(The Gist of Science Reporter) CSIR-NCL & BEL Manufacture Oxygen Enrichment Unit

[August-2020]

Oxygen enrichment units have special significance in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patient recovery can be faster with supplemental oxygen in the early stages. It can reduce the number of patients who will need ventilators.
Post-ventilator treatment patients can be served with this unit, thus reducing the demand of oxygen cylinders. Its portability makes it convenient for using such units in home care, villages and remote places.
The use of hollow fibre membranes to enrich oxygen.
The Oxygen Enrichment Unit (OEU) is efficient in providing 35-40% oxygen concentration from the air with an adjustable flow rate of 0.5-15 lit/min.
Atmospheric air at 5-6 bar pressure is passed through the membrane cartridge wherein the oxygen preferentially permeates through the membrane, due to intrinsic higher sorption capacity of oxygen into the membrane matrix.
The technology was licensed to NCL start-up, GEnrich Membranes. About 50 units were assembled and demonstrated in various forums, hospitals and primary health centres.
With the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, CSIR-NCL applied for certification of a prototype OEU to TUV, Bangalore, which was found to be qualified.