OGSI OG-15, Installation, Operation And Maintenance Manual, Page: 13 / 57

Effective 07/2014 9
Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Technology
An OGSI Oxygen Generator is an on-site oxygen generating machine capable of
producing oxygen on demand in accordance with your requirements. In effect, it separates
the oxygen (21%) from the air it is provided and returns the nitrogen (78%) to the
atmosphere through a waste gas muffler. The separation process employs a technology
called
Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) . At the heart of this technology is a material
called Molecular Sieve (Zeolite).This sieve is an inert, ceramic-like material that is designed
to adsorb nitrogen more readily than oxygen. Each of the two beds that make up the
generator contains this sieve. The process is described below.
Stage 1
Compressed air is fed
into the first molecular
sieve bed. Nitrogen is
trapped, while oxygen
is allowed to flow
through.
Stage 2
When the sieve in the
first bed becomes full
of nitrogen, the airflow
is then directed into
the second bed.
Stage 3
As the second bed
separates the oxygen
from the nitrogen, the
first bed vents its
nitrogen into the
atmosphere.
Stage 4
Compressed air is once
again fed into the first
bed and the process is
repeated continuously.
A constant flow of
oxygen is produced.
This air separation process is reliable and virtually maintenance-free.
The molecular sieve will last indefinitely, as long as it does not become contaminated
with water or oil vapors. This is why regular filter element replacement is crucial to
trouble-free operation. The filter elements are very inexpensive and require semi-annual
maintenance.