Separation and purification of gases and vapors by continuous pressure-swing adsorption
First Claim
1. A pressure swing adsorption process for separating or purifying a gas mixture having more and less adsorbable components selectively adsorbable at predetermined pressure levels comprising continuously and simultaneously subjecting a rotating bed of adsorbent material to the following steps by rotating the bed to sequentially align discrete adjacent sections of the bed with a plurality of sectors within a single vessel:
- (a) sequentially aligning each section of the bed with a first sector of the vessel in which pressurized gas mixture flows through the section of the bed aligned with the first sector and contacts the adsorbent to adsorb the more adsorbable component, thereby separating the more adsorbable component from the less adsorbable component;
(b) recovering the unadsorbed less adsorbable component as a primary product;
(c) subsequently sequentially aligning each section with a second sector of the vessel in which the pressure is lowered to desorb from the section of the bed aligned with the second sector the adsorbed more adsorbable component and any adsorbed portion of the less adsorbable component; and
(d) recovering the desorbed components as a secondary product.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for separating or purifying gaseous material having more or less adsorbable components includes a high pressure inlet chamber, a high pressure outlet chamber and a low pressure chamber. Adsorbent means retain an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing the more adsorbable component at a predetermined pressure level. There are also means for establishing a high pressure flow path for the gaseous material from the high pressure inlet chamber through the adsorbent means to the high pressure outlet chamber. The more adsorbable component is adsorbable by the adsorbent in the high pressure flow path. Further means establish a low pressure desorption flow path from the adsorbent means to the low pressure chamber. The two means for establishing flow paths are operable simultaneously to continuously separate or purify the gaseous material. A process for separating or purifying gaseous material is also disclosed. The gaseous material is pressurized to a pressure at which the more adsorbable component will be adsorbed by an adsorbent preferentially compared the less adsorbable component. The pressurized gaseous material is caused to flow through and contact the adsorbent to adsorb the more adsorbable component, thereby separating the more adsorbable component from the less adsorbable component.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A pressure swing adsorption process for separating or purifying a gas mixture having more and less adsorbable components selectively adsorbable at predetermined pressure levels comprising continuously and simultaneously subjecting a rotating bed of adsorbent material to the following steps by rotating the bed to sequentially align discrete adjacent sections of the bed with a plurality of sectors within a single vessel:
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(a) sequentially aligning each section of the bed with a first sector of the vessel in which pressurized gas mixture flows through the section of the bed aligned with the first sector and contacts the adsorbent to adsorb the more adsorbable component, thereby separating the more adsorbable component from the less adsorbable component; (b) recovering the unadsorbed less adsorbable component as a primary product; (c) subsequently sequentially aligning each section with a second sector of the vessel in which the pressure is lowered to desorb from the section of the bed aligned with the second sector the adsorbed more adsorbable component and any adsorbed portion of the less adsorbable component; and (d) recovering the desorbed components as a secondary product. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9)
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6. A pressure swing adsorption process for separating or purifying a gas mixture having more and less adsorbable components selectively adsorbable at predetermined pressure levels comprising continuously and simultaneously subjecting a rotating bed of adsorbent material to the following steps by rotating the bed to sequentially align discrete adjacent sections of the bed with a plurality of sectors within a single vessel:
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(a) sequentially aligning each section of the bed with a first sector of the vessel in which the pressurized gas mixture flows through the section of the bed aligned with the first sector and contacts the absorbent to adsorb the more adsorbable component, thereby separating the more adsorbable component from the less adsorbable component; (b) recovering the unadsorbed less adsorbable component as a primary product; (c) subsequently sequentially aligning each section of the bed with a second sector of the vessel in which the pressure is lowered in the section of the bed aligned with the second sector to an intermediate pressure between the pressures of steps (a) and (d), whereby some of the adsorbed more adsorbable component and some of the unrecovered adsorbed portion of the less adsorbable component are partially desorbed; (d) subsequently sequentially aligning each section of the bed with a third sector of the vessel in which the pressure is lowered in the section of the bed aligned with the third sector to desorb the adsorbed more adsorbable component, and to purge and regenerate the adsorbent with a first portion of the partially desorbed components of step (c); (e) recovering the desorbed components as a secondary product; (f) subsequently sequentially aligning each section of the bed with a fourth sector of the vessel and increasing the pressure within the section of the bed aligned with the fourth sector to the intermediate pressure of step (c); and (g) subsequently sequentially aligning each section of the bed with the first segment of the vessel and repeating the process. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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- 10. Pressure swing adsorption apparatus for separating or purifying a gas mixture having more and less adsorbable components comprising within a common housing a high pressure inlet chamber, a high pressure outlet chamber, and a low pressure chamber, a rotating bed of adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing the more adsorbable component at a predetermined pressure level, means for establishing a high pressure flow path for the gas mixture from the high pressure inlet chamber through the adsorbent means to the high pressure outlet chamber, the more adsorbable component being adsorbable by the adsorbent in the high pressure flow path, means for establishing a low pressure desorption flow path from the adsorbent means to the low pressure chamber, the means for establishing the flow paths being operable simultaneously to continuously separate or purify the gas mixture.
Specification