From Principle to Practice: Oxygen Generators in Industry
Oxygen accounts for about 21% of the air, but in the medical and industrial sectors, much higher purity is required. In recent years, demand for high-purity oxygen has steadily increased in areas such as semiconductor manufacturing, water treatment, and healthcare. As a result, instead of relying on external supply, there is growing interest in producing oxygen directly on-site.
In line with this trend, oxygen generators have emerged as an efficient alternative, producing and supplying high-purity oxygen directly at the site of use. GSA develops and supplies high-performance oxygen generators based on Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) technology, delivering optimized solutions across various industries.
High-Purity Oxygen Separated by PSA
An oxygen generator removes nitrogen and other impurities from the air, supplying only high-purity oxygen. The most widely used technology in today’s industrial sites is PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption), which operates as follows:
- Air compression and purification: The intake air is compressed, and impurities such as moisture and dust are removed using filters.
- Nitrogen adsorption: The purified air passes through a zeolite adsorption tower, where nitrogen is selectively adsorbed.
- Oxygen separation: Only high-purity oxygen with a concentration of about 90–95% is released.
- Tower switching and continuous operation: Two adsorption towers operate alternately to ensure continuous oxygen supply.
PSA systems are easy to install, simple to maintain, and operate solely on electricity, which significantly reduces operating costs compared to liquid oxygen (LOX). This makes them widely applicable not only in large hospitals and manufacturing plants but also in small to medium-sized facilities and processes with stable oxygen demand.
Moreover, the system’s capacity can be flexibly adjusted depending on oxygen consumption, allowing it to effectively support industries with fluctuating production volumes. PSA oxygen generators can be designed as fixed installations or mobile units, enhancing productivity and efficiency across a wide range of industrial environments.
The Role of High-Purity Oxygen in Different Industries
High-purity oxygen plays an essential role across industries ranging from healthcare to heavy industry and environmental applications:
- Healthcare industry: Used in oxygen therapy, ventilators, and hyperbaric oxygen treatment. Medical oxygen demand has further increased since the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Metals and manufacturing industry: Enhances metal smelting efficiency through high-temperature combustion and is essential for welding and cutting processes.
- Chemical and environmental industries: Improves microbial activity in wastewater treatment, increases combustion efficiency, and serves as a key process variable in gas reactions.
- Aquaculture and fisheries: Increases dissolved oxygen in water, improving fish survival rates and boosting productivity.
Thus, oxygen has established itself as a critical resource for determining productivity and process efficiency.
GSA’s Role and Technological Differentiation
GSA is a specialist provider of oxygen generation solutions based on advanced PSA systems.
- High-purity oxygen production (93–95%)
- Fully automated operation system for enhanced user convenience
- Energy-saving design
- Modular structure for easy installation and maintenance
Oxygen generators play a key role in improving efficiency and productivity across various industrial sites. In particular, PSA-based systems are easy to install and maintain while providing a stable supply of high-purity oxygen, offering greater practicality and cost-effectiveness compared to liquid oxygen. GSA delivers customized oxygen supply solutions tailored to each industry’s needs, helping customers achieve more efficient operating environments.
