초록 ▼

Process in conjunction with the production of oxygen ( 22), wherein incoming air (10, 16, 16a, 16 b,) is brought to pass through a sorbent/zeolite structure (18) , which comprises at least three zeolite units (50a-f) intermittently operated in a first stage comprising adsorption of nitrogen from the

Process in conjunction with the production of oxygen ( 22), wherein incoming air (10, 16, 16a, 16 b,) is brought to pass through a sorbent/zeolite structure (18) , which comprises at least three zeolite units (50a-f) intermittently operated in a first stage comprising adsorption of nitrogen from the air and a second stage comprising desorption (20, 20a, 20b) of thus adsorbed nitrogen. At least two of the zeolite units are operated in the adsorption stage, the incoming air being brought to pass consecutively (53a) through the at least two zeolite units to form an increasing nitrogen gradient; and/or at least two units of the zeolite units are operated in the desorption stage, a pressure being released and/or a desorbing gas (22a, 22b) being brought to pass consecutively (53b) through the at least two zeolite units to form a decreasing nitrogen gradient in the zeolite units.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A device for producing oxygen or oxygen-enriched air, the device comprising: a) a zeolite structure (18) of sorbent material having nitrogen and oxygen adsorbing properties, the zeolite structure comprising at least three zeolite units (50a-f) arranged to adsorb nitroge

The invention claimed is: 1. A device for producing oxygen or oxygen-enriched air, the device comprising: a) a zeolite structure (18) of sorbent material having nitrogen and oxygen adsorbing properties, the zeolite structure comprising at least three zeolite units (50a-f) arranged to adsorb nitrogen from the air, and a means (70, 72, 74 ; 83a, 83b, 84, 85, 86, 86b, 87a, 87b) for intermittent operation of the zeolite units (50a-f) in a first and a second stage, the first stage comprising adsorption of nitrogen from the air and the second stage comprising desorption (20, 20; 20b) from the zeolite units (50a-f) of thus adsorbed nitrogen, wherein the means (70, 72, 74; 83a, 83b, 84, 85, 86, 86b, 87a, 87b) for intermittent operation are arranged to operate at least one but not all of the at least three zeolite units (50a-f) in the first adsorption stage and to operate the rest of the at least three zeolite units ( 50a-f) in the second desorption stage; and wherein a first conduit means (53a) is arranged to operatively and consecutively connect at least two of the three zeolite units (50 a-f) to an inlet (10, 16, 16a, 16b) for incoming air for the first adsorption stage, and/or a second conduit means (53b) is arranged to operatively and consecutively connect at least two of the three zeolite units (50 a-f) to an inlet (22a, 22b) for a released gas and/or a desorbing gas for the second desorption stage; b) an inlet (10, 16, 16a, 16b) for incoming air, into and through the zeolite structure (18); and c) a means for transferring heat energy from the zeolite units (50a-f) during the adsorption stage and to the zeolite units (50a-f) during the desorption stage, the means for transferring heat energy comprising a means for heat exchanging between the adsorbing and desorbing zeolite units (50a-f), the zeolite units (50a-f) being arranged in close relation to each other in order to accomplish said heat exchanging, and the zeolite units (50a-f) being arranged in a structure ( 52) of a heat conducting material, each zeolite unit (50a-f) being arranged in a cell (54) of its own in the structure (52) of heat conducting material, wherein each zeolite unit ( 50a-f) is shaped as an elongated body exhibiting a peripheral length which is greater than the peripheral length of a rod with a circular cross-section, which rod has a cross-sectional area equal to the cross-sectional area of the elongated bodies. 