Regulation of a PSA process

US6030435A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude · FR

Inventors

• Christian Monereau · Paris, FR
• Dominique Rouge · Malakoff, FR
• Nathalie Derive · Paris, FR
• Christophe Montfort · Buc, FR

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 22, 1998
• Grant date: Feb 29, 2000
• Expiry date: Jul 22, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B01D2259/416
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A PSA process for the separation of a gas flow containing essentially oxygen and nitrogen by preferential adsorption of the nitrogen, at a high adsorption pressure, on at least one bed of adsorbent material inserted in at least one separation zone. The material preferentially adsorbs nitrogen. Each bed of adsorbing material is subjected to successive separation cycles. Each separation cycle comprises at least: a purge phase comprising a desorption of the nitrogen adsorbed on the adsorbing material at a low desorption pressure below the high adsorption pressure, and a supply phase comprising introduction of the gaseous flow at a supply temperature (T.sub.sup) into the separation zone with passage from the low desorption pressure to the high adsorption pressure. The supply temperature (T.sub.sup) of the gaseous flow to be separated is regulated and the high adsorption pressure is adjusted.