System and method of desorbing nitrogen from particles

Abstract

Described herein are various embodiments of an oxygen concentrator system. In some embodiments, oxygen concentrator system includes one or more components that improve the useful lifetime of gas separation adsorbents.

1 . A system comprising:
 an oxygen concentrator apparatus comprising a canister, the canister having a gas separation adsorbent disposed therein; and   an ionization module comprising:
 an ionizer configured to ionize a stream of ambient air, the ionizer comprising an inlet through which the stream of ambient air enters the ionizer and an outlet through which the ionized stream of ambient air exits the ionizer; and 
 a connector configured to removably couple the ionization module to the oxygen concentrator apparatus. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the connector is configured to removably couple the ionization module to the oxygen concentrator apparatus such that the ionized stream of ambient air is delivered to the canister of the oxygen concentrator apparatus. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the oxygen concentrator apparatus is configured to deliver the ionized stream of ambient air to the canister during a venting process to remove contaminants from the gas separation adsorbent disposed therein. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the oxygen concentrator apparatus further comprises a pump configured to pressurize the ionized stream of ambient air. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the oxygen concentrator apparatus further comprises a particulate filter. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the oxygen concentrator apparatus is a portable oxygen concentrator apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ionization module further comprises a pump configured to pressurize the ionized stream of ambient air. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the ionization module further comprises a control board configured to send control signals to the ionizer and the pump. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the control board of the ionization module comprises a screen for displaying information regarding a status of the ionization module. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the connector of the ionization module comprises tubing for delivering the ionized stream of ambient air to the canister of the oxygen concentrator apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ionization module further comprises a housing in which the ionizer is disposed. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 removably coupling, with a connector, an ionization module to an oxygen concentrator apparatus, wherein the oxygen concentrator apparatus comprises a canister having a gas separation adsorbent disposed therein; and   ionizing, with an ionizer of the ionization module, a stream of ambient air, wherein the ionizer comprises an inlet through which the stream of ambient air enters the ionizer and an outlet through which the ionized stream of ambient air exits the ionizer.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 receiving, at the canister of the oxygen concentrator apparatus, the ionized stream of ambient air from the ionization module. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 passing the ionized stream of ambient air through the canister of the oxygen concentrator apparatus during a venting process to remove contaminants from the gas separation adsorbent disposed therein. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 pressurizing, with a pump of the oxygen concentrator apparatus, the ionized stream of ambient air. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 filtering, with a particulate filter of the oxygen concentrator apparatus, the ionized stream of ambient air. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 pressurizing, with a pump of the ionization module, the ionized stream of ambient air. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 sending, with a control board of the ionization module, control signals to the ionizer and the pump. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 displaying, with a screen of the control board, information regarding a status of the ionization module. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 disconnecting the ionization module from the oxygen concentrator apparatus.