2. A device for producing oxygen or oxygen-enriched air, the device comprising: a) a zeolite structure (18) of sorbent material having nitrogen and oxygen adsorbing properties, the zeolite structure comprising at least three zeolite units (50a-f) arranged to adsorb nitrogen from the air, and a means (70, 72, 74 ; 83a, 83b, 84, 85, 86, 86b, 87a, 87b) for intermittent operation of the zeolite units (50a-t) in a first and a second stage, the first stage comprising adsorption of nitrogen from the air and the second stage comprising desorption (20, 20; 20b) from the zeolite units (50a-f) of thus adsorbed nitrogen, wherein the means (70, 72, 74; 83a, 83b, 84, 85, 86, 86b, 87a, 87b) for intermittent operation are arranged to operate at least one but not all of the at least three zeolite units (50a-f) in the first adsorption stage and to operate the rest of the at least three zeolite units ( 50a-f) in the second desorption stage; and wherein a first conduit means (53a) is arranged to operatively and consecutively connect at least two of the three zeolite units (50 a-f) to an inlet (10, 16, 16a, 16b) for incoming air for the first adsorption stage, and/or a second conduit means (53b) is arranged to operatively and consecutively connect at least two of the three zeolite units (50 a-f) to an inlet (22a, 22b) for a released gas and/or a desorbing gas for the second desorption stage; b) an inlet (10, 16, 16a, 16b) for incoming air, into and through the zeolite structure; and c) a means for transferring heat energy from the zeolite units (50a-f) during the adsorption stage and to the zeolite units (50a-f) during the desorption stage, the means for transferring heat energy comprising a means for heat exchanging between the adsorbing and desorbing zeolite units (50a-f), the zeolite units (50a-f) being arranged in close relation to each other in order to accomplish said heat exchanging, the zeolite units (50a-f) arranged in a structure (52) of a heat conducting material, each zeolite unit (50a-t) arranged in a cell (54) of its own in the structure (52) of heat conducting material, wherein through channels (58) for passing through the air are arranged between the outer surface of the zeolite units (50a-f) and the structure (52) of heat conducting material. 3. A device for producing oxygen or oxygen-enriched air, the device comprising: a) a zeolite structure (18) of sorbent material having nitrogen and oxygen adsorbing properties, the zeolite structure comprising at least three zeolite units (50a-f) arranged to adsorb nitrogen from the air, and a means (70, 72, 74 ; 83a, 83b, 84, 85, 86, 86b, 87a, 87b) for intermittent operation of the zeolite units (50a-f) in a first and a second stage, the first stage comprising adsorption of nitrogen from the air and the second stage comprising desorption (20, 20; 20b) from the zeolite units (50a-f) of thus adsorbed nitrogen, wherein the means (70, 72, 74; 83a, 83b, 84, 85, 86, 86b, 87a, 87b) for intermittent operation are arranged to operate at least one but not all of the at least three zeolite units (50a-f) in the first adsorption stage and to operate the rest of the at least three zeolite units ( 50a-f) in the second desorption stage; and wherein a first conduit means (53a) is arranged to operatively and consecutively connect at least two of the three zeolite units (50 a-f) to an inlet (10, 16, 16a, 16b) for incoming air for the first adsorption stage, and/or a second conduit means (53b) is arranged to operatively and consecutively connect at least two of the three zeolite units (50 a-f) to an inlet (22a, 22b) for a released gas and/or a desorbing gas for the second desorption stage; b) an inlet (10, 16, 16a, 16b) for incoming air, into and through the zeolite structure; and c) a means for transferring heat energy from the zeolite units (50a-f) during the adsorption stage and to the zeolite units (50a-f) during the desorption stage, the means for transferring heat energy comprising a means for heat exchanging between the adsorbing and desorbing zeolite units (50a-f), the zeolite units (50a-f) being arranged in close relation to each other in order to accomplish said heat exchanging, the zeolite units (50a-f) arranged in a structure (52) of a heat conducting material, each zeolite unit (50a-f) arranged in a cell (54) of its own in the structure (52) of heat conducting material, wherein additional means (6) for the heat exchanging also being arranged within the structure (52) in the form of metal ledges (6) projecting from the heat conducting material and into the cells (54). 