How Does an Oxygen Concentrator Work?

by Andrew Paul I am a Content Writer

How Does an Oxygen Concentrator Work

Oxygen concentrators are devices that provide oxygen to patients with low oxygen levels in their blood. They're used in conditions such as COPD, asthma, sleep apnea and cystic fibrosis.

Typically, they're powered by a battery or plugged into an outlet. Once they're on, they filter and purify the air around you to deliver the oxygen you need.

They have several parts, including a compressor, a sieve bed filter and circuit boards. The air you breathe goes through the device to a sieve bed, made from a material called Zeolite (a six-sided microscopic cube with holes on each side). It removes bacteria and dust that may be in the surrounding air.

This process produces a high percentage of pure oxygen, about 90 to 95 percent. Then, the compressed oxygen is pumped through a pressure valve to be distributed to the patient.

An oxygen concentrator can supply at least 5-10 liters of oxygen per day, depending on your needs. It's a great alternative to oxygen cylinders because it's portable and doesn't require refills or replacements.

How Does an Oxygen Concentrator Work

A portable oxygen concentrator starts by collecting the ambient air and compressing it in the machine's compressor. The air then moves into a sieve bed that has two prongs. The first prong sucks nitrogen, while the second sucks oxygen.

The sieve bed then separates the nitrogen and oxygen in the air, creating a continuous loop that keeps producing more oxygen. Then, a pressure valve regulates the oxygen's supply ranging from 5 to 10 liters per minute.

It's important to keep the oxygen concentrator in an open space so it can do its job properly. It also should be kept away from any heat sources, such as electric heaters. This is because they can get too hot and cause damage to the device's components.

Some portable oxygen concentrators have an oxygen meter so you can see how much you're getting. The unit may also have a litre control knob, which you can use to adjust the amount of oxygen you're receiving. This is usually marked with a number of liters per minute (LPM), or it may have an indicator light that will let you know if your machine is at the correct setting.

Many portable concentrators also feature a pulse flow technology that delivers a "burst" of oxygen when you inhale. These bursts can be adjusted to be shorter or longer based on your breathing rate.

This is a good option for people who don't want to have to trigger the system when they inhale, or those with conditions that make it difficult to do so. It's not recommended for people who don't exercise or sleep well, or who have COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, or neuromuscular diseases.

There are many different models and brands of portable oxygen concentrators, so you'll need to choose the model that best meets your oxygen needs. However, the majority of them are fairly simple to operate and don't need a lot of maintenance or servicing. It's important to take the time to read your product's manual so you can ensure you're using it correctly.