ADDIS ABABA INSTITUTE OF

TECHNOLOGY
CENTER OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
LAB REPORT ON Oxygen Concentrator

GROUP MEMBERS ID.NO

1) ASHENAFI TILAHUN ATR/0024/10
2) ADANE ABEBAW ATR/6455/10
3) EFRATA H/MARIAM ATR/6019/10
4) SINESHAWU ALEMU ATR/5125/10
5) YEABSIRA MENGISTU ATR/5433/10
6) DAWIT BENEGA ATR/3239/10
7)
Introduction
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. Oxygen concentrators provide supplementary oxygen for patients
with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and, in higher concentrations, for
severe chronic hypoxemia and pulmonary edema. They may be used as an adjunct
treatment for severe sleep apnea (in conjunction with a continuous positive airway
pressure unit). In simple words, an Oxygen Concentrator works on electricity; takes in
room air, removes Nitrogen from it and provides up to 95% pure Oxygen.

Working principle of oxygen concentrator

The composition of air (78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen and 1% other gases like Carbon
Dioxide, Argon, etc.) clearly shows that air is mainly comprised of two gases: Nitrogen
and Oxygen [together 99%]. If Nitrogen is removed from air, the primary gas remaining
would be Oxygen with purity of about 90-95%. An Oxygen Concentrator uses this idea
with the basic principle of Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) to deliver 90-95% pure
oxygen.
 Ambient air (room air) passing through a series of filters is drawn into the
machine by a compressor.
 This air is compressed into the 1st molecular sieve bed and all the Nitrogen is
adsorbed. The molecular sieve beds are porous & thus have large surface area
due to which they adsorb large amount of Nitrogen.

 Now because air had only Nitrogen and Oxygen as main components; the
primary gas that remains is Oxygen. This Oxygen has a concentration of up to
95% and is ready to be supplied to patient via Oxygen delivery system like Nasal
Cannula, Oxygen mask, etc.
 The compressor keeps on compressing air into the 1st molecular sieve bed till it
gets saturated (filled) by Nitrogen. The sieve bed usually gets saturated at
pressure of 20 psi.

 Just before 1st molecular sieve bed gets saturated, the Switch Valve comes into
action and output of the air compressor is immediately switched to 2nd sieve bed
i.e. the compressor starts compressing air to the 2nd molecular sieve. 

 While this sieve bed gets saturated by Nitrogen, the Nitrogen that was trapped in
the 1st sieve bed is vented out. The little Nitrogen that is left in the sieve bed
after discharging is removed by back-flushing of Oxygen from the other sieve
bed.
  The switch valve again switches the output of air compressor back to the
1st sieve bed as soon as the 2nd sieve bed approaches saturation. 

 This process keeps on repeating to ensure continuous flow of Oxygen.

 This process of switching the sieve beds is known as Pressure Swing Adsorption
(PSA).
 The output of Oxygen is then controlled using a flow meter where the flow can be
set manually in Liters per Minute (LPM).
 Oxygen flows out through an outlet where an Oxygen delivery system like nasal
cannula or a mask is usually connected via humidifier.

Main components

 Series of filters: To filter out impurities present in air

 Air Compressor: To pull room air into the machine and forward it to the
molecular sieve beds.
 2 Molecular Sieve Beds – Zeolite (Micro porous Aluminosilicate mineral): Have
the ability to trap Nitrogen.
 Switch valve: Switches the output of compressor between the 2 molecular sieve
beds
 Oxygen outlet: An opening that gives out oxygen to the patient
 Flow meter: To set the flow in Liters Per Minute (LPM)
Physical observation

In our session we were able to see two oxygen concentrators one that still work and
another not used because of input power required is 110v like that of an incubator .we
have observed main components of oxygen concentrator (sieve bed, switch valve, flow
meter, control unit, product tank, fault indicator light (if oxygen concentration is below
70% the indicator light will be red, and if it’s about 80% the yellow will be lighted as a
warning, and green if it’s above 90%) ,oxygen outlet, filter, compressor, etc…) and
discussed about their use , working principle of the machine, and for what diseases it
can be used( chronic obstructive pulmonary, pulmonary edema and chronic
hypoxemia ).In general we were able to know some safety rules on how to uses the
machine like we don’t use the machine near fire or heated elements because it may
explode and the machine has to be far from the wall for better delivery of oxygen.

Problem

Problems which may occur and leads to malfunction arise from the misuse of the
machine ,luck of cleanliness and unprofessional use of machines
To list some of them that were raised by our lab instructor, we include most of them

1) Most of the problem that arise which leads to blockage of the o2 passage by dust
particles, this problems alone can make our machines to produce an output
less than 82% of o2 concentration which is less that what we want to achieve in
any oxygen concentrator. The solution to this problem is to clean the machine
regularly.
2) The other problem that may be caused is the un matching of power supply used.
Our country used 220v electric power output so machines from America are
made with 110v, so we need to match the power with the machine.
3) Sometimes the compressors may not work properly, so changing them will help
us increase our o2 concentration as well as to help it work as good as new.
4) The blockage of tubes by algae is both hazardous even if the output of the
machine is good as it goes directly to lung, but algae block the passage of air
decreasing the flow of air.