AirSep AS-Q, Instruction Manual

Page: 15 / 198

AS-Q—AS-Z Series Instruction Manual 15
AirSep Corporation
3.0 System Description
3.1 GENERAL
Air Contains 21% oxygen, 78% nitrogen, 0.9% argon, and 0.1% other gases.
AirSep PSA Oxygen units separate oxygen from compressed air through a unique
Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) process. The compressed air flows through
a filter assembly before the air enters the adsorber vessels. A particulate filter
removes condensed water, oil, dirt, scale, etc. from the feed air and then a separate
coalescing filter (mounted on most of the models) removes additional oil and water
vapor.
The oxygen generator uses, in its adsorber vessels, an inert ceramic material called
molecular sieve to separate compressed air into oxygen and the other gases. The
unique properties of molecular sieve allow it to attract, or adsorb, nitrogen physically
from air under pressure. This allows oxygen to exit the adsorbers as a product gas.
The process valves on the oxygen generator then direct the oxygen to the oxygen
receiver for storage until needed by your application.
While one adsorber produces oxygen, the other depressurizes to exhaust the
waste gases it adsorbed (collected) during the oxygen production cycle. The entire
oxygen generating process is completely regenerative, which makes it both reliable
and virtually maintenance-free. The molecular sieve does not normally require
replacement.
This instruction manual serves as the guidelines for the standard AS-Q through
AS-Z models. Refer to the illustrations, located in the Appendix A, for the detailed
flow diagram, electrical schematic, and the general arrangement drawings of the
oxygen generator models referenced in this instruction manual.