Experimental study of a rotary valve multi-bed rapid cycle pressure swing adsorption process based medical oxygen concentrator

• Main Authors: Zhu, Xianqiang, Wang, Xiaowei
• Other Authors: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: Engineering::Mechanical engineering; Oxygen Concentrator; Pressure Swing Adsorption
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/161084
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Rapid cycle pressure swing adsorption (RCPSA) characterized by short cycle time permits adsorbents to be used more frequently and increases process productivity. A rotary valve multi-bed RCPSA process is proposed to improve the performance of miniature oxygen concentrator. The RCPSA air separation system is highly integrated by four adsorbent beds and a rotary valve. The effects of process parameters on the performance of the RCPSA system were conducted by experiments. Results showed that the system could produce 1 L min−1 of ~ 92% O2 with ~ 30% of oxygen recovery and ~ 78 kg·TPD−1 of bed size factor (BSF) from compressed air at low adsorption and desorption pressure ratio (~ 250:101 kPa). The minimum BSF with ~ 5 s optimal cycle time is a sharp decline with increasing of pressure ratio. However, a reversed trend between BSF and unit power at different pressure ratios is prominently emerged.