Abstract: The invention relates to an oxygen separator (10), comprising at least one oxygen separation device (12, 14) comprising an oxygen separation sorbent (16, 18) for separating oxygen from an oxygen comprising gas, wherein the oxygen separation device (12, 14) comprises a gas inlet (24, 28) at a primary side being connected to an inlet conduct (20) for guiding a flow of oxygen comprising gas into the oxygen separation device (12, 14) and having a gas outlet (34, 36) at a secondary side being connected to an outlet conduct (30, 32) for guiding a flow of oxygen enriched gas out of the oxygen separation device (12, 14), wherein the secondary side of the oxygen separation device (12, 14) is further connected to a source of purging gas for guiding purging gas through the oxygen separation device (12, 14) and wherein the primary side of the oxygen separation device (12, 14) is connected to an exhaust conduct (70, 72) for guiding exhaust gas out of the oxygen separator (10), wherein the oxygen separator (10) further com

Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided a device (4) for providing supplemental oxygen to a subject (8), the device (4) comprising a subject interface (10) through which the subject (8) can inhale; a container (12) that has a first outlet (18) connected to the subject interface (10) to allow gas with an elevated oxygen level stored in the container (12) to be inhaled by the subject (8), a first inlet (24), and a material (15) for removing a specific gas from air passing through the container (12) to increase the oxygen content of the air passing through the container (12); and an air blower (14) that is connected to the first inlet (24) of the container (12) and that is configured to supply air into the container (12) as the subject (8) uses the device (4).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for generating nitric oxide, which comprises the steps of: providing a precursor solution comprising a nitric oxide precursor in a first reservoir (12), guiding the precursor solution through a reaction chamber (16), thereby subjecting the precursor solution to radiation to generate nitric oxide, guiding the generated nitric oxide out of the reaction chamber (16) by a stream of carrier gas, and guiding the reacted solution into a second reservoir (14). The method according to the invention provides a method of generating nitric oxide, or a flow of nitric oxide comprising gas, in which the concentration of the nitric oxide may be kept especially constant. Also claimed is an apparatus for generating nitric oxide comprising reservoirs for the precursor solution and the reacted solution and a reaction chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of generating oxygen. The method addresses the objects of reducing the servicing work and improving the purity of the generated oxygen. According to the invention, the method comprises the steps of: providing an oxygen comprising gas at a primary side of a dense voltage drivable membrane; applying a voltage between a conductive element at the primary side of the membrane and a conductive element at a secondary side of the membrane, the conductive elements being electrically connected to the membrane, wherein a plasma is generated at at least one of the primary side and the secondary side of the membrane, the plasma being used as conductive element.

Abstract: The present invention refers to an oxygen separation device (12, 14) for a pressure swing adsorption system. In order to provide at least one of improved maintenance behavior, longer lifetime and improved energy consumption, the oxygen separation device (12, 14) comprises a gas inlet (18, 22) at a primary side for guiding a flow of oxygen comprising gas into the oxygen separation device (12, 14) and a gas outlet (28, 30) at a secondary side for guiding a flow of oxygen enriched gas out of the oxygen separation device (12, 14), an oxygen separation membrane (78) comprising an oxygen separation sorbent being capable of separating oxygen from an oxygen comprising gas by sorbing at least one component of the oxygen comprising gas apart from oxygen, and a support structure (80) for supporting the oxygen separation membrane (78), wherein the support structure (80) comprises a plurality of support bars (82) being fixed to the oxygen separation membrane (78).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of generating oxygen. The method addresses the objects of reducing the servicing work and improving the purity of the generated oxygen. According to the invention, the method comprises the steps of: providing an oxygen comprising gas at a primary side of a dense voltage drivable membrane (12); applying a voltage between a conductive element at the primary side of the membrane (12) and a conductive element at a secondary side of the membrane (12), the conductive elements being electrically connected to the membrane (12), wherein a plasma (18, 20) is generated at at least one of the primary side and the secondary side of the membrane (12), the plasma (18, 20) being used as conductive element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of separating oxygen from an oxygen comprising gas, the method comprising the steps of: performing at least a first and a second period of oxygen separation, the first and the second period of oxygen separation each comprising the steps of guiding an oxygen comprising gas to the primary side of an oxygen separation device (12, 14), the oxygen separation device (12, 14) comprising an oxygen separation sorbent (16, 18), and generating a flow of oxygen enriched gas out of the oxygen separation device (12, 14) by creating a pressure difference between the primary side and the secondary side of the oxygen separation device (12, 14), and performing a cooling period between the first and the second period of oxygen separation, wherein the cooling period comprises the steps of guiding a flushing sorbate through the oxygen separation device (12, 14), the flushing sorbate having an adsorption energy e1 with respect to the oxygen separation sorbent (16, 18), and guiding a cooling sorbat

