Patent · US Expired

Low temperature inert gas purifier

US5902561A · kind A · utility

18Cited by
6References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 29, 1995
Grant dateMay 11, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 29, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC01B2210/007
  • WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A two-stage process method for removal of impurities such carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, hydrogen, and methane from inert gases at ambient temperature (0.degree.-60.degree. C.). In the first stage the inert gas is contacted with a nickel catalyst, and in the second stage the inert gas is passed over a getter alloy. Purified gas exiting the second stage of the purifier contains less than one part per billion (ppb) levels of the impurities. The nickel catalyst and getter alloy are initially activated at elevated temperature. The catalyst and getter may be reactivated by heating and purging, and hydrogen previously removed from impure gas can be used in the reactivation process.

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