How Does an Oxygen Generator Work for Industrial Use? (2025)

In modern industrial manufacturing, there is a widespread demand for high purity oxygen across different applications. Sourcing the required quantities of oxygen gas can be made cost-effective with access to a dedicated oxygen generator.

This article describes how an industrial oxygen generator works and outlines the most common applications for the generated gas.

What Is an Oxygen Generator?

An oxygen generator is a device that separates oxygen from compressed air using special selective adsorptive technology called pressure swing adsorption (PSA). The compressed air used in the oxygen generation process has a similar composition to ambient environmental air with 21% oxygen and 78% nitrogen. The oxygen contained in the compressed air is allowed to flow through a zeolite molecular sieve which retains nitrogen resulting in high purity oxygen at gas production outlets.

Operating Principles for a PSA Oxygen Generator

The pressure swing adsorption process for a PSA oxygen generator is essentially the same as that of a nitrogen generator with one major distinction. The adsorptive material inside its molecular sieve is made of zeolite rather than carbon found in a nitrogen PSA device.

During a routine operation, compressed air channeled through the oxygen generator will be separated into its component gases. The zeolite molecular sieve will selectively adsorb nitrogen that meets it while allowing high purity oxygen gas to flow onwards to a product gas outlet.

A unique feature of zeolite that makes it ideal for an oxygen generator is its ability to released retained nitrogen gas once the pressure within the generator is eased. This makes it quite easy to regenerate the medium for a further cycle of oxygen generation.

In addition to our PSA variant, GENERON also manufactures a VPSA oxygen generator that supplies the zeolite vessels using a low-pressure blower and regenerates them with a vacuum.

Oxygen Generator vs. Oxygen Concentrator

These terms oxygen generator and oxygen concentrator are quite often used interchangeably and essentially mean the same thing. Generically speaking, an oxygen concentrator is a term used to define a smaller scale oxygen generation device (portable home concentrators) while an oxygen generator is a term more commonly used to describe equipment that processes large quantities of oxygen used in industrial manufacturing.

Components of Oxygen Generators

The typical components of an oxygen making machine are outlined below:

• An air compression unit
• Particulate and coalescing filters
• Instrument air dryers
• Two cylinders/towers filled with absorptive zeolite pellets
• A single pressure stabilizing reservoir
• Inlet and outlet valves
• Gas circulation tubing

Although the first three components mentioned are technically part of the oxygen generator itself, they are crucial to its function providing clean, dry compressed air to the PSA unit for separation and oxygen concentration.

Oxygen Generator Applications

Oxygen generators are currently in use in a broad range of commercial and industrial manufacturing applications. These devices play a crucial role in providing useful quantities of oxygen gas required to drive various processes.

Typical applications for PSA oxygen generators include:

• Sewage and wastewater treatment plants
• Glass manufacturing
• Food/Beverage industries
• Papermaking
• Metallurgy
• Chemical oxidation processes
• Commercial fish farming
• Mining
• Gasification processes

How Does an Oxygen Generator Work?

An oxygen generator using PSA technology utilizes the ability of adsorbent zeolite material to separate a stream of compressed air into its component gases. Thepressure swing adsorptionprocess to produce high purity oxygen is a two-stage cycle that involves simultaneous adsorption and desorption activities in two generation towers.

Adsorption

The adsorption stage of oxygen generation uses an adsorptive tower packed with molecular zeolite pellets that selectively retains nitrogen while allowing oxygen to pass into a collecting tank as product gas under pressure.

This process of selective adsorption will continue until the adsorptive tower reaches its maximum saturation point at which the zeolite sieve can no longer absorb more nitrogen gas.

Desorption

This second step in the PSA oxygen generation process is essentially a reversal of the adsorption process. Once the saturation point for a tower in the adsorptive phase is reached, its function is altered. Regeneration of the zeolite material is by rapidly depressurizing the cylinder to release absorbed nitrogen gas into the atmosphere.

The entire PSA process is automated with a central regulatory unit detecting oxygen and nitrogen gas saturation levels in both the adsorption and desorption towers. The phase switch is done by opening or closing the appropriate process valves and raising or reducing the pressure within the zeolite packed cylinders.

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What does an oxygen generator do?

Oxygen generators separate oxygen from compressed air so that the gas can be fed into industrial processes in real-time or stored in pressure tanks. Oxygen generators are used in dozens of industrial applications ranging from gold mining to aquaculture.

