit), the opening degrees of the mixing flow rate control means 42a, 42b are controlled so that the oxygen concentration in each training room 2a, 2b becomes the set value. Specifically, the signals of the indoor oxygen concentration monitoring sensors 13a, 13b are input to the oxygen concentration detection unit (oxygen concentration detection unit of the training room) of the control device 5 (oxygen concentration control unit), and the actual oxygen concentration in each training room 2a, 2b is recognized. Then, in a comparison unit (not shown), the oxygen concentration set in each training room 2a, 2b in advance is compared with the actual oxygen concentration in each training room 2a, 2b, and in the mixing flow rate control unit, an output corresponding to the difference between the two is calculated. That is, in this embodiment, the oxygen concentration in each training room 2a, 2b monitored by the indoor oxygen concentration monitoring sensors 13a, 13b is fed back to the mixing flow rate control means 42a, 42b. If the oxygen concentration in the training room 2a is below the set value, the opening degree of the mixing flow rate control means 42a is increased, and more high-oxygen raw air is mixed into the low-oxygen raw air flowing through the main flow path 23 (low-oxygen air flow path 38), and the oxygen concentration contained in the low-oxygen mixed air is increased. This low-oxygen mixed air is supplied to the training room 2a to increase the oxygen concentration in the training room 2a. If the oxygen concentration in the training room 2b is below the set value, the opening degree of the mixing flow rate control means 42b is increased.

[0058] Conversely, when the oxygen concentration in each training room 2a, 2b is higher than the set value, the opening degrees of the mixing flow rate control means 42a, 42b are reduced, and the amount of high-oxygen raw air mixed into the low-oxygen raw air flowing through the main flow path 23 (low-oxygen air flow path 38) is reduced to lower the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen mixed air. This low-oxygen mixed air is supplied to the training rooms 2a, 2b to reduce the oxygen concentration in the training rooms 2a, 2b.

[0059] Thus, in the control device 5, the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46 is controlled so that the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air falls within a certain value or a certain range. At the same time, the opening degrees of the mixing flow rate control means 42a, 42b are controlled so that the oxygen concentration in each training room 2a, 2b becomes the set value. Then, the mixing of the high-oxygen raw air and the low-oxygen raw air mixed in the mixing sections 33a, 33b proceeds while these airs pass through the pipes from the mixing sections 33a, 33b to the training rooms 2a, 2b. The mixed air enters the training rooms 2a, 2b as low-oxygen mixed air with a substantially uniform concentration. In the raw air generation device 26 employed in this embodiment, since the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air discharged from the raw air generation device 26 is stabilized, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen mixed air supplied to the training rooms 2a, 2b is stabilized. Further, since high-oxygen raw air is mixed into the stable low-oxygen raw air, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen mixed air supplied to the training rooms 2a, 2b can be adjusted to a desired oxygen concentration value with high precision.

[0060] In the training device 1 of this embodiment, the inside of the training rooms 2a, 2b can be made in a low-oxygen state, and an environment equivalent to a highland such as an altitude from 2000 m to 6000 m can be artificially created. Training machines such as treadmills (running machines) are installed in the training rooms 2a, 2b. The user can enter the training rooms 2a, 2b, use the training machine in a low-oxygen environment, and perform simulated highland training.

[0061] The carbon dioxide concentrations in the training rooms 2a and 2b are monitored by carbon dioxide concentration sensors 17a and 17b. When the carbon dioxide concentration in the training rooms 2a and 2b rises excessively, the openings of the mixing flow rate control means 42a and 42b are opened, and more high-oxygen raw air is mixed with the low-oxygen raw air flowing through the main flow path 23. In this way, the oxygen concentration in the low-oxygen mixed air is increased to raise the oxygen concentration in the training rooms 2a and 2b.

[0062] The oxygen concentrations in the training rooms 2a and 2b are also monitored by the minimum oxygen concentration monitoring sensors 15a and 15b. The minimum oxygen concentration monitoring sensors 15a and 15b are one of the safety devices. When the oxygen concentration in the training rooms 2a and 2b decreases to a certain extent that may be harmful to health due to some reasons, it is notified by a notification means (not shown). When the minimum oxygen concentration monitoring sensors 15a and 15b detect that the oxygen concentration in the training rooms 2a and 2b has decreased excessively, in order to ensure safety, the low-oxygen air supply device 3 may be stopped, and the ventilation device may be driven to return the oxygen concentration in the training rooms 2a and 2b to the atmospheric state.

[0063] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, an oxygen concentration sensor 43 is provided in the high-oxygen air flow path 36, but the oxygen concentration sensor 43 may not be provided. Also, in the following embodiments, the same applies to the mode in which the detection signal of the oxygen concentration sensor 43 is not used, and the oxygen concentration sensor 43 may not be provided.

[0064] The low-oxygen air supply device 3 of the present embodiment uses a pressurizing device such as an air compressor 25 as an air introduction device to introduce air into the raw air generation device 26. In the low-oxygen air supply device 3 of the present embodiment, the air supply capacity required for the air compressor 25 is sufficient for the amount of air required by the raw air generation device 26, and it is not necessary to pressurize the air for mixing. Therefore, a small capacity of the air compressor 25 is sufficient. In the low-oxygen air supply device 3 of this embodiment, there is no need to separately install an air compressor or the like. Therefore, the low-oxygen air supply device 3 of this embodiment can be miniaturized compared to a conventional device having the same scale capacity.

[0065] Next, the structure of the raw air generation device 26 will be supplemented and explained with reference to FIG. 2. The raw air generation device 26 incorporates a gas separation membrane 51 as a gas separation member and is also used as a nitrogen gas generation device. The raw air generation device 26 has a container-shaped main body 50, and a plurality of pipelines 53 formed by the gas separation membrane (gas separation member) 51 are incorporated inside it. Inside the internal space of the main body 50, a pair of support portions 52 are arranged at intervals from each other, and the pipelines 53 are supported by the pair of support portions 52. Further, the main body 50 is provided with an air inlet 30, a first discharge portion 31 for discharging low-oxygen raw air, and a second discharge portion 32 for discharging high-oxygen raw air. The air inlet 30 of the main body 50 is connected to the pipeline 53, and the air introduced into the main body 50 flows through the pipeline 53 and is separated into high-oxygen raw air and low-oxygen raw air during that time.

[0066] The gas separation membrane (gas separation member) 51 is a separation membrane capable of separating nitrogen and oxygen from air, and an organic membrane using a polymer and an inorganic membrane using an inorganic material are known. In this embodiment, a polymer organic membrane is adopted. Since the types and principles of gas separation membranes are well-known, detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0067] In the embodiment described above, the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46 is determined by the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air detected by the low-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 41. However, instead of the oxygen concentration, the nitrogen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air may be detected, and the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46 may be adjusted according to the nitrogen concentration. For example, instead of the low-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 41 shown in FIG. 1, a nitrogen concentration sensor is provided, and the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air is indirectly detected by the nitrogen concentration sensor. When the nitrogen concentration detected by the nitrogen concentration sensor is on a downward trend, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air discharged from the first discharge unit 31 is on an upward trend. Therefore, when the nitrogen concentration detected by the nitrogen concentration sensor decreases, the opening degree of the exhaust gas flow control means 46 is changed in the opening direction to reduce the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air. Conversely, when the nitrogen concentration detected by the nitrogen concentration sensor is on an upward trend, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air discharged from the first discharge unit 31 is on a downward trend. Therefore, when the nitrogen concentration detected by the nitrogen concentration sensor increases, the opening degree of the exhaust gas flow control means 46 is changed in the throttling direction to increase the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air.

[0068] In the embodiment described above, the change in the composition of the low-oxygen raw air is detected and the opening degree of the exhaust gas flow control means 46 is adjusted. However, the opening degree of the exhaust gas flow control means 46 may also be adjusted according to other detected values.

[0069] For example, the pressure of the low-oxygen raw air may be detected, and the opening degree of the exhaust gas flow control means 46 may be corrected according to the pressure. According to the research of the present inventors, when the discharge amount of the low-oxygen raw air is large, the oxygen concentration contained in the low-oxygen raw air is high. Conversely, when the discharge amount of the low-oxygen raw air decreases, the oxygen concentration contained in the low-oxygen raw air decreases. In addition, the oxygen concentration and flow rate of the low-oxygen raw air discharged from the first discharge unit 31 depend on the difference between the pressure of the supply-side air supplied to the air inlet 30 and the outlet pressure of the first discharge unit 31. The outlet pressure of the first discharge unit 31 and the outlet pressure of the second discharge unit 32 are different. When the amount of high-oxygen raw air discharged from the second discharge unit 32 increases, the discharge amount of the low-oxygen raw air discharged from the first discharge unit 31 decreases, and the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air also decreases. Conversely, when the amount of high-oxygen raw air discharged from the second discharge unit 32 decreases, the discharge amount of the low-oxygen raw air discharged from the first discharge unit 31 increases, and the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air increases. Therefore, by detecting the pressure of the low-oxygen source air and correcting the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46 according to the pressure, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen source air can also be stabilized.

[0070] In the training device 82 shown in FIG. 3, in the low-oxygen air flow path 38, a pressure sensor 60 is provided between the first discharge portion 31 and the mixing portion 33a. The pressure sensor 60 monitors the pressure of the low-oxygen source air generated by the source air generation device 26, and for convenience of explanation, is referred to as the "low-oxygen pressure monitoring sensor 60". In the present embodiment, the low-oxygen pressure monitoring sensor 60 monitors the outlet pressure of the first discharge portion 31 in the source air generation device 26.

[0071] When the discharge amount of the low-oxygen source air from the first discharge portion 31 is large, the outlet pressure of the first discharge portion 31 tends to decrease. In this case, as described above, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen source air is high. Conversely, when the discharge amount of the low-oxygen source air from the first discharge portion 31 decreases, the outlet pressure of the first discharge portion 31 tends to increase. In this case, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen source air decreases.

[0072] Also in the piping system shown in FIG. 3, an exhaust flow path (exhaust path) 45 branches from the high-oxygen air flow path 36, and exhaust flow rate control means 46 is provided between the high-oxygen air flow path 36 and the exhaust portion 48 of the exhaust flow path 45. The exhaust flow rate control means 46 is a motor valve and can adjust the opening degree. Therefore, the cross-sectional area of the exhaust flow path (exhaust path) 45 changes depending on the exhaust flow rate control means 46. When the exhaust flow rate control means 46 is changed in the closing direction, the outlet pressure of the second discharge portion 32 of the high-oxygen air flow path 36 connected to the exhaust flow path (exhaust path) 45 tends to increase. That is, when the exhaust flow rate control means 46 is changed in the closing direction, the amount of high-oxygen source air discharged to the outside of the system decreases, and instead, the discharge amount of the low-oxygen source air discharged from the first discharge portion 31 tends to increase, and the outlet pressure of the first discharge portion 31 becomes lower. Also, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen source air discharged from the first discharge portion 31 increases.

[0073] To summarize the key points, there is a correlation between the air pressure in the first discharge section 31 (the outlet pressure, the same hereinafter) and the oxygen concentration in the low-oxygen raw air. When the air pressure in the first discharge section 31 increases, the oxygen concentration in the low-oxygen raw air tends to decrease, and when the air pressure in the first discharge section 31 decreases, the oxygen concentration in the low-oxygen raw air tends to increase. Also, there is a correlation between the pressure in the first discharge section 31 that discharges the low-oxygen raw air and the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air, and the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46. When the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46 is reduced, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air increases, and when the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46 is increased, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air decreases.

[0074] In this embodiment, when the pressure of the low-oxygen raw air detected by the low-oxygen pressure monitoring sensor 60 is lower than the preset pressure of the low-oxygen raw air (when the oxygen concentration is high), the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46 increases, and the pressure of the second discharge section 32 that discharges the high-oxygen raw air tends to decrease, and the pressure of the first discharge section 31 that discharges the low-oxygen raw air increases, and the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air decreases. Conversely, when the pressure of the low-oxygen raw air detected by the low-oxygen pressure monitoring sensor 60 is higher than the preset pressure of the low-oxygen raw air (when the oxygen concentration is low), the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46 decreases, and the pressure of the second discharge section 32 that discharges the high-oxygen raw air tends to increase, and the pressure of the first discharge section 31 that discharges the low-oxygen raw air decreases, and the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air increases.

[0075] The change in the pressure of the low-oxygen raw air has little delay with respect to the change in the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air. Also, the pressure of the low-oxygen raw air is easy to detect. Therefore, the pressure of the low-oxygen raw air is suitable as an index for detecting the change in the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air.

[0076] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the low-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 41 and the high-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 43 may not be provided.

[0077] Furthermore, in addition to the pressure of the low-oxygen raw air, there are numerical values that are correlated with the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air, and the numerical values that are correlated with the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air may be adopted in place of the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air detected by the low-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 41. For example, the following items are all correlated with the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air. (1) The pressure of the high-oxygen raw air. (2) The flow rate of the low-oxygen raw air. (3) The flow rate of the high-oxygen raw air. (4) The oxygen concentration of the high-oxygen raw air. (5) The nitrogen concentration of the high-oxygen raw air. Therefore, these may be input to the control device 5 in place of the detection signal of the low-oxygen pressure monitoring sensor 60 of each of the above-described embodiments.

