Process and apparatus for generating and delivering an enriched gas fraction
US7704304B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 11, 2009 |
| Grant date | Apr 27, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 11, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB01D2259/4533
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An improved sieve bed design to manage breakthrough and the mass transfer zone by way of volumetric division. An empty space in the product end is separated from adsorbent-filled sieve space in the feed end by a mid-diffuser plate. The ratio of the empty product end void space to the adsorbent filled sieve space within a sieve bed may be determined by the relative percentages of the gasses to be separated and the bulk loading factor of the molecular sieve. A product end void space of the correct volume may ensure the maximum volume of nitrogen has been adsorbed before breakthrough occurs. In operation, pressure in the sieve bed empty space and sieve filled space may be equal at any instant. This contains breakthrough to the location of the mid-diffuser plate. The mass transfer zone may be static at the point of the mid-diffuser plate and as such, gas separation is a function of pressure within the bed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.