Patent · US Expired

Pressure swing adsorption process and apparatus

US5846294A · kind A · utility

20Cited by
25References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 23, 1997
Grant dateDec 8, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 23, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB01D2259/402
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A process and apparatus for separating the components of a gas mixture in a pair of adsorption vessels using a single gas compressor/pump to move gas into and out of the adsorption vessels. The cycle is such that the gas compressor/pump is in continuous operation. The adsorption cycle is non-symmetrical in that the series of steps carried out in one of the adsorbers is not the same as the series of steps carried out in the other adsorber. The apparatus includes an intermediate gas storage container which is used to temporarily store gas removed from the nonadsorbed gas outlet end of the adsorption vessels so that it can be used to partially pressurize the adsorption vessels upon completion of the adsorbent regeneration step of the adsorption cycle.

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