Abstract: The invention relates to an oxygen separation device (12, 14), comprising a gas inlet (29, 31) at a primary side for guiding a flow of oxygen comprising gas into the oxygen separation device (12, 14) and having a gas outlet (33, 35) at a secondary side for guiding a flow of oxygen enriched gas out of the oxygen separation device (12, 14), at least one oxygen separation area (20, 22) with an oxygen separation sorbent (16, 18) being capable of separating oxygen from an oxygen comprising gas by sorbing at least one component of the oxygen comprising gas apart from oxygen and being contaminatable by a contaminant, and a decontamination area (21, 23) with a decontamination material (17, 19) for decontaminating the oxygen comprising gas from at least one contaminant, wherein the oxygen separation area (20, 22) and the decontamination area (21, 23) are fluidly connected by a spacer (76, 78) comprising at least one diffusion reducing channel (80, 82), wherein the spacer (76, 78) has a value of diffusion reduction rR

Abstract: The invention relates to an a sensor system (100) for quantitatively detecting at least one compound in a fluid mixture, said fluid mixture comprising the compound to be detected, wherein the sensor system (100) comprises a sorbent material (102) being capable of sorbing the at least one compound to be detected, wherein the sorbent material (102) undergoes a temperature change when sorbing the at least one compound; at least a first temperature sensor (104) for measuring the temperature of the sorbent material (102); and a control unit (110) being adapted for quantitatively determining the at least one compound to be detected based on the temperature change of the sorbent material (102). Such a sensor system (100) provides an improved measurement especially in the field of oxygen concentrators. The invention further relates to an oxygen concentrator (10) for generating oxygen enriched gas as well as to a method of quantitatively detecting at least one compound in a fluid mixture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for generating nitric oxide, in particular for therapeutic applications, which comprises the steps of: guiding a process gas into a reaction chamber (12), wherein the process gas comprises nitrous oxide in a carrier gas in a concentration in the range of ?2 vol-%, in particular in the range of ?10-3 vol-% to ?1 vol-%, and heating the process gas to a temperature which is sufficiently high to enable a reaction of nitrous oxide to form nitric oxide, thereby forming a gas which at least partly comprises nitric oxide. This method allows generating nitric oxide without remarkable concentrations of toxic nitrogen oxides, in particular of nitrogen dioxide. The method according to the invention is particularly suitable for therapeutic applications.

Abstract: A power supply system comprises a fuel cell and a battery, each for supplying electrical power to a load. The system is controlled to use the fuel cell for a first period of time (82) to supply electrical power to the load, wherein the power demand is constant over a first time period (82). The battery is used simultaneously with the fuel cell for a second supply time of electrical power to the load, wherein the power varies (84). In this way, fluctuating output is provided by the battery, and the fuel cell output is maintained as constant as possible to prolong the lifetime. During the second supply time, the power to the load (80) can be provided as a constant contribution from the fuel cell and a variable contribution from the battery.

Abstract: The invention relates to an oxygen separator (10), comprising at least one oxygen separation device (12, 14) comprising an oxygen separation sorbent (16, 18) for separating oxygen from an oxygen comprising gas, wherein the oxygen separation device (12, 14) comprises a gas inlet (24, 28) at a primary side being connected to an inlet conduct (20) for guiding a flow of oxygen comprising gas into the oxygen separation device (12, 14) and having a gas outlet (34, 36) at a secondary side being connected to an outlet conduct (30, 32) for guiding a flow of oxygen enriched gas out of the oxygen separation device (12, 14), wherein the secondary side of the oxygen separation device (12, 14) is further connected to a source of purging gas for guiding purging gas through the oxygen separation device (12, 14) and wherein the primary side of the oxygen separation device (12, 14) is connected to an exhaust conduct (70, 72) for guiding exhaust gas out of the oxygen separator (10), wherein the oxygen separator (10) further com

Abstract: The present invention refers to an oxygen separation system (10), comprising a support (12) for accommodating a plurality of autonomous oxygen separation units (14), wherein the support (12) comprises a plurality of fastening positions having fastening means for receiving an oxygen separation unit (14); and a plurality of autonomous oxygen separation units (14) being attached to said support (12), each oxygen separation unit (14) comprising at least one oxygen separation device (28) with an oxygen separation sorbent (30) being capable of separating oxygen from an oxygen comprising gas by sorbing at least one component of the oxygen comprising gas apart from oxygen, and a gas conveying device (44) for guiding a flow of oxygen comprising gas through the oxygen separation device (28). Such an oxygen separation system (10) may have significant improvements against the systems of the prior art, particularly referring to space, weight, energy consumption, variability, flexibility and maintenance behavior.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of generating oxygen. The method comprises the steps of: intermittently guiding a stream of oxygen comprising gas through at least one adsorption chamber (12) being equipped with an oxygen separation adsorbent (16), thereby defining an adsorption mode and a desorption mode of the at least one adsorption chamber (12), and thereby enriching the oxygen comprising gas with respect to oxygen, guiding the enriched oxygen comprising gas to a primary side of a dense membrane (52), heating the dense membrane(52) to a temperature at which it is permeable for oxygen, generating an oxygen flow through the dense membrane (52) to its secondary side, thereby separating the oxygen from the enriched oxygen comprising gas and forming a stream of oxygen. According to the invention, the invention further comprises the step of guiding at least a part of the generated oxygen through the at least one adsorption chamber (12) being in desorption mode.

Abstract: The present invention refers to an oxygen separation device (12, 14) for a pressure swing adsorption system. In order to provide at least one of improved maintenance behavior, longer lifetime and improved energy consumption, the oxygen separation device (12, 14) comprises a gas inlet (18, 22) at a primary side for guiding a flow of oxygen comprising gas into the oxygen separation device (12, 14) and a gas outlet (28, 30) at a secondary side for guiding a flow of oxygen enriched gas out of the oxygen separation device (12, 14), an oxygen separation membrane (78) comprising an oxygen separation sorbent being capable of separating oxygen from an oxygen comprising gas by sorbing at least one component of the oxygen comprising gas apart from oxygen, and a support structure (80) for supporting the oxygen separation membrane (78), wherein the support structure (80) comprises a plurality of support bars (82) being fixed to the oxygen separation membrane (78).

Abstract: The invention relates to an oxygen separation device (12, 14), comprising a gas inlet (29, 31) at a primary side for guiding a flow of oxygen comprising gas into the oxygen separation device (12, 14) and having a gas outlet (33, 35) at a secondary side for guiding a flow of oxygen enriched gas out of the oxygen separation device (12, 14), at least one oxygen separation area (20, 22) with an oxygen separation sorbent (16, 18) being capable of separating oxygen from an oxygen comprising gas by sorbing at least one component of the oxygen comprising gas apart from oxygen and being contaminatable by a contaminant, and a decontamination area (21, 23) with a decontamination material(17, 19) for decontaminating the oxygen comprising gas from at least one contaminant, wherein the oxygen separation area (20, 22) and the decontamination area (21, 23) are fluidly connected by a spacer (76, 78) comprising at least one diffusion reducing channel (80, 82), wherein the spacer (76, 78) has a value of diffusion reduction rR o

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of separating oxygen from an oxygen comprising gas, the method comprising the steps of: performing at least a first and a second period of oxygen separation, the first and the second period of oxygen separation each comprising the steps of guiding an oxygen comprising gas to the primary side of an oxygen separation device (12, 14), the oxygen separation device (12, 14) comprising an oxygen separation sorbent (16, 18), and generating a flow of oxygen enriched gas out of the oxygen separation device (12, 14) by creating a pressure difference between the primary side and the secondary side of the oxygen separation device (12, 14), and performing a cooling period between the first and the second period of oxygen separation, wherein the cooling period comprises the steps of guiding a flushing sorbate through the oxygen separation device (12, 14), the flushing sorbate having an adsorption energy e1 with respect to the oxygen separation sorbent (16, 18), and guiding a cooling sorbat

Abstract: The invention relates to membranes, in particular oxygen separation membranes, which enable improved gas separation conditions with respect to cost, price, size, weight, and noise. The membrane, in particular oxygen separation membrane, according to the invention comprises a support layer (28) and a separation layer (30), wherein the separation layer (30) is permeable for oxygen and has a sorptive affinity for at least one other gas, in particular for nitrogen, wherein the membrane (20) is designed such that substantially only the separation layer (30) is heatable by a heating device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for generating nitric oxide, which comprises the steps of: providing a precursor solution comprising a nitric oxide precursor in a first reservoir (12), guiding the precursor solution through a reaction chamber (16), thereby subjecting the precursor solution to radiation to generate nitric oxide, guiding the generated nitric oxide out of the reaction chamber (16) by a stream of carrier gas, and guiding the reacted solution into a second reservoir (14). The method according to the invention provides a method of generating nitric oxide, or a flow of nitric oxide comprising gas, in which the concentration of the nitric oxide may be kept especially constant. Also claimed is an apparatus for generating nitric oxide comprising reservoirs for the precursor solution and the reacted solution and a reaction chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heating device. In order to allow heating essentially without any latency period and with low costs, the heating device comprises: at least one container (12) having an inlet opening (14) and an outlet opening (16) and comprising an adsorbent agent (18) being provided between said inlet opening (14) and outlet opening (16) and being capable of adsorbing an adsorbate thereby releasing adsorption energy; and a gas conveying device (21) for conveying an adsorbate comprising gas through the interior of the container (12); wherein a gas conduit (22) is provided being connected to the outlet opening (16) of the container (12) for guiding the gas heated by adsorption energy inside the container (12) to a location to be heated with elevated temperature. The present invention further relates to a heating method.