Design and Development of Oxygen Concentrator

The advent of novel corona virus in 2019 wreaked havoc throughout the world. From western nations to Asian countries, the world seemed on its knees. However, at the beginning of 2021, another challenge awaited the world. After the delta variant took charge, there was a sharp increase in the number o

Project Title

Design and Development of Oxygen Concentrator

Project Area of Specialization

Biomedical Engineering

Project Summary

The advent of novel corona virus in 2019 wreaked havoc throughout the world. From western nations to Asian countries, the world seemed on its knees. However, at the beginning of 2021, another challenge awaited the world. After the delta variant took charge, there was a sharp increase in the number of patients, that required medical oxygen. A similar trend was observed in Pakistan. As of May 31st,2021 Pakistan requested UNICEF to provide the country with ‘1000 oxygen concentrators’ as a part of UNICEF’s medical assistance program to cater the situation. This project is therefore taken up, with the resolve to solve this issue and localize the production of oxygen concentrators in Pakistan. The solution to this problem is found in provision of portable oxygen concentrators that may provide clinical oxygen at home to the patients so that the situations such as saturation of hospital beds may not affect critical patients largely.From Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, as emphysema or chronic bronchitis, to the diseases such as pneumonia typhoid and more importantly the corona virus, or COVID 19, related complexities, patients always need medical assistance in their breathing process. The need of medical assistance in the breathing process not only arises in specific diseases but is also required in any serious medical condition where the vitals of the patient are affected by the severity of the disease/injury. Different techniques to assist the patients in breathing have been thus developed over the period, from CPR being at the most primitive end to ventilators at the much complex end. All of these have proved to be life saving techniques at their respective times of need and thus carry equal importance depending on the situation. Oxygen concentrator is a device that is used to assist the patients in breathing. It is an accessible and simple technique as it does not require any specific expertise to perform and is also not as costly as a ventilator. It only requires turning the power source on and attaching the respiration assistance mask to the patient’s mouth and nose. A flow rate controller is provided which allows the user to adjust the flow rate according to his convenience. All of this i.e., simplicity in use and affordability in cost makes oxygen concentrator a very practical solution to breathing disorders and breathing assistance requiring situations.

Project Objectives

To make Pakistan self reliant in production and supply of medical oxygen

To cater for any deficiencies of medical oxygen in case of emergencies

Project Implementation Method

Oxygen concentrators are widely used in medical field to assist the patients in breathing in the cases where the vitals of the patient are not functioning normally due to severity of the disease. It helps to keep the pulse oxygen up to the mark (between 92 percent to 96 percent) by providing oxygen artificially to the patient. An oxygen concentrator can be used as an alternative for ‘oxygen cylinders and delivery kit’ with the benefit that it does not needs refilling or any kind of replenishing action as it derives oxygen form a virtually infinite source – air. It can also be used as an alternative to ventilator in some cases with the benefits of simplicity and considerable cost reduction (normally oxygen concentrators incur about 15 to 20 times less cost. Oxygen Concentrator basically segregate oxygen from air making it more refined and concentrated up to 95% oxygen saturated. Basic principle of separating oxygen gas from a mixture of different gasses in air, which are Nitrogen 78%, oxygen 21% and Argon and minor amounts of other gasses and moisture 1%, is based on Pressure Swing Adsorption. PSA is a technique which is used for separation or purification of gas from a mixture of gasses. It is a cyclic process with a variety of design possibilities for various applications. PSA technique is used in most oxygen concentration with a modification called vacuum swing adsorption. It is used in variety of different industrial processes like gas drying, solvent paper recovery, fractionation of air etc.To achieve the objectives, the solution was broken down into various major aspects. The process includes the simulation as well as actual manufacturing of the oxygen concentrator. To manufacture the oxygen concentrator, we have to focus on three major streams. One of the aspects is to achieve desired flowrates, pressures, and oxygen concentration levels. Another aspect of the project is to establish an appropriate circuitry to power the active sensors and devices that require power to function (such as compressor). The final aspect is to establish a control system that will allow the user to change the flow rate of the oxygen gas. Hence, the manufacturing is divided into different aspects which we are working on, i.e., Implementation of mechanical part, Implementation of electrical part, establishing a control system.

Benefits of the Project

The production of oxygen in Pakistan for medical usage is currently up to the mark and does not have the capacity to be employed in times of emergency. This is due to the similar fact that the country was forced to divert industrial oxygen to medical lines to cater for its increasing need during a surge in reported cases of COVID-19. The importance of the said device has thus increased drastically due to the ongoing situation faced due to the pandemic by the world in general and Pakistan in particular. The situation created by the ongoing pandemic has also shown the limitation in capacity of health sector with regard to the number of ventilators and hospital space/beds for patients that require clinical oxygen assistance. In addition to this it is imported and not available locally and we will make them available locally at a rather less price than the imported ones.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

Flow Rate Variable (1L- 5L per minute)
Inlet Pressure 86KPa – 106 KPa
Outlet Pressure 20KPa – 70KPa
Outlet Temperature Ambient
Temperature Noise level Less than 50 dB
Mobility Portable
Power supply 220 V compatible

Final Deliverable of the Project

Hardware System

Core Industry

Medical

Other Industries

Manufacturing

Core Technology

Others

Other Technologies

Sustainable Development Goals

Good Health and Well-Being for People, Responsible Consumption and Production

Required Resources

If you need this project, please contact me on contact@adikhanofficial.com