Energy efficient, inexpensive extraction of oxygen from ambient air for portable and home use

摘要

A method for directly condensing and separating oxygen from air, the method comprising:(a) cooling (50) a surface (52) within a confinement vessel (54) to a temperature greater than the boiling point temperature of nitrogen and not greater than the boiling point temperature of oxygen;(b) impelling (58) gas from the atmosphere into the vessel, against the surface and out (64) of the vessel, the impelled gas being at a pressure less than 1 bar above ambient atmospheric pressure;(c) collecting (62) condensed oxygen droplets (O2) that fall from the cooled surface and separating the oxygen from gases (N2) in the vessel;(d) cooling incoming air (56) and condensing water (68) in the incoming air by effecting a transfer of heat (66) from incoming air to uncondensed gases (62,64) flowing outwardly from the vessel; and(e) cooling the incoming air by transferring heat (72) from the incoming air to the condensed water (68) before transferring heat (66) to gases flowing outwardly from the vessel.