Pressure swing adsorption process and apparatus
US5997612A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 24, 1998 |
| Grant date | Dec 7, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 24, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB01D2259/404
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A process and apparatus for separating the components of a gas mixture by PSA in a four-vessel adsorption system operated as two pairs of adsorption vessels. The vessels of each pair are operated 180.degree. out of phase, such that one vessel of a pair is in the adsorption mode while the other vessel of the pair is undergoing adsorbent regeneration. The apparatus includes the two pairs of adsorption vessels, an intermediate gas storage reservoir which is used to temporarily store gas removed from the nonadsorbed gas outlet end of the adsorption vessels for use in various steps of the process, one gas blower and a pair of vacuum pumps. The adsorption cycle is such that the pairs of adsorption vessels are operated out of phase relative to each other and the blower and both vacuum pumps are in continuous operation throughout the process. The process and system are particularly well adapted to the separation of nitrogen from oxygen by vacuum swing adsorption.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.