Normal ambient air is made up of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and other trace gases like argon and CO2. In order to remove the nitrogen and trace gases, an oxygen generator is used.

The smallest oxygen generators are no larger than a soda can, while industrial oxygen generators can fill a room. However, all oxygen generators have the same purpose: to provide a safe supply of concentrated oxygen gas.

Businesses who need bulk oxygen gas often start by purchasing tanks of the gas from other companies who fill those tanks using an industrial oxygen generator. If their need for pure oxygen is large and ongoing, it may be cost-effective to purchase their own oxygen generator and produce oxygen on site. While the up-front cost of the machinery is significant, the cost per cubic foot of oxygen generated is 1/3 to 1/2 that of purchasing bulk oxygen, so over time, the oxygen generator can pay for itself.

One example of this is hospitals that pipe oxygen into patient rooms. Instead of using bottled oxygen, most hospitals have one or more industrial oxygen generators in the building. A system of pressurized pipes are used to flow oxygen to each room.

How does an oxygen generator work?

An oxygen generator works by separating oxygen from other gases in the air using various technologies. The specific method employed depends on the type of oxygen generator. Hereare the main features of an oxygen generator and its operation:

1. Air Intake: The oxygen generator draws in ambient air from its surroundings. The air typically contains approximately 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and trace amounts of other gases.

2. Filtration: The incoming air goes through a series of filters to remove impurities, dust, and other particulate matter. These filters ensure that the oxygen produced is of high quality and free from contaminants.

3. Compression: After filtration, the air enters a compressor, where it is pressurized. This compression process increases the concentration of oxygen while reducing the concentration of nitrogen and other gases.

4. Separation: The pressurized air moves into a molecular sieve bed, which consists of zeolite material. Zeolite is a substance with a high affinity for nitrogen. As the air passes through the sieve bed, the zeolite selectively absorbs nitrogen molecules, allowing oxygen molecules to pass through more readily.

5. Oxygen Collection: The purified oxygen, now separated from nitrogen and other gases, is collected and stored in a reservoir within the oxygen generator.

6. Delivery: The collected oxygen is then delivered to the user through a flowmeter and a delivery system such as nasal cannulas or a face mask. The flow rate can be adjusted according to the user's prescribed oxygen therapy requirements.

7. Continuous Operation: Oxygen generators are designed to operate continuously, ensuring a steady supply of oxygen. They often incorporate cycling systems that alternate the adsorption and desorption phases of the molecular sieve bed, allowing for continuous oxygen production.

Overall, oxygen generators provide a convenient and cost-effective solution for individuals needing supplemental oxygen therapy, allowing them to receive the required oxygen concentration without the need for bulky oxygen tanks or frequent refills.

What is the difference between an oxygen concentrator and an oxygen generator?

An oxygen concentrator and an oxygen generator are two different devices used for generating or concentrating oxygen, but they are unique in the way in which they operate.

Oxygen Concentrator

An oxygen concentrator is a small medical device that takes in ambient air and removes nitrogen from it in real time, providing breathing air with a higher level of oxygen to the user. They are an alternative to replaceable oxygen tanks, and can be plugged in or portable. According to WebMD, about 1.5 million oxygen concentrators are used in the United States.

Here are the key points about oxygen concentrators:

• Operation: Oxygen concentrators use a process called pressure swing adsorption (PSA) to extract oxygen from the air. The air is drawn into the concentrator and passed through a series of filters, which remove impurities and separate oxygen from nitrogen using molecular sieve beds.
• Concentration Levels: Oxygen concentrators typically deliver oxygen with concentrations ranging from 87% to 95%, depending on the specific model and settings. This concentration is sufficient for most therapeutic uses.
• Power Source: Oxygen concentrators are electrically powered devices. They require a continuous source of electricity to operate and are commonly used in homes, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities.
• Portability: While some battery-operated models are portable and designed for mobility, most oxygen concentrators are larger and must be plugged in.
• Medical Use: Oxygen concentrators are commonly used to provide supplemental oxygen therapy to patients with respiratory conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or in other situations where additional oxygen is required.

Oxygen Generator

An oxygen generator, also known as an oxygen plant, is a device that generates oxygen by separating it from other gases in the atmosphere. Oxygen generators are typically used in industrial applications, but they can also be found in medical settings for large-scale oxygen supply.

