Molecular sieve oxygen concentrator with secondary oxygen purifier

Claim 1

A process for producing oxygen with a low proportion of argon from a feed gas which is compressed air, using first and second beds containing 16X40 mesh carbon molecular sieve, and third and fourth beds containing 16X40 mesh zeolite molecular sieve, operating by alternately cycling said beds through steps of adsorption and desorption, each cycle having first and second half cycles, comprising: in each first half-cycle of operation passing said feed gas under pressure through the third and first beds in series to pressurize the beds and provide a flow of product gas at an outlet port to preferentially absorb nitrogen in the third bed and argon in the first bed and concentrate oxygen, while simultaneously the second and fourth beds are depressurized and the nitrogen and argon absorbed during the previous cycle are desorbed and exhausted; and in each second half-cycle of operation passing said feed gas under pressure through the fourth and second beds in series to pressurize the beds and provide a flow of product gas at the outlet port to preferentially adsorb nitrogen in the fourth bed and argon in the second bed and concentrate oxygen, while simultaneously the first and third beds are depressurized and the nitrogen and argon adsorbed during the previous cycle are desorbed and exhausted; whereby by repeating these steps of adsorption and desorption, a continuous stream of oxygen is produced having a purity substantially greater than that of the feed gas (up to 99.1%).

Claim 6

An apparatus for producing oxygen with a low proportion of argon from a feed gas which is compressed air, comprising: first and second beds containing 16×40 mesh carbon molecular sieve, and third and fourth beds containing 16X40 mesh zeolite molecular sieve, each bed having a first end and a second end, the first and third beds being placed in series by connecting the second end of the third bed to the first end of the first bed, the second and fourth beds being placed in series by connecting the second end of the fourth bed to the first end of the second bed, an inlet port coupled to a source of feed gas under pressure, an outlet port for product gas, an exhaust port which is at a substantially lower pressure than the inlet port; a first set of valves comprising a first inlet valve coupling the inlet port to the first end of the third bed, a first outlet valve coupling the second end of the first bed to the outlet port, and a first exhaust valve coupling the first end of the fourth bed to the exhaust port; a second set of valves comprising a second inlet valve coupling the inlet port to the first end of the fourth bed, a second outlet valve coupling the second end of the second bed to the outlet port, and a second exhaust valve coupling the first end of the first bed to the exhaust port; timing means for controlling operation of said valves in recurring cycles having equal first and second half cycles, with actuation means effective during the first half cycle to actuate the first set of valves open with the second set of valves closed, the actuation means being effective during the second half cycle to actuate the second set of valves open with the first set of valves closed; so that in each half-cycle of operation said feed gas passes under pressure through the third and first beds to pressurize the beds and provide a flow of product gas at the outlet port to preferentially absorb nitrogen in the third bed and argon in the first bed and concentrate oxygen, while simultaneously the second and fourth beds are depressurized and the nitrogen and argon adsorbed during the previous cycle are desorbed and exhausted; and in each second half-cycle of operation said feed gas passes under pressure through the fourth and second beds to pressurize the beds and provide a flow of product gas at the outlet port to preferentially adsorb nitrogen in the fourth bed and argon in the second bed and concentrate oxygen, while simultaneously the first and third beds are depressurized and the nitrogen and argon adsorbed during the previous cycle are desorbed and exhausted; whereby by cyclically repeating the operation of adsorption and desorption, a continuous stream of oxygen is produced having a purity substantially greater than that of the feed gas (up to 99.1%).

Claim 7

An apparatus for producing oxygen with a low proportion of argon from a feed gas which is compressed air, comprising: first and second beds containing 16×40 mesh carbon molecular sieve, and third and fourth beds containing 16X40 mesh zeolite molecular sieve, each bed having a first end and a second end, the first and third beds being placed in series by connecting the second end of the third bed to the first end of the first bed, the second and fourth beds being placed in series by connecting the second end of the fourth bed to the first end of the second bed, an inlet port coupled to a source of feed gas under pressure, an outlet port for product gas, an exhaust port which is at a substantially lower pressure than the inlet port; a first set of valves comprising a first inlet valve coupling the inlet port to the first end of the third bed, a first outlet valve coupling the second end of the first bed to the outlet port, and a first exhaust valve coupling the first end of the fourth bed to the exhaust port; a second set of valves comprising a second inlet valve coupling the inlet port to the first end of the fourth bed, a second outlet valve coupling the second end of the second bed to the outlet port, and a second exhaust valve coupling the first end of the first bed to the exhaust port; timing means for controlling operation of said valves in recurring cycles having equal first and second half cycles, with actuation means effective during the first half cycle to actuate the first set of valves open with the second set of valves closed, the actuation means being effective during the second half cycle to actuate the second set of valves open with the first set of valves closed; so that in each half-cycle of operation said feed gas passes under pressure through the third and first beds to pressurize the beds and provide a flow of product gas at the outlet port to preferentially absorb nitrogen in the third bed and argon in the first bed and concentrate oxygen, while simultaneously the second and fourth beds are depressurized and the nitrogen and argon adsorbed during the previous cycle are desorbed and exhausted; and in each second half-cycle of operation said feed gas passes under pressure through the fourth and second beds to pressurize the beds and provide a flow of product gas at the outlet port to preferentially adsorb nitrogen in the fourth bed and argon in the second bed and concentrate oxygen, while simultaneously the first and third beds are depressurized and the nitrogen and argon adsorbed during the previous cycle are desorbed and exhausted; whereby by cyclically repeating the operation of adsorption and desorption, a continuous stream of oxygen is produced having a purity substantially greater than that of the feed gas (up to 99.1%).