Oxygen Concentrator Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
PSA-type oxygen concentrators face challenges in maintaining stable oxygen concentration and reducing electric power consumption, particularly due to variations in environmental temperature and flow rates, leading to inefficient compressor capacity and potential oxygen concentration abnormalities.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a temperature sensor and a control device that adjusts the compressed air supply volume based on detected temperature and oxygen concentration, ensuring a minimum airflow volume at low temperatures and optimizing airflow during start-up, while using sensors like zirconia-type and ultrasonic sensors for precise oxygen concentration and flow rate monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the capacity of the compressor is increased to supply compressed air at high pressure to obtain highly concentrated oxygen gas, then the oxygen concentration is improved, but the electric power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the compressor capacity adjustable rather than fixed. The control device dynamically changes the compressor's supply capacity based on detected oxygen concentration and environmental temperature, allowing the system to operate at optimal power consumption levels while maintaining required oxygen concentration. This resolves the contradiction by enabling the compressor to provide high pressure when needed for concentration but reduce capacity when full power is not required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the compressor based on environmental temperature and oxygen concentration feedback. The control device adjusts the compressor's supply capacity parameter according to temperature conditions - reducing capacity when temperature is high (where adsorption is already efficient) and maintaining or increasing capacity when temperature is low. This parameter adaptation allows the system to achieve high oxygen concentration without consistently operating at maximum power consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the supply capacity of the compressed air supply device is reduced to decrease electric power consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but the oxygen concentration of the produced gas decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control where the control device continuously monitors the oxygen concentration of the produced gas and adjusts the compressor's supply capacity accordingly. When oxygen concentration drops below the target level, the control device increases compressor capacity to restore concentration. When concentration is sufficient, the compressor capacity is reduced to save power. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures oxygen concentration is maintained while minimizing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts compressor capacity based on real-time oxygen concentration measurements and environmental temperature. Rather than operating at a fixed high capacity, the compressor modulates its output to match actual demand, ensuring sufficient oxygen concentration is maintained while avoiding unnecessary power consumption during periods when lower capacity would suffice.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the compressor supply capacity is adjusted based on oxygen concentration detection, then electric power consumption is reduced, but the response time to temperature changes and flow rate variations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the control device anticipate temperature changes and their effect on oxygen concentration. The system detects environmental temperature and proactively adjusts compressor capacity before oxygen concentration actually drops. This predictive adjustment based on temperature feedback reduces the lag time that would otherwise occur while waiting for concentration to drop and then reacting, thus maintaining both energy efficiency and rapid response to environmental changes.
4Manufacturing precision
If the capacity of the compressor is increased to meet the pressure requirement for highly concentrated oxygen, then the oxygen concentration efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through automatic control where the control device manages compressor capacity adjustments based on oxygen concentration and temperature feedback. Rather than requiring manual configuration or complex mechanical systems to handle multiple capacity requirements, the single compressor serves itself by automatically adapting its operation. This eliminates the need for multiple compressors or complex switching mechanisms, maintaining simplicity while achieving high concentration efficiency.
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
This approach stabilizes oxygen concentration delivery independently of environmental temperature and flow rate fluctuations, reducing electric power consumption and preventing unnecessary oxygen concentration abnormalities, ensuring consistent and efficient oxygen supply to patients.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure swing adsorption-type (hereinbelow refer to as PSA-type) oxygen concentrator, which produces a highly concentrated oxygen gas by introducing compressed air from a compressor into an adsorption cylinder filled with an adsorbent such as zeolites and the like selectively adsorbing a nitrogen gas
Implementation Method 2
an adsorbent selectively adsorbing nitrogen gas molecules relative to oxygen gas molecules
Implementation Method 3
a control device which increases or decreases a supply airflow volume of the compressed air supply device based on a value detected by an oxygen concentration sensor which detects an oxygen gas concentration
Implementation Method 4
an oxygen concentration sensor configured to detect the concentration of the oxygen gas produced by the oxygen concentrator
Implementation Method 5
a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the environmental air supplied to the oxygen concentrator
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides an apparatus which stably provides highly concentrated oxygen to a patient, regardless of an environmental temperature and/or a highly concentrated oxygen gas flow rate. The present invention is an oxygen concentrator characterized in that an oxygen concentration sensor detecting a concentration of the oxygen gas produced by the oxygen concentrator, a temperature sensor measuring an environmental temperature and/or a flow rate sensor are provided, a control increasing/decreasing a supply airflow volume of the compressed air supply device based on a detected oxygen concentration detected value to maintain an oxygen concentration at a predetermined concentration is performed, and a control device is switched based on a value measured by the temperature sensor and/or flow rate sensor of the apparatus.