High purity oxygen generators

Normal, dry atmospheric air comprises about 78% nitrogen by volume, made up with 21% oxygen and the remaining balance incorporating argon, water vapour, carbon dioxide and other minor trace gases. The increasing reduction of the nitrogen content from compressed air therefore leaves the residual gas with greatly enhanced oxygen content.

The separation of gases is achieved by forcing compressed air through a separation column containing a highly selective Zeolite sieve which adsorbs a large percentage of the nitrogen content in the air. This leaves the residual air that has passed through the separation process with appropriate enhanced levels of O2 content. A Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA) process is used for the twin-column process, so that when the on-line column is saturated with nitrogen, an automatic changeover to the second column of Zeolite processing is undertaken. With 180°phase delay between cycles, a continuous output of highly oxygenated air is maintained.

With purities of up to 98.5% of O2, oxygen generators can be connected to an external buffer tank or tanks to accommodate delays or variations in production/consumption. The modular philosophy of the Hi-line Oxygen generators allows the installation of multiple parallel units according to application requirements.

The uses of oxygen produced in this process are many and varied, including the oxygenation of bio-mass systems to enhance burn performance, the leak testing of automotive air conditioning units, as air cleaners for ozone generators, and in hospitals for the treatment of acute respiratory infections and as shock treatments to save patients lives.

A total of 15 O2 generator models are available covering oxygen flows from 0.125 up to 120.18 Nm3/h, depending upon the oxygen % levels required.