Here are the key points about oxygen generators:

• Operation: Oxygen generators employ various methods such as pressure swing adsorption (PSA), membrane separation, or cryogenic distillation to separate oxygen from air. The specific technique used depends on the scale and requirements of the application.

• Concentration Levels: Oxygen generators can produce high-purity oxygen with concentrations ranging from 90% to over 99.9%.

• Power Source: Oxygen generators can be powered by electricity or other energy sources, depending on the design and size. They are generally larger and more powerful than oxygen concentrators.

• Portability: Oxygen generators are large, stationary units installed in industrial or medical facilities to meet the demand for large volumes of oxygen.

  See Also

  Oxygen Plants and Oxygen Making machines, BERG GaseTechHow does an oxygen generator work? - BERG GaseTech GmbHIndustrial and Medical Oxygen Generators | BERG GasetechOxygen Generators PSA | high purity O2 PSA | OXYBERG

• Industrial Use: Oxygen generators are commonly employed in industries such as steelmaking, chemical processing, water treatment, and aerospace. They are used for applications that require high-purity oxygen in large quantities.

Overall, the main difference between an oxygen concentrator and an oxygen generator lies in their operation, concentration levels, power source, portability, and overall applications or industry focus. While oxygen concentrators are primarily used for medical purposes, oxygen generators are larger devices primarily used in industrial settings to produce high volumes of oxygen.

Types of Oxygen Generators

1. Pressure Swing Adsorption Oxygen Generator

Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) is the most common method of producing oxygen at an industrial scale. PSA generators separate nitrogen from ambient air inside a pressurized tank filled with Zeolite. Zeolite is a natural or man-made mineral that acts as a “molecular sieve.” It is this ability to “sort” molecules by size that makes zeolite so useful. The larger nitrogen molecules are adsorbed by the sieve material while the smaller oxygen molecules drift past and are collected. Pressure is then released, the nitrogen molecules are vented to the atmosphere, and the tank is pressurized again.

Using PSA will result in 90-95% oxygenated gas. Further refinement can be achieved by repeating the process until over 99% “pure” oxygen is generated.

As a side note, the PSA process can also be used to generate nitrogen by collecting the nitrogen molecules and venting the oxygen.PSA is also used in the large-scale commercial synthesis of hydrogen used in oil refineries and in the production of ammonia for fertilizer.

2. Membrane Oxygen Generator

Membrane oxygen generators us a compressed air stream passed through semi-permeable materials that allow for the passage of specific molecules. Under pressure, smaller oxygen molecules pass through the membrane, filtered out and collected leaving a stream of nitrogen flowing out the opposite end of the membrane. While membrane-type generators are not as common, they are considered to be more reliable because there are no moving parts that can fail.

3. Chemical Oxygen Generator

A chemical oxygen generator is a device that releases oxygen by a chemical reaction. A container of inorganic salts called “superoxides” or sodium chlorate are ignited. As they heat they give off oxygen until the compound is consumed.

Because of their long shelf-life, stability and small size (about the size of a can of soda) chemical oxygen generators are used in commercial airliners. Mounted over the seats, each generator can produce enough oxygen for 2-3 masks for 10-20 minutes. A similar device is called an oxygen candle. It works using the same principle of releasing oxygen with heat, and is used as a personal safety oxygen supply in mines, submarines and on the space station.

Oxygen Generator Uses

While there are dozens of uses for industrial oxygen generators, some of the most common ones are listed below.

Bulk Medical Grade Oxygen

Medical grade oxygen used in hospitals or for home health care is certified to meet the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) XXII Oxygen 93% Monograph. USP requirements are the oxygen level is between 90 and 96% pure with the remainder made up of argon and hydrogen. No more than 300ppm of CO2 or any other gases or molecules are allowed.

Portable Breathing Oxygen

The International Space Station, submarines and SCUBA divers all rely on oxygen generators to produce breathable air. Because they are closed systems, each work in conjunction with carbon dioxide “scrubbers” to remove the CO2 while bringing the oxygen level back to 20.9% oxygenated air.

Fish farms & Aquaculture

Like humans, fish and other marine animals required oxygen to survive. With the prevalence of fish farms, the “farmers” must insure their livestock gets proper oxygen to survive. Before fish farming was done on an industrial scale, the farmers would fence off an area of water at the edge of a lake to raise their catch. With industrial oxygen generators, farmers now have the ability to raise fish in man-made pools of oxygenated water. The benefit to the farmer is higher stock densities in a smaller area and faster fish growth.

