Method and apparatus for removing residual hydrogen from a purified gas
First Claim
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1. A method for removing residual hydrogen from a purified gas comprising the steps of:
- (a) heating an impure gas;
(b) contacting the heated impure gas with an impurity sorbing material to produce a purified gas having trace amounts of residual hydrogen;
(c) cooling the purified gas to a temperature less than about 100°
C.; and
(d) contacting the cooled purified gas with a hydrogen sorbing material to at least partially remove said residual hydrogen.
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Abstract
The invention relates generally to a gas purification system for the purification of noble gasses and nitrogen. An improved method of purification generally includes the following steps: (a) heating an impure gas; (b) contacting the impure gas with an impurity sorbing material to produce a purified gas; (c) cooling the purified gas to a temperature less than about 100° C.; and (d) contacting the purified gas with a hydrogen sorbing gas to remove residual hydrogen. The system includes an improved heat exchange apparatus for cooling the purified gas and a low temperature hydrogen sorption apparatus.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for removing residual hydrogen from a purified gas comprising the steps of:
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(a) heating an impure gas; (b) contacting the heated impure gas with an impurity sorbing material to produce a purified gas having trace amounts of residual hydrogen; (c) cooling the purified gas to a temperature less than about 100°
C.; and(d) contacting the cooled purified gas with a hydrogen sorbing material to at least partially remove said residual hydrogen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A gas purification system comprising:
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(a) gas inlet means for impure gas; (b) heating means coupled to said gas inlet means for heating said impure gas to a temperature greater than about 200°
C.;(c) purifier means coupled to said heating means, said purifier means including a getter material capable of removing impurities from said impure gas to produce a purified gas; (d) cooling means coupled to said purifier means for cooling said purified gas to a temperature less than about 100°
C.;(e) hydrogen sorbing means coupled to said cooling means which includes a hydrogen sorbing material to remove residual hydrogen from said purified gas; and (f) a gas outlet for said purified gas. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A heat exchange apparatus comprising:
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(a) a first monoblock manifold formed from a single piece of material and including a first plurality of integral connector nipples such that interior surfaces of said first plurality of connector nipples do not include a joint between a plurality of pieces; (b) a second monoblock manifold formed from a single piece of material and including a second plurality of integral connector nipples aligned with said connector nipples of said first manifold such that interior surfaces of said second plurality of connector nipples do not include a joint between a plurality of pieces; (c) a plurality of straight tubes, each tube extending between a first connector nipple on said first manifold and a second connector nipple on said second manifold, each of said straight tubes being welded in place at the first manifold and at the second manifold. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification