This document is a comparative analysis of hospital medical oxygen projects in Ireland (taking an example of 30 m³/h), comparing the characteristics of three oxygen supply methods, namely the Lianbang VSA oxygen generator, PSA oxygen generator, and liquid oxygen, in terms of economy, applicable users, site requirements, safety, and operation and maintenance management. The specific content is as follows:
1. **Energy Cost**
- **Lianbang VSA Oxygen Generator**: With an oxygen output of 30 m³/h, it consumes 0.6 KWh of electricity to produce 1 m³ of oxygen. The local average electricity price is 0.32 EUR/kWh. The cost of producing 1 m³ of gaseous oxygen is approximately 0.192 EUR/m³. The 10 - year energy cost is 25228.8 EUR/year × 10 years = 252288 EUR.
- **PSA Oxygen Generator**: With an oxygen output of 30 m³/h, it consumes 1.35 KWh of electricity to produce 1 m³ of oxygen. The cost of producing 1 m³ of gaseous oxygen is approximately 0.432 EUR/m³. The 10 - year energy cost is 56764.8 EUR/year × 10 years = 567648 EUR.
- **Liquid Oxygen**: In practical use, the loss rate of liquid oxygen is 80 - 90%. Calculated at a 90% loss rate, 1 m³ of liquid oxygen can be vaporized into approximately 720 m³ of gaseous oxygen. The local average price of medical liquid oxygen is 280 EUR. The cost of converting to 1 m³ of gaseous oxygen is approximately 0.388 EUR/m³. The 10 - year liquid oxygen cost is 509832 EUR.
2. **Molecular Sieve Replacement Cost**
- **Lianbang VSA Oxygen Generator**: The molecular sieve has a valid oxygen - producing lifespan of 10 years and does not need to be replaced.
- **PSA Oxygen Generator**: It needs to be completely replaced every 2 - 3 years (3 times in 10 years). Each replacement uses approximately 220 kg (initial charge), with a cost of 16500 EUR.
- **Liquid Oxygen**: No replacement is required.
3. **10 - Year Maintenance Cost**
- **Lianbang VSA Oxygen Generator**: 2415 EUR (including testing, sporadic parts, etc.).
- **PSA Oxygen Generator**: 28642 EUR (for 3 sets of pressure vessels (excluding the oxygen tank), with an average annual inspection and testing cost of 2846.2 EUR/year).
- **Liquid Oxygen**: 23000 EUR (liquid oxygen storage tank maintenance cost + delivery fee + testing cost, 2300 EUR/year).
4. **Total 10 - Year Cost**
- **Lianbang VSA Oxygen Generator**: 254703 EUR (energy cost + maintenance cost).
- **PSA Oxygen Generator**: 612790 EUR (energy cost + maintenance cost + molecular sieve replacement cost).
- **Liquid Oxygen**: 532832 EUR (liquid oxygen cost + maintenance cost).
5. **Oxygen Plant Room Construction**
- **Lianbang VSA Oxygen Generator and PSA Oxygen Generator**: New construction or renovation of existing premises.
- **Liquid Oxygen**: A dedicated outdoor plant room shall be constructed independently (including the foundation, fire - protection cofferdam, and fence), and a special access road for liquid oxygen tank trucks shall be built.
6. **Oxygen Supply Loss**
- **Lianbang VSA Oxygen Generator**: On - site production for immediate use, low pressure, minimal inventory, and almost no loss.
- **PSA Oxygen Generator**: It has numerous fault points and is prone to damage. Its interfaces require frequent maintenance and replacement. Incomplete separation of water and oil easily contaminates the molecular sieve, which compromises its service life.
- **Liquid Oxygen**: Losses occur during the connection for filling, including on/off operations and pressure relief & venting, with a loss rate of approximately 10%.
### Applicable Users and Scale
1. **Applicable Places**: All three methods are suitable for oxygen supply and enrichment in medical and rehabilitation institutions, public buildings, enclosed or semi - enclosed premises, etc.
2. **Applicable Scale**
- **Lianbang VSA Oxygen Generator**: Suitable for large, medium, and small - sized institutions.
- **PSA Oxygen Generator**: Suitable for medium and small - sized institutions.
- **Liquid Oxygen**: Suitable for large and medium - sized institutions.
### Site Requirements
1. **Installation Location**
- **Lianbang VSA Oxygen Generator**: It can be installed indoors, on the roof, and other locations (excluding basements or semi - basements).
- **PSA Oxygen Generator**: The large equipment size requires a larger installation site.
- **Liquid Oxygen**: For outdoor installation, a dedicated passage for on - campus liquid oxygen tank trucks shall be constructed.
2. **Fire Separation Distance**
- **Lianbang VSA Oxygen Generator**: Where the fire separation distance from other buildings is relatively small, or adjacent construction is carried out as required.
- **PSA Oxygen Generator**: Due to its pressure vessels, the fire separation distance from other buildings is larger than that of the VSA oxygen generator.
- **Liquid Oxygen**: The fire separation distance from other buildings shall be maintained at 15 meters or more.
### Safety Aspect
1. **Oxygen Medium State**
- **Lianbang VSA Oxygen Generator**: Normal temperature and low pressure (process pressure: 0.03 - 0.7 Mpa), with no potential safety hazards.
- **PSA Oxygen Generator**: Adsorption towers and air tanks are pressure vessels, posing high safety risks.
- **Liquid Oxygen**: Ultra - low temperature (- 183℃) and high pressure (storage pressure: 1.6 Mpa); hazardous, non - contact, with risks of leakage and explosion.
2. **Oxygen Supply Stability**
- **Lianbang VSA Oxygen Generator**: Oxygen is delivered after buffering and pressurization, free from other interfering factors, with a stable pressure maintained.
- **PSA Oxygen Generator**: High - pressure cooling causes excessive water condensation, and regular drainage is required. In frigid regions, icing - induced failure may occur, and water ingress into the adsorption tower can lead to direct molecular sieve failure.
- **Liquid Oxygen**: The ambient air vaporizer: heat absorption → thawing → gas conversion; ambient temperature affects gasification capacity, resulting in unstable pressure.
3. **Oxygen Supply Continuity**
- **Lianbang VSA Oxygen Generator**: Not affected by climate, natural disasters, transportation, market, and other factors, enabling sustainable oxygen supply.
- **PSA Oxygen Generator**: Molecular sieve pulverization and oil - water contamination result in a gradual annual performance decline.
- **Liquid Oxygen**: Affected by various factors such as rain/snow/fog, road conditions, supplier factors, market supply & demand, and natural disasters.
### Operation and Maintenance Management Aspect
1. **Management Method**
- **Lianbang VSA Oxygen Generator**: Automatic operation, remote network - based O&M, and proactive alarm notifications via SMS or mobile APP.
- **PSA Oxygen Generator**: The equipment has numerous fault points and requires maintenance by professional personnel.
- **Liquid Oxygen**: Patrol is required to check the equipment/station status and residual oxygen volume changes.
2. **Labor Input**
- **Lianbang VSA Oxygen Generator**: No on - site personnel attendance is required.
- **PSA Oxygen Generator**: Requiring operation by professional personnel, with maintenance costs accounting for a large proportion of the total expenditure.
- **Liquid Oxygen**: During liquid oxygen filling, staff are needed to maintain order and evacuate personnel. No unauthorized persons or ignition sources are allowed near the liquid oxygen station.