PSA Gas Concentrator Pressure Boosting Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing pressure swing adsorption (PSA) gas concentration devices face a drawback where the lower pressure of pressurized air results in lower pressure of the final product gas, which is not suitable for medical or industrial applications requiring higher pressure without increasing the input air pressure.
Innovation Solution
A gas concentration device incorporating a pressure boosting unit that utilizes purge gas and product gas to perform multi-stage pressurization, including a cylinder-piston configuration with on/off valves and check valves, to increase the pressure of the product gas without raising the input air pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the pressure of pressurized air is lowered to reduce energy consumption and device size, then energy efficiency and compactness improve, but the pressure of the final product gas becomes insufficient for medical or industrial applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pressure boosting unit as an intermediary device between the PSA unit and the product gas outlet. This unit uses the high-pressure purge gas (intermediary substance) to pressurize the low-pressure product gas through a series of pistons and cylinders, thereby resolving the contradiction between low input pressure and high output pressure requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure boosting unit changes the pressure parameter of the product gas through multi-stage compression. By using the pressure energy from purge gas to drive pistons that compress product gas in sequential stages, the system transforms the pressure parameter from low (at PSA unit outlet) to high (at final product outlet) without increasing the input air pressure
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the pressure of pressurized air is lowered, then noise and device size are reduced, but the final product gas pressure becomes too low for practical applications
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure boosting unit acts as an intermediary that decouples the noise-generating compression process from the product gas stream. The high-pressure purge gas (which has already been separated and is relatively quiet) serves as the mediator to pressurize the product gas, avoiding the need for noisy compressors on the product gas line itself
3Reliability
If the pressure of pressurized air is lowered, then device durability is improved, but the final product gas pressure becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure boosting unit with multiple pistons and cylinders serves as a durable intermediary mechanism. It uses the pressure cycling of purge gas to drive the pistons, which in turn compress the product gas. This mechanical intermediary protects the main PSA system from high-pressure stress while delivering high-pressure product gas, thereby maintaining device durability
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure boosting process is segmented into multiple stages with separate pistons for different functions (purge gas-driven pistons, product gas-driven pistons, and product gas compression pistons). This segmentation allows each component to operate within optimal pressure ranges, extending device durability while achieving the required output pressure
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
Effectively increases the pressure of the product gas using the pressure of the purge gas, ensuring the final product meets necessary pressure levels without increasing the input air pressure, thus addressing the limitations of traditional PSA systems.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of adsorption beds which separate pressurized air supplied from the air supplier into product gas and purge gas by a pressure swing adsorption method
Implementation Method 2
separate and concentration of oxygen or nitrogen from air... by a pressure swing adsorption method and discharge the separated product gas and purge gas
Data Source
AI summary
A gas concentration device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: an air supplier supplying pressurized air; a plurality of adsorption beds which separate pressurized air supplied from the air supplier into product gas and purge gas by a pressure swing adsorption method and discharge the separated product gas and purge gas; a flow passage regulating valve unit which regulates flow passages so as to allow the pressurized air to be supplied to the adsorption bed from the air supplier and so as to reduce pressure of the adsorption bed so that a nitrogen adsorption process and a nitrogen desorption process are alternately performed; and a pressure boosting unit which is configured to be fed with the purge gas and the product gas discharged from the adsorption bed and is configured to pressurize the product gas in multi-stage sequentially using the purge gas and the product gas.