METHODS OF PURIFYING A GAS MIXTURE COMPRISING TWO GASES USING GRANULATED POROUS GLASS

• US 20080257152A1
• Filed: 04/17/2007
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: American Air Liquide Incorporated (L'Air Liquide SA)
• Original Assignee: American Air Liquide Incorporated (L'Air Liquide SA)
• Inventors: Giacobbe, Elizabeth, GIACOBBE, Frederick W.
• Application Number:
  US11/736,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20080257152A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 95/96
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/106 Silica or silicates
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2256/12 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2256/16 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2256/18 Noble gases
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/102 Nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/416 involving cryogenic temperature treatment
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/04 with stationary adsorbents B01D53/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0462 Temperature swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/047 Pressure swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0476 Vacuum pressure swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/20 of methane
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 of CO2

Abstract

A packed bed of granulated porous glass is used to purify a gas mixture comprising two gases whose boiling points or sublimation points at one atmosphere are least 10° K apart.

Claims

1. A method of purifying an impure gas with a granulated porous glass adsorbent, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an impure gas comprising first and second gases, said first and second gases having boiling points or sublimation points at one atmosphere that are least 10°

K apart;

providing a packed bed of granulated porous glass;

allowing the impure gas to flow into the packed bed, thereby preferentially adsorbing at least some of the first gas on the granulated porous glass to yield a purified gas wherein a concentration of the second gas is higher than that of the impure gas; and

allowing the purified gas to flow out of the packed bed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

discontinuing the flow of the impure gas into the packed bed; and

allowing a purge gas to flow through the packed bed thereby allowing at least some of the first gas adsorbed on the granulated porous glass to be desorbed and flow out of the packed bed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein before the purge gas flows through the packed bed the purge gas has a temperature T_pg that is higher than a temperature of the packed bed T_pb;

and

allowing the purge gas to flow through the packed bed.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising the further step of maintaining a temperature of the packed bed by heat exchange with a heat exchange fluid.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the heat exchange fluid is liquid Nitrogen.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising the further step of maintaining a temperature of the packed bed by heat exchange with solid CO₂.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first gas is Nitrogen and the second gas is Helium.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first gas is Nitrogen and the second gas is Hydrogen.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first gas is Krypton and the second gas is Argon.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first gas is Xenon and the second gas is Argon.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first gas is CO₂ and the second gas is Oxygen.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first gas is H₂O and the second gas is Oxygen.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein a temperature T_pb of the packed bed is no more than 78°

K.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein boiling points at 1 atmosphere of the first and second gases are at least 57°

K apart.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein boiling points at 1 atmosphere of the first and second gases are at least 32°

K apart.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of maintaining a temperature of the packed bed within a range of from about 100°

K to about 200°

K.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of maintaining a temperature of the packed bed within a range of from about 10°

K to about 100°

K.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

discontinuing the flow of the impure gas into the packed bed; and

allowing at least some of the first gas adsorbed on the granulated porous glass to be desorbed and flow out of the packed bed.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said method is performed by temperature swing adsorption.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said method is performed by pressure swing adsorption.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said method is performed by vacuum swing adsorption.