[0078] Figure 4 shows the piping system and the like of a training device according to another embodiment. In the training device 80 shown in Figure 4, a high-oxygen pressure monitoring sensor 70 is provided between the second discharge portion 32 of the high-oxygen air flow path 36 and the branch portion 65, and the pressure of the high-oxygen raw air is detected by the high-oxygen pressure monitoring sensor 70. In the present embodiment, the signal of the high-oxygen pressure monitoring sensor 70 is input to the control device 5.

[0079] The pressure of the high-oxygen raw air is correlated with the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air. When the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air increases, the pressure of the high-oxygen raw air increases. Conversely, when the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air decreases, the pressure of the high-oxygen raw air decreases.

[0080] In the present embodiment, when the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air is high and the pressure of the high-oxygen raw air detected by the high-oxygen pressure monitoring sensor 70 is higher than the preset pressure of the high-oxygen raw air, the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46 is increased, and the outlet pressure of the second discharge portion 32 that discharges the high-oxygen raw air tends to decrease, and the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air decreases. Conversely, when the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air is low and the pressure of the high-oxygen raw air detected by the high-oxygen pressure monitoring sensor 70 is lower than the preset pressure of the high-oxygen raw air, the opening degree of the exhaust flow control means 46 becomes smaller, the outlet pressure of the second discharge part 32 for discharging the high-oxygen raw air tends to rise, and the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air rises.

[0081] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the low-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 41 and the high-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 43 may not be provided.

[0082] As another embodiment, instead of the form using the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air in the embodiment of FIG. 1 or the form using the pressure of the low-oxygen raw air in the embodiment of FIG. 3, a form using the flow rate of the low-oxygen raw air may be used. Specifically, in the training device 1, as an embodiment, a flow rate sensor may be provided instead of the low-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 41 or the low-oxygen pressure monitoring sensor 60 provided between the first discharge part 31 and the mixing part 33 of the low-oxygen air flow path 38. In this embodiment, the flow rate sensor detects the flow rate of the low-oxygen raw air discharged from the raw air generation device 26. In this embodiment, the signal of the flow rate sensor is input to the flow rate detection part instead of the oxygen concentration detection part or the pressure detection part of the control device 5.

[0083] The flow rate of the low-oxygen raw air is correlated with the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air. When the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air rises, the flow rate of the low-oxygen raw air tends to increase. Conversely, when the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air decreases, the flow rate of the low-oxygen raw air tends to decrease.

[0084] In this embodiment, when the flow rate of the low-oxygen raw air detected by the flow rate sensor is larger than the preset flow rate (when the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air is high), the opening degree of the exhaust flow control means 46 becomes larger, and the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air decreases. Conversely, when the flow rate of the low-oxygen raw air detected by the flow sensor is less than a preset flow rate (when the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air is low), the opening degree of the exhaust flow control means 46 becomes small, and the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air increases.

[0085] Also, the flow rate of the high-oxygen raw air is correlated with the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air. When the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air increases, the flow rate of the high-oxygen raw air decreases. Conversely, when the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air decreases, the flow rate of the high-oxygen raw air increases. As another embodiment utilizing this phenomenon, instead of the form using the pressure of the high-oxygen raw air in the embodiment of FIG. 4, a form using the flow rate of the high-oxygen raw air may be adopted. Specifically, in the training device 80, as an embodiment, a flow sensor may be provided instead of the high-oxygen pressure monitoring sensor 70 provided between the second discharge part 32 of the high-oxygen air flow path 36 and the branch part 65. In this embodiment, the flow rate of the high-oxygen raw air is detected by the flow sensor. In this embodiment, the signal of the flow sensor is input to a flow rate detection part (not shown) instead of the pressure detection part of the control device 5.

[0086] In this embodiment, when the flow rate of the high-oxygen raw air detected by the flow sensor is less than a preset flow rate (when the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air is high), the opening degree of the exhaust flow control means 46 becomes large, the flow rate of the high-oxygen raw air tends to increase, and the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air decreases. Conversely, when the flow rate of the high-oxygen raw air detected by the flow sensor is high (when the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air is low), the opening degree of the exhaust flow control means 46 becomes small, the flow rate of the high-oxygen raw air tends to decrease, and the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air increases.

