Patent · US Expired

Pressure swing adsorption process

US4650501A · kind A · utility

23Cited by
13References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 19, 1986
Grant dateMar 17, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 19, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB01D2259/404
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

In air separation and other gas separations employing pressure swing adsorption technology, reduced cycle times are achieved by an advantageous combination of simultaneous processing steps. The repressurization step in which the upper adsorption pressure is reached in each adsorbent bed is carried out while simultaneously withdrawing product gas from that bed. Following cocurrent depressurization steps in which released void space gas is used for pressure equalization and provide purge gas purposes, each bed, in turn, is further cocurrently depressurized, and the released gas is used for pressure equalization purposes, while the bed is simultaneously being countercurrently depressurized. This latter countercurrent depressurization is then continued to a lower desorption pressure is reached, after which the bed is partially repressurized by pressure equalization, before being further repressurized to upper adsorption pressure with simultaneous withdrawal of product as the next processing cycle is begun.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.