Design of a Low Cost Oxygen Machine for HDU
Jacqueline Dzizi1, Lucia Sibale2, Tifly Thimba3 and Edwin Khundi4*
1
Malawi Institute of Technology, Malawi University of Science and Technology, Malawi.
2
Malawi Institute of Technology, Malawi University of Science and Technology, Malawi.
3
Malawi Institute of Technology, Malawi University of Science and Technology, Malawi.
4*
Supervisor, Lecturer @ Malawi University of Science and Technology, Malawi, ekhundi@must.ac.mw
INTRODUCTION
Oxygen is a world health organisation (WHO) listed
essential drug and it has an important role in the
treatment of a wide range of conditions. There is
international concern that oxygen provision in
developing countries fails to meet demand 1. Study
done by Evans et al. (2012), says that half of the
concentrators do not function adequately. Even if all
the concentrators were functional, demand would still
exceed supply capacity by 75%. The study was
conducted at a large teaching hospital in southern
Malawi, Queens Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH),
which delivers both district level care and tertiary
referral services2. The situation is much worse in
district hospitals. Moreover, health centres which are
close to the communities do not have these devices.
Oxygen concentrator, including the tubing and
accessories needed to support up to five children at a
time, costs K1.35 million ($1, 800.00)3. According to
the study we conducted in Salima, Lilongwe and
Nkhotakota cost of purchasing and maintaining these
devices is one of major causes of its scarcity. There is
a need to design a simple and a low cost model.
DESIGN
It will still use pressure swing adsorption technology
(PSA), but Instead of increasing pressure using a
separate compressor component, we will invent a
magnetic based compressor cylinder (MBCC). This
will increase the pressure inside, by reducing its
volume. Using the general gas law formula;
nRT
P=
V
Where P is absolute pressure, N is number of Kmoles
of Gas, R is the universal gas constant
8.314KJ/Kmol/K, T is absolute temperature K and V
3 14(11):1362-68.
is volume in m . The required volume of the MBCC
will be calculated.
Figure 1: Flow diagram of the Magnetic based
compressor cylinder.
TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY
Two electromagnetic rings, placed on opposite ends
of the cylinder, will be magnetised in phase. When
one is magnetised, it will attract a piston ringed with
a permanent magnet. This will reduce volume at one
end which will lead to increase in pressure. Once the
desired pressure for nitrogen adsorption is reached,
20psi/138kpa, valves to the reservoir cylinder will
automatically open directing the remaining oxygen.
When the electromagnet is demagnetised, the piston
will move to the other end and the volume will
increase reducing pressure for desorption of nitrogen
from molecular sieve bed. The cycle repeats itself.
AUDIENCE
This project targets patients who are in need of
oxygen supplements.
DISCUSSION
The technology proposed will eliminate a compressor
and one cylinder in the oxygen machine thus
reducing its cost and complexity. This will therefore
help hospitals in developing countries to afford
enough oxygen machines.
CONCLUSSION
Once the MBCC is successful, a simple and low cost
oxygen concentrator will be manufactured.
Developing countries will be able to purchase enough
for their hospitals and health centres. This will help
to save the lives of many people who die due to lack
of enough oxygen, since in southern Africa, 80% of
children who need oxygen do not receive it3.
REFERENCES
1. Duke T, Graham SM, Cherian MN,
Ginsburg AS, English M. Oxygen is an
essential medicine: a call for international
action. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2010;
2. Evans H. T, Mahmood N, Fullerton D. G,
Rylance J, Gonani A, Gordon S. B, ...,
Allain T. J. (2012). Oxygen saturations of
medical inpatients in a Malawian hospital:
cross-section study of oxygen supply and
demand. Pneumonia. Vol. 1, p. 3-6. Griffith
university epress. Pneumonia.org.au.
3. World Altering Medicine, (2016). Oxygen
concentrators for paediatric hospitals in
Malawi, breath of life retrieved from
www.worldalteringmedicine.org/program/br
eath-of-life/.