초록 ▼

A pressure swing adsorption process and system including at least two adsorption beds and a segregated storage adsorption bed which is isolated from direct communication with the feed gas stream. During the process the pressures in the adsorption beds are equalized from the feed ends thereof at the

A pressure swing adsorption process and system including at least two adsorption beds and a segregated storage adsorption bed which is isolated from direct communication with the feed gas stream. During the process the pressures in the adsorption beds are equalized from the feed ends thereof at the end of adsorption in one of the beds and after pressurization of the other bed. The segregated storage adsorption bed is pressure equalized with a depressurizing adsorption bed and then after purging of the bed the segregated storage adsorption bed is equalized with that adsorption bed during repressurizing thereof. A pair of flow control valves are connected in a gas flow path connected to the outlets of the adsorption beds, each valve being located adjacent a corresponding one of the beds and allowing unrestricted flow away from the corresponding bed and controlled flow toward that bed. A reservoir connected to the system output conduit stores product gas for use during a system malfunction or for augmenting system function.

대표청구항 ▼

In a pressure swing process for fractionating at least one component from a gaseous mixture by selective adsorption in each of at least two adsorption zones by sequentially passing the gaseous mixture from a feed stream through a first adsorption zone until the zone is about saturated while simultan

In a pressure swing process for fractionating at least one component from a gaseous mixture by selective adsorption in each of at least two adsorption zones by sequentially passing the gaseous mixture from a feed stream through a first adsorption zone until the zone is about saturated while simultaneously purging and then pressurizing a second adsorption zone and then passing the gaseous mixture from the feed stream through the second adsorption zone until the zone is about saturated while simultaneously purging and then pressurizing the first adsorption zone, the improvement comprising: (a) withdrawing low purity gas from one of the adsorption zones in a direction cocurrent with feed flow when the zone is at the end of the adsorption operation therein and prior to purging of the zone until the mass transfer zone moves out of said adsorption zone; (b) introducing the withdrawn low purity gas and said mass transfer zone to one end of a segregated storage adsorption zone; and (c) withdrawing gas from said one end of the segregated storage adsorption zone and passing said withdrawn gas and said mass transfer zone into said one adsorption zone in a direction countercurrent to feed flow after purging of the zone and when the zone is at a relatively low pressure.