concentrator

Concentrator is a device or system that increases the concentration of a substance, energy, or information stream by gathering inputs, removing diluents, or focusing energy. The term is used across diverse fields, including medicine, chemistry, telecommunications, and renewable energy.

In medicine, an oxygen concentrator extracts oxygen from ambient air and delivers it at a higher concentration for patient use. These devices typically employ a molecular sieve to separate oxygen from nitrogen and other gases and can provide continuous or pulse-dose delivery. They are common in home care and clinics, and rely on power sources and regular maintenance.

In laboratory and chemical contexts, concentrators remove solvent or dilute components to concentrate a sample. Vacuum concentrators and centrifugal concentrators are widely used before analytical techniques such as chromatography or mass spectrometry. Books and brands often refer to devices like SpeedVac systems that evaporate solvent under reduced pressure to achieve concentration.

In telecommunications and data networks, a concentrator aggregates multiple low-capacity channels into a smaller number of higher-capacity channels, or links many devices to a central network. Data concentrators, line concentrators, and similar equipment are used to optimize bandwidth, manage traffic, or interface legacy systems with modern networks.

Solar and optical engineering also use concentrators, which focus sunlight or radiation onto a smaller area to increase energy density. Parabolic troughs, Fresnel lenses, and other designs are employed in concentrating solar power and high-concentration photovoltaic systems to improve efficiency and reduce material costs.