Filing Information

Inventor(s)	Kevin Gene McCulloh · Dale Louis Selhost · John W. Henneman · Kelly M. Coffield ·
Assignee(s)	Litton Systems, Inc. ·  View assignee updates
Attorney/Agent(s)	Michael H. Wallach ·
Primary Examiner	Robert Spitzer ·
Application Number	US8797828
Filing date	02/10/1997
Issue date	01/12/1999
Predicted expiration date	02/10/2017
U.S. Classifications	/95  · /95  ·
International Classifications	B01D 53053  ·
Kind Code	A
International Classifications	958;11;12;19;22;96;117;121;130 ·

Patent Family

Abstract

An apparatus for providing oxygen-enriched air at a first pressure and at a second pressure, the second pressure being greater than the first pressure. The apparatus comprises, in combination, a pressure swing adsorption system and a pressure intensifier. The pressure swing adsorption system for enriching the oxygen content of air has a pressure of at least the first pressure. The pressure swing adsorption system is adapted to provide oxygen-enriched air to a first outlet at the first pressure and to provide oxygen-enriched air to a pressure intensifier at the first pressure. The pressure intensifier pressurizes the oxygen-enriched air and provides the oxygen-enriched air to a second outlet at the second pressure.

Independent Claims | See all claims (43)

1. 1. A method for providing oxygen-enriched air at a first pressure and at a second pressure, said second pressure being greater than the first pressure, said method comprising:feeding air to an air separation system;simultaneously providing oxygen-enriched air from said air separation system to a first outlet at said first pressure and to a second outlet connected to a pressure intensifier at approximately said first pressure;increasing the pressure of said oxygen-enriched air provided by the pressure intensifier to said second pressure;wherein said air separation system is capable of simultaneously providing oxygen-enriched air to said first outlet and said second outlet such that a flow of oxygen-enriched air can be supplied continuously to said first inlet while said pressure intensifier is pressurizing said oxygen-enriched air to said second pressure.
2. 8. An apparatus for providing oxygen-enriched air comprising:a low pressure oxygen-enriched air separation system for enriching the oxygen content of inlet air, said air separation system adapted to simultaneously provide oxygen-enriched air to a first outlet at a first pressure and adapted to simultaneously provide oxygen-enriched air to a second outlet at approximately said first pressure; anda pressure intensifier connected to said second outlet to pressurize said oxygen-enriched air and to provide said oxygen-enriched air to a high pressure cylinder at a second pressure;wherein said air separation system is capable of simultaneously providing oxygen-enriched air to said first outlet continuously and said second outlet such that a flow of oxygen-enriched air can be supplied continuously to said first outlet while said pressure intensifier is pressurizing said oxygen-enriched air to said second pressure.
3. 26. Apparatus for providing oxygen-enriched air comprising:an air compressor, a low pressure oxygen-enriched air separation system and a pressure intensifier;said air compressor being adapted to provide compressed air to said oxygen-enriched air separation system;said oxygen-enriched air separation system being adapted to simultaneously provide oxygen-enriched air to a first outlet at a first pressure and to the pressure intensifier at said first pressure, said pressure intensifier being adapted to provide oxygen-enriched air at said second pressure;said first outlet having a controller to control the flow of oxygen enriched air at said first outlet;wherein said air separation system is capable of simultaneously providing oxygen-enriched air to said first outlet and said second outlet such that a flow of oxygen-enriched air can be supplied continuously to said first inlet while said pressure intensifier is pressurizing said oxygen-enriched air to said second pressure.