[0087] Furthermore, as another embodiment, instead of the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air, the oxygen concentration of the high-oxygen raw air may be utilized. When the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air is high, the oxygen concentration of the high-oxygen raw air is low. When the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air is low, the oxygen concentration of the high-oxygen raw air is high. When using the oxygen concentration of the high-oxygen raw material air, the signal of the oxygen concentration sensor 43 provided in the high-oxygen air flow path 36 is input to the control device 5.

[0088] In the present embodiment, when the oxygen concentration of the high-oxygen raw material air detected by the oxygen concentration sensor 43 is lower than the preset oxygen concentration, the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46 increases, the oxygen concentration of the high-oxygen raw material air tends to rise, and the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw material air decreases. Conversely, when the oxygen concentration of the high-oxygen raw material air detected by the oxygen concentration sensor 43 is higher than the preset oxygen concentration, the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46 decreases, the oxygen concentration of the high-oxygen raw material air tends to decrease, and the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw material air increases.

[0089] Instead of the oxygen concentration of the high-oxygen raw material air, the nitrogen concentration of the high-oxygen raw material air may be used. That is, in the above-described embodiment, the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46 is determined by the oxygen concentration of the high-oxygen raw material air detected by the oxygen concentration sensor 43 provided in the high-oxygen air flow path 36. However, instead of the oxygen concentration, the nitrogen concentration of the high-oxygen raw material air may be detected, and the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46 may be adjusted according to the nitrogen concentration. For example, instead of the oxygen concentration sensor 43 provided in the high-oxygen air flow path 36 shown in FIG. 1, a nitrogen concentration sensor is provided, and the oxygen concentration of the high-oxygen raw material air is indirectly detected by the nitrogen concentration sensor. When the nitrogen concentration detected by a nitrogen concentration sensor (not shown) provided in the high-oxygen air flow path 36 tends to decrease, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw material air discharged from the first discharge portion 31 tends to decrease. Therefore, when the nitrogen concentration detected by the nitrogen concentration sensor provided in the high-oxygen air flow path 36 drops below the preset nitrogen concentration, the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46 is changed in the direction of decreasing, and the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw material air is increased. Conversely, when the nitrogen concentration detected by the nitrogen concentration sensor provided in the high-oxygen air flow path 36 shows an upward trend, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air discharged from the first discharge unit 31 is also on an upward trend. Therefore, when the nitrogen concentration detected by the nitrogen concentration sensor provided in the high-oxygen air flow path 36 rises above the preset nitrogen concentration, the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46 is increased to lower the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air.

[0090] In the embodiment described above, the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46 is determined by the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air detected by the low-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 41 or the like, but the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46 may be corrected taking other factors into account.

[0091] For example, the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46 and the opening degrees of the mixing flow rate control means 42a and 42b may be controlled in association with each other. Specifically, the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46 is adjusted according to the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air detected by the low-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 41 described above. Further, when the opening degrees of the mixing flow rate control means 42a and 42b increase, the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46 is corrected so as to be throttled. Also, when the opening degrees of the mixing flow rate control means 42a and 42b decrease, the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46 is corrected so as to open the exhaust flow rate control means 46. That is, the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46 is controlled not only by the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air detected by the low-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 41 but also by the opening degrees of the mixing flow rate control means 42a and 42b.

[0092] For example, as calculation items for determining the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46, there are a control amount based on the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air and a control amount based on the opening degrees of the mixing flow rate control means 42a and 42b, and the opening degree of the exhaust flow rate control means 46 is determined by the sum of the two. The control amount of the opening degree of the exhaust gas flow control means 46 based on the opening degrees of the mixture flow control means 42a and 42b increases and decreases inversely with respect to the opening degrees of the mixture flow control means 42a and 42b. That is, when the opening degrees of the mixture flow control means 42a and 42b change in the opening direction, the opening degree of the exhaust gas flow control means 46 changes in the closing direction, and when the opening degrees of the mixture flow control means 42a and 42b change in the closing direction, the opening degree of the exhaust gas flow control means 46 changes in the opening direction. As a result, surplus high-oxygen source air is appropriately exhausted from the exhaust gas passage 45, and the back pressure applied to the inside of the source air generation device 26 is appropriately controlled.