Sewage and Waste Water Treatment

In waste water treatment plants oxygen generators are used to provide additional oxygen to the bacteria that enable biodegradation to occur. The bacteria break down the sludge into CO2 and water faster if supplemental oxygen is added during the process.

Steel Industry

Industrial oxygen generators are used in the steel manufacturing process in several ways. Oxygen furnaces are used for decarburization, the process of decreasing the carbon in the metals while in a molten state. Oxygen is also used to increase the melting rates in the furnaces and reduces scaling when reheating furnaces.

Gold Mining

Mines that extract gold on an industrial scale use oxygen generators during the cyanide leaching process. A sodium-cyanide solution is mixed into crushed gold-bearing rocks along with oxygen to release the gold from the rock.

Welding

Oxyacetylene cutting and welding of metals use liquid fuel and oxygen to increase the flame temperature so that the metal is melted at the point of the welding tip. This melting can be used to weld or to cut the metal.

Glass Blowing

Like welding, glass blowing requires high levels of heat to melt the glass. Oxygen is used to increase the temperature of the flames both in ovens and for torches used to shape the glass pieces.

Pulp and Paper Manufacturing

Delignification is the process of extracting lignin from the plant material in one of the steps required to make paper from trees. Large amounts of oxygen are required in this process, as well as several other later steps in pulp and paper manufacturing.

Oxygen Generator Safety

Enclosed areas with higher than normal levels of oxygen are typically not a medical hazard, but do increase the risk of fire. Even 2-3% increase in normal room oxygen levels when combined with fuel and a spark can result in a flash fire.

Industries who use oxygen generators rely on devices like our Remote Oxygen Deficiency Safety Alarmto protect workers around bulk liquid stored oxygen or where oxygen generators are used. This includes applications likesteel manufacturing,welding and cutting, cryogenics, hospitals, diving tanks, underwater facilities and emergency air backup systems.

Where to Buy an Oxygen Generator

While there are dozens of types and uses for oxygen generators, there are only two ways to purchase them.

Commercial Oxygen Generators are large pieces of industrial equipment that must be professionally installed. Because so many people search for "oxygen concentrator" they are difficult to find. We suggest searching for:

• psa oxygen generator manufacturers
• industrial oxygen generator manufacturers
• chemical oxygen generator manufacturers

Thomasnetis where many of the top industrial oxygen generator manufacturers advertise online, so it is is a good place to start your research.

Because of the size, cost and output differences between industrial oxygen generator manufacturers there are no direct online comparisons between manufacturers, nor can we recommend which one to buy. However, a useful resource may be online discussion groups related to your industry where you can ask questions or see recommendations from companies like yours.

Home Oxygen Concentrators are small, lightweight units sold for home use through medical supply houses, retail outlets or online. Because they don't technically "produce" oxygen they can be purchased with or without a doctor's prescription.

Click the links below to gain more information on further solutions for nitrogen separation please visit:

Image used with permission from Rifair and Bubinek / CC BY-SA

Device that removes nitrogen from air

An oxygen concentrator is a device that concentrates the oxygen from a gas supply (typically ambient air) by selectively removing nitrogen to supply an oxygen-enriched product gas stream. They are used industrially, to provide supplemental oxygen at high altitudes, and as medical devices for oxygen therapy.[1]

Oxygen concentrators are used widely for oxygen provision in healthcare applications, especially where liquid or pressurized oxygen is too dangerous or inconvenient, such as in homes or portable clinics, and can also provide an economical source of oxygen in industrial processes, where they are also known as oxygen gas generators or oxygen generation plants. Two methods in common use are pressure swing adsorption and membrane gas separation.

Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) oxygen concentrators use a molecular sieve to adsorb gases and operate on the principle of rapid pressure swing adsorption of atmospheric nitrogen onto zeolite minerals at high pressure. This type of adsorption system is therefore functionally a nitrogen scrubber, allowing the other atmospheric gases to pass through, leaving oxygen as the primary gas remaining. PSA technology is a reliable and economical technique for small to mid-scale oxygen generation. Cryogenic separation is more suitable at higher volumes.[2]

Gas separation across a membrane is a pressure-driven process, where the driving force is the difference in pressure between inlet of raw material and outlet of product. The membrane used in the process is a generally non-porous layer, so there will not be a severe leakage of gas through the membrane. The performance of the membrane depends on permeability and selectivity. Permeability is affected by the penetrant size. Larger gas molecules have a lower diffusion coefficient. The membrane gas separation equipment typically pumps gas into the membrane module and the targeted gases are separated based on difference in diffusivity and solubility. For example, oxygen will be separated from the ambient air and collected at the upstream side, and nitrogen at the downstream side. As of 2016, membrane technology was reported as capable of producing 10 to 25 tonnes of 25 to 40% oxygen per day.[3]

History

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Home medical oxygen concentrators were invented in the early 1970s, with the manufacturing output of these devices increasing in the late 1970s. Union Carbide Corporation and Bendix Corporation were both early manufacturers. Before that era, home medical oxygen therapy required the use of heavy high-pressure oxygen cylinders or small cryogenic liquid oxygen systems. Both of these delivery systems required frequent home visits by suppliers to replenish oxygen supplies. In the United States, Medicare switched from fee-for-service payment to a flat monthly rate for home oxygen therapy in the mid-1980s, causing the durable medical equipment (DME) industry to rapidly embrace concentrators as a way to control costs. This reimbursement change dramatically decreased the number of primary high pressure and liquid oxygen delivery systems in use in homes in the United States at that time. Oxygen concentrators became the preferred and most common means of delivering home oxygen. The number of manufacturers entering the oxygen concentrator market increased greatly as a result of this change. Union Carbide Corporation invented the molecular sieve in the 1950s, which made these devices possible. It also invented the first cryogenic liquid home medical oxygen systems in the 1960s.

How oxygen concentrators work

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Oxygen concentrators using pressure swing adsorption (PSA) technology are used widely for oxygen provision in healthcare applications, especially where liquid or pressurized oxygen is too dangerous or inconvenient, such as in homes or portable clinics. For other purposes, there are also concentrators based on nitrogen separation membrane technology.

An oxygen concentrator takes in air and removes nitrogen from it, leaving an oxygen-enriched gas for use by people requiring medical oxygen due to low oxygen levels in their blood.[4] Oxygen concentrators provide an economical source of oxygen in industrial processes, where they are also known as oxygen gas generators or oxygen generation plants.

Pressure swing adsorption

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These oxygen concentrators utilize a molecular sieve to adsorb gases and operate on the principle of rapid pressure swing adsorption of atmospheric nitrogen onto zeolite minerals at high pressure. This type of adsorption system is therefore functionally a nitrogen scrubber, allowing the other atmospheric gases to pass through, leaving oxygen as the primary gas remaining. PSA technology is a reliable and economical technique for small- to mid-scale oxygen generation. Cryogenic separation is more suitable at higher volumes, and external delivery generally more suitable for small volumes.[5]

At high pressure, the porous zeolite adsorbs large quantities of nitrogen because of its large surface area and chemical characteristics. The oxygen concentrator compresses air and passes it over zeolite, causing the zeolite to adsorb the nitrogen from the air. It then collects the remaining gas, which is mostly oxygen, and the nitrogen desorbs from the zeolite under the reduced pressure to be vented.

Animation of pressure swing adsorption (1) and (2), showing alternating adsorption and desorption. I compressed air input A adsorption O oxygen output D desorption E exhaust

An oxygen concentrator has an air compressor, two cylinders filled with zeolite pellets, a pressure-equalizing reservoir, and some valves and tubes. In the first half-cycle, the first cylinder receives air from the compressor, which lasts about 3 seconds. During that time, the pressure in the first cylinder rises from atmospheric to about 2.5 times normal atmospheric pressure (typically 20 psi/138 kPa gauge, or 2.36 atmospheres absolute) and the zeolite becomes saturated with nitrogen. As the first cylinder reaches near pure oxygen (there are small amounts of argon, CO2, water vapour, radon, and other minor atmospheric components) in the first half-cycle, a valve opens and the oxygen-enriched gas flows to the pressure-equalizing reservoir, which connects to the patient's oxygen hose. At the end of the first half of the cycle, there is another valve position change so that the air from the compressor is directed to the second cylinder. The pressure in the first cylinder drops as the enriched oxygen moves into the reservoir, allowing the nitrogen to be desorbed back into gas. Partway through the second half of the cycle, there is another valve position change to vent the gas in the first cylinder back into the ambient atmosphere, keeping the concentration of oxygen in the pressure-equalizing reservoir from falling below about 90%. The pressure in the hose delivering oxygen from the equalizing reservoir is kept steady by a pressure-reducing valve.

