PSA Gas Composition Control With Durable Discharge Pump Seals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas composition adjustment apparatuses, such as those using pressure swing adsorption (PSA), face challenges in efficiently adjusting gas compositions for controlled atmosphere transport, particularly in maintaining target oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations within refrigerated containers during marine transportation, where temperature control and gas composition modulation are critical for preserving perishable goods.
Innovation Solution
A gas composition adjustment apparatus incorporating a PSA system with a supply pump and discharge pump, each being a positive displacement pump, utilizes adsorbents in adsorption vessels to separate atmospheric air into nitrogen-enriched and oxygen-enriched gases, with a controller managing the operation to maintain specific gas concentrations within the container, and employs specific sealing members in the pumps to enhance reliability and longevity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a positive displacement pump is used for both supply and discharge operations, then the pump efficiency and gas composition control are improved, but the sealing member durability deteriorates due to continuous high-pressure operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single pump system into two separate positive displacement pumps: a supply pump for pressurizing atmospheric air and a discharge pump for sucking nitrogen-enriched gas. This segmentation allows each pump to be optimized for its specific function, with the discharge pump's sealing member specifically designed with fluororesin and fibrous carbon material to withstand the demanding suction operation, thereby resolving the contradiction between overall system productivity and sealing member durability.
2Ease of manufacture
If the discharge pump sealing member uses conventional materials, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the pump reliability deteriorates due to wear from continuous operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies that the discharge pump's sealing member shall be made of composite materials comprising fluororesin and fibrous carbon material. This composite structure combines the low-friction properties of fluororesin with the wear resistance of fibrous carbon, creating a sealing member that maintains high reliability under continuous operation while remaining manufacturable through established composite material processing techniques.
3Reliability
If the sealing member material is optimized for durability, then the pump reliability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the principle of local quality by specifying that only the discharge pump's sealing member shall be made of the specialized fluororesin and fibrous carbon material composite, while the supply pump can use conventional sealing materials. This localized optimization ensures high reliability where it is most needed (in the discharge pump handling nitrogen-enriched gas) without unnecessarily increasing the manufacturing complexity of the entire system.
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 apparatus effectively adjusts gas compositions to maintain target oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, ensuring optimal storage conditions for perishable goods by efficiently separating and managing nitrogen and oxygen concentrations, thereby extending the shelf life and quality of transported products.
Implementation Method 1
This oxygen concentrator performs a pressurization operation in which a supply pump supplies air (atmospheric air) to the adsorption vessel so that the adsorbent adsorbs nitrogen in the air
Implementation Method 2
the adsorbent adsorbs nitrogen in the air
Implementation Method 3
a depressurization operation in which a discharge pump sucks gas from the adsorption vessel so that the adsorbent desorbs nitrogen
Data Source
AI summary
A gas composition adjustment apparatus includes an adsorber, a supply pump, and a discharge pump. The gas composition adjustment apparatus performs a pressurization operation in which the supply pump supplies a gas to the adsorber; and a depressurization operation in which the discharge pump discharges a gas from the adsorber. Each of the supply pump and the discharge pump is a positive displacement pump and includes a sealing member. The sealing member of the discharge pump contains a fluororesin and a fibrous carbon material as main components.