Patent ID: 7029521

Claim:
A device for producing oxygen or oxygen-enriched air, the device comprising: a) a zeolite structure ( 18 ) of sorbent material having nitrogen and oxygen adsorbing properties, the zeolite structure comprising at least three zeolite units ( 50 a–f ) arranged to adsorb nitrogen from the air, and a means ( 70 , 72 , 74 ; 83 a , 83 b , 84 , 85 , 86 , 86 b , 87 a , 87 b ) for intermittent operation of the zeolite units ( 50 a–f ) in a first and a second stage, the first stage comprising adsorption of nitrogen from the air and the second stage comprising desorption ( 20 , 20 ; 20 b ) from the zeolite units ( 50 a–f ) of thus adsorbed nitrogen, wherein the means ( 70 , 72 , 74 ; 83 a , 83 b , 84 , 85 , 86 , 86 b , 87 a , 87 b ) for intermittent operation are arranged to operate at least one but not all of the at least three zeolite units ( 50 a–f ) in the first adsorption stage and to operate the rest of the at least three zeolite units ( 50 a–f ) in the second desorption stage; and wherein a first conduit means ( 53 a ) is arranged to operatively and consecutively connect at least two of the three zeolite units ( 50 a–f ) to an inlet ( 10 , 16 , 16 a , 16 b ) for incoming air for the first adsorption stage, and/or a second conduit means ( 53 b ) is arranged to operatively and consecutively connect at least two of the three zeolite units ( 50 a–f ) to an inlet ( 22 a , 22 b ) for a released gas and/or a desorbing gas for the second desorption stage; b) an inlet ( 10 , 16 , 16 a , 16 b ) for incoming air, into and through the zeolite structure ( 18 ); and c) a means for transferring heat energy from the zeolite units ( 50 a–f ) during the adsorption stage and to the zeolite units ( 50 a–f ) during the desorption stage, the means for transferring heat energy comprising a means for heat exchanging between the adsorbing and desorbing zeolite units ( 50 a–f ), the zeolite units ( 50 a–f ) being arranged in close relation to each other in order to accomplish said heat exchanging, and the zeolite units ( 50 a–f ) being arranged in a structure ( 52 ) of a heat conducting material, each zeolite unit ( 50 a–f ) being arranged in a cell ( 54 ) of its own in the structure ( 52 ) of heat conducting material, wherein each zeolite unit ( 50 a–f ) is shaped as an elongated body exhibiting a peripheral length which is greater than the peripheral length of a rod with a circular cross-section, which rod has a cross-sectional area equal to the cross-sectional area of the elongated bodies.