Patent · US Expired

Adsorption process for recovering two high purity gas products from multicomponent gas mixtures

US4913709A · kind A · utility

50Cited by
9References
27Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 17, 1989
Grant dateApr 3, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 17, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02C20/40
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

An improved pressure swing adsorption process is disclosed for the recovery of high-purity primary and secondary components from a multicomponent gas mixture. The process utilizes a first group of absorbent beds selective for the secondary component and a second group of adsorbent beds selective for retention of tertiary impurities in the mixture. The gas mixture is passed through a first and second bed in series, very high purity primary component product is discharged from the second bed, and high purity secondary component product is recovered by desorption from the first bed. A low-pressure purge of the first bed with high-purity secondary component product is utilized to minimize compression power and improve purity of the secondary product component. Several novel pressure equalization steps improve primary product recovery and reduce power consumption. Further increased product recovery is realized by recycling depressurization and purge streams from the first bed. The process can be used to recover high-purity hydrogen and carbon dioxide from a gas mixture containing these components along with minor amounts of methane, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen.

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