Bulletin of the National Research Centre (May 2024)

Measuring flow rate and purity in portable oxygen concentrators

  • Vijai Sivalingam,
  • Jayakumar Jayaraj,
  • Subha Hency Jose Paul

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s42269-024-01209-y
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 48, no. 1
pp. 1 – 15

Abstract

Read online

Abstract For people with respiratory disorders who need additional oxygen therapy, oxygen concentrators are vital medical equipment. By concentrating oxygen from the ambient air, they function to give the user a greater flow of oxygen-enriched air. The application of lithium zeolite for oxygen concentration in POCs is the most intense part of this work. One kind of zeolite material that may selectively absorb nitrogen from the air to increase oxygen concentration is lithium zeolite. The capacity, effectiveness, and dependability of a POC fitted with lithium zeolite are all examined in this study, along with its overall performance. The findings show that lithium zeolite, which has benefits including high oxygen purity and low energy consumption, is a potential material for use in POCs. The results of this study aid in the creation of POCs for oxygen therapy that are more effective and efficient. This study suggests utilizing an Arduino microcontroller and an HX710B air pressure sensor to measure the oxygen flow rate in a POC. The POC’s oxygen flow channel incorporates the HX710B sensor to monitor pressure variations, which the Arduino uses to translate into flow rate readings. To verify the accuracy and dependability of the system, its performance is assessed under different flow rate scenarios. Lithium zeolites are well-known for having a high selectivity for nitrogen adsorption, which can enhance the concentrator’s oxygen separation process’s effectiveness. Lithium-zeolite-based oxygen concentrators may have a lower environmental effect than standard concentrators.

Keywords