Older units cycled for a period of about 20 seconds and supplied up to 5 litres per minute of 90+% oxygen. Since about 1999, units capable of supplying up to 10 L/min have been available.

Classic oxygen concentrators use two-bed molecular sieves; newer concentrators use multi-bed molecular sieves. The advantage of the multi-bed technology is the increased availability and redundancy, as the 10 L/min molecular sieves are staggered and multiplied on several platforms. With this, over 960 L/min can be produced. The ramp-up time — the elapsed time until a multi-bed concentrator is producing oxygen at >90% concentration — is often less than 2 minutes, much faster than simple two-bed concentrators. This is a big advantage in mobile emergencies. The option to fill standard oxygen cylinders (e.g., 50 L at 200 bar = 10,000 L each) with high-pressure boosters, to ensure automatic failover to previously filled reserve cylinders and to ensure the oxygen supply chain, e.g., in case of power failure, is given with those systems.

Membrane separation

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In membrane gas separation, membranes act as a permeable barrier, which different compounds move across at different rates or do not cross at all.

Gas mixtures can be effectively separated by synthetic membranes made from polymers such as polyamide or cellulose acetate, or from ceramic materials.[6]

Membrane cartridge.

While polymeric membranes are economical and technologically useful, they are bound by their performance, known as the Robeson limit (permeability must be sacrificed for selectivity and vice versa).[7] This limit affects polymeric membrane use for CO2 separation from flue gas streams, since mass transport becomes limiting and CO2 separation becomes very expensive due to low permeabilities. Membrane materials have expanded into the realm of silica, zeolites, metal-organic frameworks, and perovskites, due to their strong thermal and chemical resistance as well as high tunability (ability to be modified and functionalized), leading to increased permeability and selectivity. Membranes can be used for separating gas mixtures, where they act as a permeable barrier through which different compounds move across at different rates or don't move at all. The membranes can be nanoporous, polymer, etc., and the gas molecules penetrate according to their size, diffusivity, or solubility.

Gas separation across a membrane is a pressure-driven process, where the driving force is the difference in pressure between inlet of raw material and outlet of product. The membrane used in the process is a generally non-porous layer, so there will not be a severe leakage of gas through the membrane. The performance of the membrane depends on permeability and selectivity. Permeability is affected by the penetrant size. Larger gas molecules have a lower diffusion coefficient. The polymer chain flexibility and free volume in the polymer of the membrane material influence the diffusion coefficient, as the space within the permeable membrane must be large enough for the gas molecules to diffuse across. The solubility is expressed as the ratio of the concentration of the gas in the polymer to the pressure of the gas in contact with it. Permeability is the ability of the membrane to allow the permeating gas to diffuse through the material of the membrane as a consequence of the pressure difference over the membrane, and can be measured in terms of the permeate flow rate, membrane thickness and area, and the pressure difference across the membrane. The selectivity of a membrane is a measure of the ratio of permeability of the relevant gases for the membrane. It can be calculated as the ratio of permeability of two gases in binary separation.[3]

The membrane gas separation equipment typically pumps gas into the membrane module, and the targeted gases are separated based on difference in diffusivity and solubility. For example, oxygen will be separated from the ambient air and collected at the upstream side and nitrogen at the downstream side. As of 2016, membrane technology was reported as capable of producing 10 to 25 tonnes of 25 to 40% oxygen per day.[3]

Applications

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Medical oxygen concentrators are used in hospitals or at home to concentrate oxygen for patients.[8] PSA generators provide a cost-efficient source of oxygen. They are a safer,[9] less expensive,[10] and more convenient alternative to tanks of cryogenic oxygen or pressurised cylinders. They can be used in various industries, including medical, pharmaceutical production, water treatment, and glass manufacture.

PSA generators are particularly useful in remote or inaccessible parts of the world or mobile medical facilities (military hospitals, disaster facilities).[11][12]

Portable oxygen concentrators

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Since the early 2000s, many companies have produced portable oxygen concentrators.[13] Typically, these devices produce the equivalent of one to five liters per minute of continuous oxygen flow and they use some version of pulse flow or "demand flow" to deliver oxygen only when the patient is inhaling.[14] They can also provide pulses of oxygen either to provide higher intermittent flows or to reduce power consumption.

