Modular Oxygen Separation System Using Piezoelectric Pumps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oxygen separation systems, particularly those using pressure swing adsorption and vacuum swing adsorption processes, face challenges in maintenance, energy consumption, and variability, especially in on-demand oxygen generation for medical applications.
Innovation Solution
An oxygen separation system comprising a support for multiple autonomous units, each with an oxygen separation device using sorbents and a piezoelectric fluid pump for guiding gas flow, allowing for flexible geometry, reduced energy consumption, and modular design to adapt to varying oxygen demands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple autonomous oxygen separation units are used, then productivity and adaptability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The oxygen separation system is divided into multiple autonomous units, each capable of independent operation. Each unit contains its own oxygen separation device with sorbent and gas conveying device with piezoelectric pump, allowing the system to achieve higher productivity through parallel operation while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design and standardized interfaces.
2Use of energy by moving object
If piezoelectric fluid pumps are used instead of traditional compressors, then energy consumption is reduced, but pumping capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple piezoelectric pumps in parallel instead of a single large compressor. Each pump handles a portion of the total gas flow requirement, allowing the use of energy-efficient piezoelectric technology while achieving the necessary total pumping capacity through aggregation of multiple smaller units.
3Adaptability or versatility
If modular autonomous units are implemented, then adaptability and maintenance are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is organized as modular autonomous units that can be independently configured, added, or removed based on oxygen demand. Each unit is self-contained with standardized interfaces, enabling flexible adaptation to different applications while managing complexity through repetition of proven modular designs.
Solution Approach 2:
Each autonomous unit is designed to perform multiple functions independently (oxygen separation, gas conveying, flow control), allowing the same modular design to serve different oxygen flow requirements through simple replication rather than custom design, thus improving adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves improved maintenance, reduced energy consumption, increased variability, and enhanced safety by allowing only necessary units to operate, reducing noise and weight, and providing a secure and efficient generation of oxygen enriched gas with higher purity.
Implementation Method 1
an oxygen separation device with an oxygen separation sorbent being suitable for separating oxygen from an oxygen comprising gas by sorbing at least one component of the oxygen comprising gas apart from oxygen
Implementation Method 2
a gas conveying device comprising a piezoelectric fluid pump for guiding a flow of oxygen comprising gas through the oxygen separation device
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention refers to an oxygen separation system(10), comprising a support (12) for accommodating a plurality of autonomous oxygen separation units (14), wherein the support (12) comprises a plurality of fastening positions having fastening means for receiving an oxygen separation unit (14); and a plurality of autonomous oxygen separation units (14) being attached to said support (12), each oxygen separation unit (14) comprising at least one oxygen separation device (28) with an oxygen separation sorbent (30) being capable of separating oxygen from an oxygen comprising gas by sorbing at least one component of the oxygen comprising gas apart from oxygen, and a gas conveying device(44) for guiding a flow of oxygen comprising gas through the oxygen separation device (28). Such an oxygen separation system (10) may have significant improvements against the systems of the prior art, particularly referring to space, weight, energy consumption, variability, flexibility and maintenance behavior. The invention further relates to a method of generating a flow of oxygen enriched gas.