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Technical Description
Basic Concept
The i-Flow is a modular range of Carbon Molecular Sieve (CMS) nitrogen gas
generators, that operate based on Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) technology.
Essentially this requires two separate columns or “beds” of granular carbon pellets.
The unit requires a compressed air supply to operate, ultimately works on very similar
principles to many standard air filtration / drying products. The inlet compressed air
is passed into the first “bed”, as the air passes across the carbon bed the oxygen is
adsorbed, allowing the nitrogen to carry on through the bed for collection and further
use. After a certain time the online carbon bed will become saturated with oxygen so
the control system will operate various valves to bring the second carbon bed online.
Whilst the second bed comes online, the first bed is vented to atmosphere to release
the adsorbed oxygen and regenerate the bed in preparation for the next cycle. This will
continue to alternate and repeat until the user stops consuming nitrogen.
Should the demand for nitrogen be less than the rated output flow, or indeed should
the demand stop, the generator will automatically go into ECO Mode and the front
panel LED will illuminate. In ECO mode the changeover of the columns is suspended
which will stop the consumption of inlet compressed air. The control system will
automatically detect when the demand resumes and the generator will start to produce
nitrogen again.
General Construction
The range consists of 10 different product sizesm, demonstrated below:
The front end cabinet, control system and valves are consistent across the range. To
increase the outlet capacity, as you go up the range of generators, additional banks of
CMS columns will be added. (Note: for 6 to 10 banks additional vent valves and silenc-
ers are required and are fitted to the rear of the CMS columns)
Base unit with
minimum single
bank of dual
CMS columns.
Base unit with
maximum 10
banks of dual
CMS columns.
