Patent · US Expired

Xenon recovery system

US7285154B2 · kind B2 · utility

17Cited by
9References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 24, 2004
Grant dateOct 23, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 10, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P20/151
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A first aspect of a process of recovering xenon from feed gas includes: providing an adsorption vessel containing adsorbent having a Xe/N2 selectivity ratio <75; feeding into the adsorption vessel feed gas having an initial nitrogen concentration >50% and an initial xenon concentration ≧0.5%; evacuating the adsorption vessel; and purging the adsorption vessel at a purge-to-feed ratio ≧10. The final xenon concentration is ≧15× the initial xenon concentration. A second aspect of the process includes providing an adsorption vessel containing adsorbent having a Xe Henry's law Constant ≧50 mmole/g/atm; feeding into the adsorption vessel feed gas having an initial nitrogen concentration >50% and an initial xenon concentration ≧0.5%; heating and purging the adsorption vessel to recover xenon having a final concentration ≧15× its initial concentration. Apparatus for performing the process are also described.

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