SELECTIVE HEATING IN ADSORBENT SYSTEMS
First Claim
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1. A method for increasing working capacity and maintaining working capacity over a service life of adsorber systems comprising steps of:
- (i) contacting a purge flow through adsorbents unheated along a portion of a purge inlet of a fluid flow path length of the adsorbents; and
(ii) contacting the purge flow through a heat input means along a purge outlet of the fluid flow path length of the adsorbents, wherein the heat input means comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a heat input means located in the plenum, a heatable plenum, a heat input means associated with the adsorbent, and combinations thereof.
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Abstract
An invention is disclosed for efficiently improving the working capacity and useful service life of an adsorber system by selectively heating the adsorbent towards the purge outlet of the fluid path.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1. A method for increasing working capacity and maintaining working capacity over a service life of adsorber systems comprising steps of:
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(i) contacting a purge flow through adsorbents unheated along a portion of a purge inlet of a fluid flow path length of the adsorbents; and
(ii) contacting the purge flow through a heat input means along a purge outlet of the fluid flow path length of the adsorbents, wherein the heat input means comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a heat input means located in the plenum, a heatable plenum, a heat input means associated with the adsorbent, and combinations thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An adsorber system comprising, in combination, an adsorber volume containing an initial volume of adsorbent material for temporarily adsorbing and storing adsorbate, a conduit for conducting adsorbate to the adsorbent, a conduit for expelling adsorbate-depleted fluid from the adsorber system, a conduit for conducting purge fluid to the adsorber system, and a conduit for conducting adsorbate-enriched purge fluid from the adsorber system, wherein the adsorber system is defined by an adsorbate-rich fluid flow path via the fluid inlet through adsorbent toward the conduit for expelling the adsorbate-depleted fluid, and, during operation in at least one subsequent step, purge fluid flow in a path to and through a conduit to the adsorbent system and along the fluid flow path in the adsorber system through the adsorbent volumes and the conduit from the adsorber system, the flow of purge fluid removing a portion of the adsorbate but leaving a residue of adsorbate in the adsorbent, and wherein:
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(i) the purge flow is subjected through unheated adsorbents along a portion of the purge inlet of the fluid flow path length of the adsorbents; and
(ii) the purge flow is subjected through a heat input means along the purge outlet of the fluid flow path length of the adsorbents, wherein the heat input means comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a heat input means located in the plenum, a heatable plenum, a heat input means associated with the adsorbent, and combinations thereof. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. An adsorber system operative for recovery of adsorbate defined by a adsorbate-laden fluid inlet to permit a fluid flow path through adsorbent volumes toward a conduit for expelling adsorbate-depleted fluid from the adsorber system and, during operation in at least one subsequent step, purge fluid flow is caused to flow in a path to and through a conduit opening to the adsorber system and along the fluid flow path in the adsorber system through the adsorbent volumes and the purge outlet conduit from the adsorber system, wherein the flow of fluid removing a portion of the adsorbate but leaving a residue of adsorbate in the adsorbent, and wherein:
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(i) the purge flow is subjected through unheated adsorbents along a portion of the purge inlet of the fluid flow path length of the adsorbents; and
(ii) the purge flow is subjected through heat input means along the purge outlet of the fluid flow path length of the adsorbents, wherein the heat input means comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a heat input means located in the plenum, a heatable plenum, a heat input means associated with the adsorbent, and combinations thereof. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification