초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for the separation of gases by preferential adsorption of at least one of the gases in which at least three adsorption zones are used, at least two of which are arranged in series to form the separation zone while at least one other is being regenerated for re-use in the separ

A method and apparatus for the separation of gases by preferential adsorption of at least one of the gases in which at least three adsorption zones are used, at least two of which are arranged in series to form the separation zone while at least one other is being regenerated for re-use in the separation zone, and in which periodically a fresh zone is added to the end of the separation section from which the product gas is recovered and the zone forming the first zone of the separation section is removed for regeneration whereby each zone is successively incorporated into the separation section and subsequently removed from it and regenerated ready for reincorporation into the separation section. Improved utilization of adsorbent and reduced loss of product gas for regeneration purposes is thereby achieved without loss of product purity.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of separating a purified gas from a mixture thereof with at least one gaseous contaminant by pressure swing adsorption, said method comprising the steps of a. providing an adsorption unit comprising x zones of adsorbent material which selectively adsorbs said gaseous contaminant, x being

A method of separating a purified gas from a mixture thereof with at least one gaseous contaminant by pressure swing adsorption, said method comprising the steps of a. providing an adsorption unit comprising x zones of adsorbent material which selectively adsorbs said gaseous contaminant, x being a whole number of at least three; b. passing the gas mixture at a first pressure through y of the zones of said adsorption unit arranged in series with respect to the flow of the gas mixture therethrough, y being a whole number of from 2 to x-1 and said y zones constituting a separation section of said adsorption unit; c. recovering from the last zone of said separation section a purified gas in which the concentration of the contaminant does not exceed a predetermined value which is below the concentration of contaminant in the gas mixture; d. before the concentration of the contaminant in said purified gas rises above said predetermined value, but after the concentration of said contaminant in the gas stream leaving the zone forming the penultimate zone of said separation section has exceeded said predetermined value, adding another zone of said adsorption unit to the end of said separation section, expressed in terms of the direction of flow of said gas mixture through the separation section whereby said added zone now forms the last zone of said separation section; e. removing from said separation section the zone forming the first zone of the section whereby the zone next to it in the separation section now becomes the first zone; f. purging the adsorbent in said removed zone of adsorbed material by passing a purge gas through it at a second pressure which is lower than the first pressure whereby to prepare said zone for re-use in the adsorption section commencing as the last zone of said section; and g. periodically repeating steps (d), (e) and (f) whereby each zone of said unit is in successive periods incorporated into the separation section as the last zone thereof, subsequently periodically progressed along said section until it becomes the first zone thereof, and then purged ready for re-incorporation into the separation section in a subsequent period.