Research into oxygen concentration is ongoing, and modern techniques suggest that the amount of adsorbent required by medical oxygen concentrators can be potentially "reduced by a factor of three while offering ~10–20% higher oxygen recovery compared to a typical commercial unit."[15]

The FAA has approved the use of portable oxygen concentrators on commercial airlines.[16] However, users of these devices should check in advance as to whether a particular brand or model is permitted on a particular airline.[17] Unlike in commercial airlines, users of aircraft without cabin pressurization need oxygen concentrators that are able to deliver enough flowrate even at high altitudes.

Usually, "demand," or pulse-flow, oxygen concentrators are not used by patients while they sleep. There have been problems with the oxygen concentrators not being able to detect when the sleeping patient is inhaling. Some larger portable oxygen concentrators are designed to operate in a continuous-flow mode in addition to pulse-flow mode. Continuous-flow mode is considered safe for night use when coupled with a CPAP machine.

Alternate applications

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Repurposed medical oxygen concentrators or specialized industrial oxygen concentrators can be made to operate small oxyacetylene or other fuel gas cutting, welding, and lampworking torches.[18]

Philips Respironics Home Oxygen Concentrator.

Application of a PSA Oxygen Generator in Industries

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Oxygen is widely needed for the oxidation of different chemicals for industrial purposes. Previously, these industries purchased oxygen cylinders in large numbers to meet their requirements. but it was very expensive, and oxygen cylinders were not always available in the market.

Industries that need PSA oxygen generators for production

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Paper industry

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Oxygen is needed here for the bleaching of paper pulp with the help of the oxidation process to make the paper white. Moreover, lignin present in the wood is removed by the delignification process, which also needs oxygen.

Glass industry

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Huge furnaces are needed to melt the raw materials that combine to form glass. Oxygen flares up the furnace's fire to burn at a higher temperature needed for the production of glass.

Chemical industries

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Oxygen is needed for the oxidation of different chemicals to form the desired chemical substances. Waste chemical products are burnt down and destroyed in the incinerator with the help of oxygen; thus, the continuous supply of a bulk amount of oxygen is essential, which is possible only by a PSA oxygen generator.

Safety

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In both clinical and emergency-care situations, oxygen concentrators have the advantage of not being as dangerous as oxygen cylinders, which can, if ruptured or leaking, greatly increase the combustion rate of fire. As such, oxygen concentrators are particularly advantageous in military or disaster situations, where oxygen tanks may be dangerous or unfeasible.

Oxygen concentrators are considered sufficiently foolproof to be supplied to individual patients as a prescription item for use in their homes. Typically they are used as an adjunct to CPAP treatment of severe sleep apnea. There also are other medical uses for oxygen concentrators, including COPD and other respiratory diseases.

People who depend upon oxygen concentrators for home care may have life-threatening emergencies if the electricity fails during a natural disaster.[19]

Industrial oxygen concentrators

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Industrial processes may use much higher pressures and flows than medical units. To meet that need, another process, called vacuum swing adsorption (VSA), has been developed by Air Products. This process uses a single low-pressure blower and a valve that reverses the flow through the blower so that the regeneration phase occurs under a vacuum. Generators using this process are being marketed to the aquaculture industry. Industrial oxygen concentrators are often available in a much wider range of capacities than medical concentrators.

Industrial oxygen concentrators are sometimes referred to as oxygen generators within the oxygen and ozone industries to distinguish them from medical oxygen concentrators. The distinction is used in an attempt to clarify that industrial oxygen concentrators are not medical devices approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and they are not suitable for use as bedside medical concentrators. However, applying the oxygen generator nomenclature can lead to confusion. The term oxygen generator is a misnomer in that the oxygen is not generated as it is with a chemical oxygen generator, but rather it is concentrated from the air.

Non-medical oxygen concentrators can be used as feed gas to a medical oxygen system, such as the oxygen system in a hospital, though governmental approval is required, such as by the FDA, and additional filtering is generally required.

During the COVID-19 pandemic

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The COVID-19 pandemic increased the demand for oxygen concentrators. During the pandemic open source oxygen concentrators were developed, locally manufactured – with prices below imported products – and used, especially during a COVID-19 pandemic wave in India.[20][21]

See also

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References

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