Method and vessel for the storage of gas

• US 6,006,797 A
• Filed: 06/26/1998
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BOC Group BV (Linde Plc)
• Original Assignee: BOC Group BV (Linde Plc)
• Inventors: Parkyns, Norman Douglas, Sajik, Wasyl Michael, Bulow, Martin, Dougill, Silvia Beatriz
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US09/066,402
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 206/0.7, 502/416, 141/3, 141/20, 141/18
• US Class Current: 141/3
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 3/02 Compositions containing acetylene
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 11/002 for acetylene
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 of CO2

Abstract

Acetylene is stored at elevated pressure by charging with acetylene at elevated pressure a pressure vessel (typically a gas cylinder) containing carbonaceous adsorbent able reversibly to adsorb acetylene. The adsorbent has: (a) a specific micropore volume equal to or greater than 0.5 cm³ /g; (b) a specific mesopore volume equal to or greater than 0.5 cm³ /g; (c) a bulk density equal to or greater than 0.25 g/cm³ ; and (d) a surface area per volume equal to or greater than 400 m² /cm³. Alternatively or in addition to (a) and (b) above, the specific volume of pores having a diameter in the range of 1.5 to 3.0 nm is equal to or greater than 0.3 cm³ /g, but the sum of the specific mesopore volume and the specific micropore volume should always be equal to or greater than 1.0 cm³ /g. Preferably, at least 75% of the specific mesopore volume is contributed by mesopores having a diameter in the range of 2 to 5 nm and at least 90% of the micropores have a diameter of at least 0.4 nm. The adsorbent is typically in a free-flowing or monolithic form.

Claims

1. A method of storing acetylene at elevated pressure, comprising charging with acetylene at elevated pressure a pressure vessel containing carbonaceous adsorbent able reversibly to adsorb acetylene, in which the adsorbent has:

a. a specific micropore volume equal to or greater than 0.5 cm³ /g;

b. a specific mesopore volume equal to or greater than 0.5 cm³ /g;

c. a bulk density equal to or greater than 0.25 g/cm³ ; and

d. a surface area per volume equal to or greater than 400 m² /cm³.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the specific volume of pores having a size in the range of from 1.5 to 3.0 nm is equal to or greater than 0.3 cm³ /g.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which at least 75% of the specific mesopore volume is contributed by mesopores having a diameter in the range of 2 to 5 nm.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which at least 90% of the micropores have a diameter of at least 0.4 nm.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the surface area per volume is in the range of 800 to 1500 m² /cm³.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the adsorbent takes the form of one or more monoliths of agglomerated or compacted bodies of activated carbon.

7. A method of storing acetylene at elevated pressure, comprising charging with acetylene at elevated pressure a pressure vessel containing carbonaceous adsorbent able reversibly to adsorb acetylene, in which the adsorbent has:

a. a total of specific micropore volume and specific mesopore volume equal to or greater than 1.0 cm³ /g;

b. a bulk density equal to or greater than 0.25 g/cm³ ;

c. a surface area per volume equal to or greater than 400 m² /cm³ ; and

d. a specific volume of pores having a size in the range of from 1.5 to 3.0 nm equal to or greater than 0.3 cm³ /g.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, in which at least 75% of the specific mesopore volume is contributed by mesopores having a diameter in the range of 2 to 5 nm.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, in which at least 90% of the micropores have a diameter of at least 0.4 nm.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, in which the surface area per volume is in the range of 800 to 1500 m² /cm³.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, in which the adsorbent takes the form of one or more monoliths of agglomerated or compacted bodies of activated carbon.

12. A method as claimed in claim 7, in which at least 90% of the micropores have a diameter of at least 0.4 nm.

13. A pressure vessel for the storage, transport and delivery of acetylene under pressure, containing carbonaceous adsorbent able reversibly to adsorb acetylene, in which the adsorbent has:

a. a specific micropore volume equal to or greater than 0.5 cm³ /g;

b. a specific mesopore volume equal to or greater than 0.5 cm³ /g;

c. a bulk density equal to or greater than 0.25 g/cm³ ; and

d. a surface area per volume equal to or greater than 400 m² /cm³.

14. A pressure vessel as claimed in claim 13, in which the specific volume of pores having a size in the range of from 1.5 to 3.0 nm is equal to or greater than 0.3 cm³ /g.

15. A pressure vessel as claimed in claim 13, in which at least 75% of the specific mesopore volume is contributed by mesopores having a diameter in the range of 2 to 5 nm.

16. A pressure vessel as claimed in claim 13, in which at least 90% of the micropores have a diameter of at least 0.4 nm.

17. A pressure vessel as claimed in claim 13, in which the surface areas per volume is in the range of 800 to 1500 m² /cm³.

18. A pressure vessel as claimed in claim 13, in which the adsorbent takes the form of one or more monoliths of agglomerated bodies of activated carbon.

19. A pressure vessel as claimed in claim 13, when charged with acetylene under pressure.

20. A pressure vessel for the storage, transport and delivery of acetylene under pressure, containing carbonaceous adsorbent able reversibly to adsorb acetylene, in which the adsorbent has:

a. a total of specific micropore volume and specific mesopore volume equal to or greater than 1.0 cm³ /g;

b. a bulk density equal to or greater than 0.25 g/cm³ ;

c. a surface area per volume equal to or greater than 400 m² /cm³ ; and

d. a specific volume of pores having a size in the range of from 1.5 to 3.0 nm equal to or greater than 0.3 cm³ /g.