PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an oxygen concentrator capable of reducing the start-up risk of a compressed air generator on start-up by surely performing moisture adsorption of an adsorption tube when the oxygen concentrator is stopped, and an operation control method for the same.SOLUTION: The oxygen concentrator is provided with a compressed air generator 52 which generates compressed air, two suction units 61 and 62, which introduces the compressed air to an inner section and, by means of an adsorbent filled into the inner section, absorbs nitrogen and separates and produces oxygen, and a supply route switching section having two three-way valves 57 and 58 for alternately supplying the high pressure air from the compressed air generator to the two suction units in a prescribed cycle, wherein an equal pressure valve connected between the outlets of the two suction units is provided in order to supply part of an oxygen concentrated gas to the suction unit under a reduced pressure and utilize the oxygen concentrated gas as a purge gas, and a pressurized air port from the compressed air generator is connected to the normal open ports 57a and 58a of the respective three-way valves.COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT【課題】装置停止時に吸着筒の吸湿をより確実にして、起動時の圧縮空気発生部の起動リスクを低減させることができる酸素濃縮装置とその運転制御方法を提供すること。【解決手段】圧縮空気を発生する圧縮空気発生部52と、前記圧縮空気を内部に導入して該内部に充填された吸着剤により窒素を吸着して酸素を分離生成する2つの吸着部61,62とを備え、前記圧縮空気発生部からの高圧の空気を、前記2つの吸着部に所定周期で交互に供給するために三方弁2個57,58を有する供給経路切り替え手段を備える酸素濃縮装置において、酸素濃縮ガスの一部を減圧中の吸着部に供給して、パージガスとして利用するために、前記2つの吸着部の出口間に接続された均等圧弁を備えており、前記各三方弁のノーマルオープンポート57a,58aには前記圧縮空気発生部からの加圧空気ポートが接続されている。【選択図】図1
