Oxygen humidifier

Abstract

An apparatus and method for separating breathable oxygen gas from a source of gas and then humidifying the oxygen gas while preventing over humidification of the oxygen gas, the apparatus comprising a gas pathway located on a first side of a water transfer member, an oxygen gas pathway located on a second side of the water transfer member and a separator for separating the breathable oxygen gas from a gas located on the first side of the water transfer member and directing the breathable oxygen gas past the second side of the water transfer member while maintaining the pressure of the gas substantially equal to the pressure of the breathable oxygen gas to thereby humidify the breathable oxygen gas while preventing a moisture condensation in the breathable oxygen gas.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 . An apparatus for separating breathable oxygen from a source of gas comprising:
 a compressor for providing a source of compressed gas;   an adsorption bed for separating a breathable oxygen gas from a compressed gas of said compressor;   a de-pressurizing flow controller for expanding the breathable oxygen gas separated by the adsorption bed; and   a water transfer member having a gas pathway on a first side of said water transfer member for receiving a gas therethrough and an oxygen-enriched gas pathway on a second side of said water transfer member for receiving the breathable oxygen gas therethrough wherein the pressure of the gas directed through the gas pathway of said water transfer member is substantially equal to the pressure of the breathable oxygen gas directed through the gas oxygen-enriched gas pathway of said water transfer member to humidify the breathable oxygen gas while preventing moisture condensation in the breathable oxygen gas.   
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  including a muffler for abating the noise created by an oxygen-depleted gas as the oxygen-depleting gas exits the system. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the water transfer member is located within an enclosed structure of the apparatus for separating breathable oxygen from a source of gas. 
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 22  including a fan for directing gas through said gas pathway of said water transfer member and wherein said de-pressurizing flow controller is located upstream of said oxygen-enriched gas pathway of said water transfer member to help maintain the pressure of the gas in said gas pathway of said water transfer member substantially equal to the pressure of the breathable oxygen gas in said oxygen-enriched gas pathway of said water transfer member. 
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the water transfer member comprises a membrane device having a selective membrane with a greater selectivity for water over both nitrogen and oxygen. 
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the membrane device comprises a hollow fiber membrane device, a flat sheet membrane device, or a spiral wound membrane device. 
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein said selective membrane has a selectivity for water over both nitrogen and oxygen of at least 10. 
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein said selective membrane has a selectivity for water over both nitrogen and oxygen of at least 100. 
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein said compressor is located downstream of said gas pathway of said water transfer member and said de-pressurizing flow controller is located upstream of said oxygen-enriched gas pathway of said water transfer member to help maintain the pressure of the gas in said gas pathway of said water transfer member substantially equal to the pressure of the breathable oxygen gas in said oxygen-enriched gas pathway of said water transfer member. 
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein said compressor is located upstream of said gas pathway of said water transfer member and said de-pressurizing flow controller is located downstream of said oxygen-enriched gas pathway of said water transfer member to help maintain the pressure of the gas in said gas pathway of said water transfer member substantially equal to the pressure of the breathable oxygen gas in said oxygen-enriched gas pathway of said water transfer member. 
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein said de-pressurizing flow controller comprises a pressure regulator and a control valve. 
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein said de-pressurizing flow controller comprises a control valve.