Flexible oxygen concentrators for medical applications

Abstract Medical oxygen concentrators (MOCs) are used for supplying medical grade oxygen to prevent hypoxemia-related complications related to COVID-19, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis and pneumonia. MOCs often use a technology called pressure swing adsorption (PSA),...

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Main Authors: Akhil Arora, M. M. Faruque Hasan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2021-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93796-3
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author Akhil Arora
M. M. Faruque Hasan
author_facet Akhil Arora
M. M. Faruque Hasan
author_sort Akhil Arora
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Medical oxygen concentrators (MOCs) are used for supplying medical grade oxygen to prevent hypoxemia-related complications related to COVID-19, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis and pneumonia. MOCs often use a technology called pressure swing adsorption (PSA), which relies on nitrogen-selective adsorbents for producing oxygen from ambient air. MOCs are often designed for fixed product specifications, thereby limiting their use in meeting varying product specifications caused by a change in patient’s medical condition or activity. To address this limitation, we design and optimize flexible single-bed MOC systems that are capable of meeting varying product specification requirements. Specifically, we employ a simulation-based optimization framework for optimizing flexible PSA- and pressure vacuum swing adsorption (PVSA)-based MOC systems. Detailed optimization studies are performed to benchmark the performance limits of LiX, LiLSX and 5A zeolite adsorbents. The results indicate that LiLSX outperforms both LiX and 5A, and can produce 90% pure oxygen at 21.7 L/min. Moreover, the LiLSX-based flexible PVSA system can manufacture varying levels of oxygen purity and flow rate in the range 93–95.7% and 1–15 L/min, respectively. The flexible MOC technology paves way for transitioning to an envisioned cyber-physical system with real-time oxygen demand sensing and delivery for improved patient care.
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spelling doaj.art-d3d32e36961c4946b1a6e740b35fd3aa2022-12-21T23:37:04ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-07-0111111410.1038/s41598-021-93796-3Flexible oxygen concentrators for medical applicationsAkhil Arora0M. M. Faruque Hasan1Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M UniversityArtie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M UniversityAbstract Medical oxygen concentrators (MOCs) are used for supplying medical grade oxygen to prevent hypoxemia-related complications related to COVID-19, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis and pneumonia. MOCs often use a technology called pressure swing adsorption (PSA), which relies on nitrogen-selective adsorbents for producing oxygen from ambient air. MOCs are often designed for fixed product specifications, thereby limiting their use in meeting varying product specifications caused by a change in patient’s medical condition or activity. To address this limitation, we design and optimize flexible single-bed MOC systems that are capable of meeting varying product specification requirements. Specifically, we employ a simulation-based optimization framework for optimizing flexible PSA- and pressure vacuum swing adsorption (PVSA)-based MOC systems. Detailed optimization studies are performed to benchmark the performance limits of LiX, LiLSX and 5A zeolite adsorbents. The results indicate that LiLSX outperforms both LiX and 5A, and can produce 90% pure oxygen at 21.7 L/min. Moreover, the LiLSX-based flexible PVSA system can manufacture varying levels of oxygen purity and flow rate in the range 93–95.7% and 1–15 L/min, respectively. The flexible MOC technology paves way for transitioning to an envisioned cyber-physical system with real-time oxygen demand sensing and delivery for improved patient care.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93796-3
spellingShingle Akhil Arora
M. M. Faruque Hasan
Flexible oxygen concentrators for medical applications
Scientific Reports
title Flexible oxygen concentrators for medical applications
title_full Flexible oxygen concentrators for medical applications
title_fullStr Flexible oxygen concentrators for medical applications
title_full_unstemmed Flexible oxygen concentrators for medical applications
title_short Flexible oxygen concentrators for medical applications
title_sort flexible oxygen concentrators for medical applications
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93796-3
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