[0093] The same applies when adjusting the exhaust gas flow control means 46 according to the nitrogen concentration of the low-oxygen source air, the pressure of the low-oxygen source air, the flow rate of the low-oxygen source air, the pressure of the high-oxygen source air, the flow rate of the high-oxygen source air, the oxygen concentration of the high-oxygen source air, the nitrogen concentration of the high-oxygen source air, etc. The opening degree of the exhaust gas flow control means 46 may be corrected taking other factors into consideration.

[0094] In each of the embodiments described above, surplus high-oxygen source air is exhausted outside the system, and the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen source air is adjusted by increasing or decreasing the exhaust amount of the high-oxygen source air. In each of the embodiments described above, as a means for adjusting the exhaust amount of the high-oxygen source air, the exhaust gas flow control means 46 is provided in the exhaust gas passage 45. The present invention is not limited to this configuration, and it is also possible to provide flow control means in other flow paths that have a correlation with the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen source air. For example, the flow rates at the following parts are all correlated with the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen source air. (1) Between the second discharge part 32 and the mixing parts 33a and 33b. (2) Between the mixing parts 33a and 33b and the supply destination of the low-oxygen air (training rooms 2a and 2b). (3) Between the first discharge part 31 and the mixing parts 33a and 33b.

[0095] FIG. 5 shows an example in which the flow control means 75 is provided between the second discharge part 32 and the mixing parts 33a and 33b, and between the second discharge part 32 and the branch part 65. In the training device 83 shown in FIG. 5, when the opening degree of the flow rate control means 75 is adjusted, the outlet pressure of the second discharge section 32 changes, and the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw material air changes. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, since the flow rate control means 75 is located upstream of the mixing flow rate control means 42a, 42b and the exhaust flow rate control means 46, the outlet pressure of the second discharge section 32 can be adjusted without being affected by the opening degrees of the mixing flow rate control means 42a, 42b and the exhaust flow rate control means 46. Therefore, the oxygen concentration and pressure of the low-oxygen raw material air can be stabilized.

[0096] FIG. 6 shows an example in which the flow rate control means 76 is provided between the second discharge section 32 and the mixing sections 33a, 33b, and between the branch section 65 and the mixing flow rate control means 42a, 42b. In the training device 85 shown in FIG. 6, when the opening degree of the flow rate control means 76 is adjusted, the pressure of the second discharge section 32 changes, and the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw material air changes. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, since the flow rate control means 76 is located upstream of the mixing flow rate control means 42a, 42b, the outlet pressure of the second discharge section 32 can be adjusted without being affected by the opening degree of the mixing flow rate control means 42a, 42b. Therefore, the oxygen concentration and pressure of the low-oxygen raw material air can be stabilized.

[0097] FIG. 7 shows an example in which the flow rate control means 77a, 77b are provided between the mixing sections 33a, 33b and the supply destinations (training rooms 2a, 2b) of the low-oxygen air. In the training device 86 shown in FIG. 7, when the opening degrees of the flow rate control means 77a, 77b are adjusted, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw material air changes.

[0098] FIG. 8 shows an example in which the flow rate control means 78 is provided between the first discharge section 31 and the mixing sections 33a, 33b. In the training device 87 shown in FIG. 8, when the opening degree of the flow rate control means 78 is adjusted, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw material air changes. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a common flow rate control means 78 is provided at a position of the low-oxygen air flow path 38 before it branches into the two training rooms 2a and 2b, but individual flow rate control means 78 may be provided at the position after the branch.

[0099] Although an oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 43 is shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 43 may be omitted.

[0100] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air is directly detected by the low-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 41, but a numerical value having a correlation with the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air as described below may be used instead of the detected concentration of the low-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 41. (1) The pressure of the low-oxygen raw air. (2) The pressure of the high-oxygen raw air. (3) The flow rate of the low-oxygen raw air. (4) The flow rate of the high-oxygen raw air. (5) The oxygen concentration of the high-oxygen raw air. (6) The nitrogen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air. (7) The nitrogen concentration of the high-oxygen raw air.

[0101] When adjusting the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air using the detection value of any one of the above numbers (1) to (7), other detection means may not be necessary. For example, when adjusting the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw air using the detection value of any one of the above numbers (1) to (7), the low-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 41 may not be provided.

[0102] When adopting the configuration of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 and its modified examples, the exhaust flow rate control means 46 may not be provided in the exhaust flow path 45. However, since it is not preferable to completely open the exhaust part 48, it is desirable to provide a member whose opening degree can be changed, such as a manual throttle. A fixed throttle may be provided in the exhaust part 48.