4. A device for producing oxygen or oxygen-enriched air, the device comprising: a) a zeolite structure (18) of sorbent material having nitrogen and oxygen adsorbing properties, the zeolite structure comprising at least three zeolite units (50a-f) arranged to adsorb nitrogen from the air, and a means (70, 72, 74 ; 83a, 83b, 84, 85, 86, 86b, 87a, 87b) for intermittent operation of the zeolite units (50a-f) in a first and a second stage, the first stage comprising adsorption of nitrogen from the air and the second stage comprising desorption (20, 20; 20b) from the zeolite units (50a-f) of thus adsorbed nitrogen, wherein the means (70, 72, 74; 83a, 83b, 84, 85, 86, 86b, 87a, 87b) for intermittent operation are arranged to operate at least one but not all of the at least three zeolite units (50a-f) in the first adsorption stage and to operate the rest of the at least three zeolite units ( 50a-f) in the second desorption stage; and wherein a first conduit means (53a) is arranged to operatively and consecutively connect at least two of the three zeolite units (50 a-f) to an inlet (10, 16, 16a, 16b) for incoming air for the first adsorption stage, and/or a second conduit means (53b) is arranged to operatively and consecutively connect at least two of the three zeolite units (50 a-f) to an inlet (22a, 22b) for a released gas and/or a desorbing gas for the second desorption stage; b) an inlet (10, 16, 16a, 16b) for incoming air, into and through the zeolite structure; and c) a means for transferring heat energy from the zeolite units (50a-f) during the adsorption stage and to the zeolite units (50a-f) during the desorption stage, the means for transferring heat energy comprising a means for heat exchanging between the adsorbing and desorbing zeolite units (50a-f), the zeolite units (50a-f) being arranged in close relation to each other in order to accomplish said heat exchanging, the zeolite units (50a-f) arranged in a structure (52) of a heat conducting material, each zeolite unit (50a-f) arranged in a cell (54) of its own in the structure (52) of heat conducting material, wherein the means for transferring heat energy comprises a cooling medium source (82) and a means (64, 64a, 64b) for cooling the zeolite unit (50 a-f) by the cooling medium, as well as a heating medium source ( 80) and means (62, 62a, 62b) for heating the zeolite unite by the heating medium, through channels ( 61) for passing through the heating or cooling medium through the zeolite structure (18) arranged in the structure (52) of heat conducting material. 5. A device for producing oxygen or oxygen-enriched air, the device comprising: a) a zeolite structure (18) of sorbent material having nitrogen and oxygen adsorbing properties, the zeolite structure (18 ) comprising at least three zeolite units (50a-f) arranged to adsorb nitrogen from the air, and a means (70, 72, 74; 83a, 83b, 84, 85, 86, 86b, 87a, 87b) for intermittent operation of the zeolite units (50a-f) in a first and a second stage, the first stage comprising adsorption of nitrogen from the air and the second stage comprising desorption ( 20, 20; 20b) from the zeolite units (50 a-f) of thus adsorbed nitrogen, wherein the means (70, 72, 74; 83a, 83b, 84, 85, 86, 86b, 87a, 87b ) for intermittent operation are arranged to operate at least one but not all of the at least three zeolite units (50a-f) in the first adsorption stage and to operate the rest of the at least three zeolite units (50a-f) in the second desorption stage; and wherein a first conduit means (53a) is arranged to operatively and consecutively connect at least two of the three zeolite units (50a-f) to an inlet (10, 16, 16 a, 16b) for incoming air for the first adsorption stage, and/or a second conduit means (53b) is arranged to operatively and consecutively connect at least two of the three zeolite units (50a-f) to an inlet (22a, 22 b) for a released gas and/or a desorbing gas for the second desorption stage; b) an inlet (10, 16, 16a, 16b) for incoming air, into and through the zeolite structure; and c) a means for transferring heat energy from the zeolite units (50a-f) during the adsorption stage and to the zeolite units (50a-f) during the desorption stage, the means for transferring heat energy comprising a means for heat exchanging between the adsorbing and desorbing zeolite units (50a-f), the zeolite units (50a-f) being arranged in close relation to each other in order to accomplish said heat exchanging, the zeolite units (50a-f) arranged in a structure (52) of a heat conducting material, each zeolite unit (50a-f) arranged in a cell (54) of its own in the structure (52) of heat conducting material, wherein the zeolite units (50a-f) exhibit a honeycomb structure, by which through-holes (56) are provided in the zeolite unit for the passing through of the air.