[0103] Even when the flow control means 75, 76, 77a, 77b, 78 are arranged at the positions shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the opening degrees of the flow control means 75, 76, 77a, 77b, 78 may be controlled in association with the opening degrees of the mixture flow control means 42a, 42b. For example, the opening degrees of the exhaust flow control means 75, 76, 77a, 77b, 78 are adjusted according to the oxygen concentration of the low-oxygen raw material air detected by the above-described low-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 41. Further, the opening degrees of the exhaust flow control means 75, 76, 77a, 77b, 78 are corrected according to the opening degrees of the mixture flow control means 42a, 42b. That is, the opening degrees of the exhaust flow control means 75, 76, 77a, 77b, 78 are controlled not only by the information detected by the low-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 41 or the like but also by the opening degrees of the mixture flow control means 42a, 42b.

[0104] In the embodiments described above, the opening degrees of the flow control means (exhaust flow control means 46, flow control means 75, flow control means 76, flow control means 77a, 77b, flow control means 78, etc.) are controlled so that the detection values detected by the detection means (low-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 41, nitrogen concentration sensor, pressure sensor 60, high-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 43, high-oxygen pressure monitoring sensor 70, flow sensor, etc.) fall within a certain value or a certain range. That is, in the above-described embodiments, the detection values of the detection means are directly used, and the opening degrees of the flow control means are controlled so that the detection values fall within a certain value or a certain range. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and another physical quantity may be calculated or estimated from the physical quantity detected by a specific detection means, and the opening degree of the flow control means may be controlled so that this value falls within a certain value or a certain range. For example, based on the pressure of the low-oxygen raw material air (detected physical quantity) detected by the pressure sensor 60, the oxygen concentration (another physical quantity) of the low-oxygen raw material air may be calculated, and the opening degree of the flow control means may be controlled so that this value falls within a certain value or a certain range.

[0105] In the embodiment described above, constant flow rate means (needle valves) 61a and 61b are provided in the low-oxygen air flow path 38, but the constant flow rate means (needle valves) 61a and 61b may not be provided. Further, the constant flow rate means is not limited to a needle valve and may be a damper or the like whose opening degree can be adjusted. Further, the constant flow rate means is provided in the pipes branched to the two training rooms 2a and 2b respectively, but is not limited thereto, and may be provided in one pipe before branching.

[0106] In the embodiment described above, high-oxygen raw air and low-oxygen raw air are mixed in the pipeline, but a mixing section with a larger volume may be provided, and high-oxygen raw air and low-oxygen raw air may be introduced into the mixing section. Alternatively, high-oxygen raw air and low-oxygen raw air may be separately introduced into the training rooms 2a and 2b, and high-oxygen raw air and low-oxygen raw air may be mixed in the training rooms 2a and 2b. That is, the training rooms 2a and 2b may be used as a mixing section.

[0107] In the embodiment described above, mixing flow rate control means 42a and 42b are provided in the high-oxygen air flow path 36, and exhaust flow rate control means 46 is provided in the exhaust flow path 45, so that the high-oxygen raw air generated by the raw air generation device 26 is distributed to be mixed into the main flow path 23 and exhausted to the outside of the system. As another measure, a damper (flow rate control means) or the like whose opening degree can be adjusted may be provided at the branch portion 65 of the high-oxygen air flow path 36 and the exhaust flow path 45, and the high-oxygen raw air may be distributed to be mixed into the main flow path 23 and exhausted.

[0108] In the embodiment described above, the supply destinations of the low-oxygen mixed air from the low-oxygen air supply device 3 are two locations in the training rooms 2a and 2b, but the low-oxygen mixed air may be supplied only to one training room 2, or the low-oxygen mixed air may be supplied to more training rooms 2. The embodiments described above supply low-oxygen mixed air to the training rooms 2a and 2b as an example of the use of the low-oxygen air supply device 3. However, the supply destination of the low-oxygen mixed air is not limited to the training rooms 2a and 2b. For example, the low-oxygen mixed air may be supplied to a suction mask or a test device.

[0109] Further, a carbon dioxide removal device may be provided in the low-oxygen air supply device 3. The carbon dioxide removal device is preferably provided in the high-oxygen air flow path 36. According to this embodiment, carbon dioxide can be removed from the high-oxygen raw air, and the amount of carbon dioxide can be reduced.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0110] 1, 80, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87 Training device 2a First training room 2b Second training room 3 Low-oxygen air supply device 5 Control device 13 Indoor oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 26 Raw air generation device (special air generation device) 30 Air inlet 31 First discharge part 32 Second discharge part 33a, 33b Mixing part 36 High-oxygen air flow path 38 Low-oxygen air flow path 41 Low-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 42a Mixing flow rate control means 42b Mixing flow rate control means 43 High-oxygen concentration monitoring sensor 45 Exhaust flow path 46 Exhaust flow rate control means 48 Exhaust part 51 Gas separation membrane (gas separation member) 60 Low-oxygen pressure monitoring sensor 65 Branch part 70 High-oxygen pressure monitoring sensor 75 Flow rate control means 76 Flow rate control means Flow control means 77a and 77b Flow control means 78

Claims

1. A low-oxygen air supply device that supplies low-oxygen air with an oxygen concentration lower than that of raw air, having a special air generation device, wherein the special air generation device has a gas separation member capable of separating nitrogen and oxygen, and has an air inlet, a first discharge part, and a second discharge part. Raw air is introduced from the air inlet, low-oxygen raw air with an oxygen concentration lower than that of the raw air is discharged from the first discharge part, and high-oxygen raw air with an oxygen concentration higher than that of the raw air is discharged from the second discharge part. a mixing part that mixes the low-oxygen raw air discharged from the first discharge part and the high-oxygen raw air discharged from the second discharge part to generate low-oxygen mixed air with an oxygen concentration lower than that of the raw air; an exhaust part that exhausts surplus high-oxygen raw air among the high-oxygen raw air discharged from the second discharge part to the outside of the system; detection means for detecting any one of the oxygen concentration, nitrogen concentration, pressure, or flow rate of the high-oxygen raw air; flow rate control means provided at any position in the first group; control means for controlling the flow rate control means based on the detection value of the detection means, characterized in that the low-oxygen air supply device has the above components. First group (1) Between the second discharge part and the exhaust part. (2) Between the mixing part and the supply destination of the low-oxygen air. (3) Between the first discharge part and the mixing part.

2. A low-oxygen air supply device that supplies low-oxygen air with an oxygen concentration lower than that of raw air, having a special air generation device, wherein the special air generation device has a gas separation member capable of separating nitrogen and oxygen, and has an air inlet, a first discharge part, and a second discharge part. Raw air is introduced from the air inlet, low-oxygen raw air with an oxygen concentration lower than that of the raw air is discharged from the first discharge part, and high-oxygen raw air with an oxygen concentration higher than that of the raw air is discharged from the second discharge part. a mixing part that mixes the low-oxygen raw air discharged from the first discharge part and the high-oxygen raw air discharged from the second discharge part to generate low-oxygen mixed air with an oxygen concentration lower than that of the raw air; an exhaust part that exhausts surplus high-oxygen raw air among the high-oxygen raw air discharged from the second discharge part to the outside of the system; detection means for detecting any one of the oxygen concentration, nitrogen concentration, pressure, or flow rate of the high-oxygen raw air; flow rate control means provided between the second discharge part and the mixing part; A low-oxygen air supply device, comprising: control means for controlling the flow rate control means based on a detection value of the detection means.

3. A high-oxygen air flow path extending from the second discharge portion to the mixing portion, and an exhaust path branched from the high-oxygen air flow path and leading to the exhaust portion, wherein the flow rate control means is provided in the exhaust path. The low-oxygen air supply device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A high-oxygen air flow path extending from the second discharge portion to the mixing portion, a branch portion for branching the high-oxygen air flow path, and an exhaust path branched at the branch portion and leading to the exhaust portion, wherein the flow rate control means is provided between the second discharge portion and the branch portion. The low-oxygen air supply device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. having mixing flow rate control means for controlling the amount of the high-oxygen source air mixed with the low-oxygen source air, wherein the opening degree of the flow rate control means and the opening degree of the mixing flow rate control means are controlled in association with each other. The low-oxygen air supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. having mixing flow rate control means for controlling the amount of the high-oxygen source air mixed with the low-oxygen source air, wherein the mixing flow rate control means is controlled based on the oxygen concentration in the flow path after the mixing portion. The low-oxygen air supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. A training device, comprising: a training room in which a person can move internally, and the low-oxygen air supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the inside of the training room can be made into a low-oxygen environment having an oxygen concentration lower than that of the source air.

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