초록 ▼

Pressure swing adsorption separation of a gas mixture containing a more readily adsorbed component and a less readily adsorbed component is performed within an apparatus containing an adsorbent bed with cyclically varied geometry, such that the bed volume can be expanded or contracted. Variable volu

Pressure swing adsorption separation of a gas mixture containing a more readily adsorbed component and a less readily adsorbed component is performed within an apparatus containing an adsorbent bed with cyclically varied geometry, such that the bed volume can be expanded or contracted. Variable volume displacement means at either end of a flow path through the adsorbent bed are operated cyclically to generate flow of a gas mixture along the flow path, in a first direction when the more readily adsorbed component is preferentially adsorbed during the high pressure portion of the cycle while the bed volume is relatively contracted, and in a second reverse direction during the low pressure portion of the cycle while the bed volume is relatively expanded. The apparatus separates the gas mixture and also converts thermal energy by a thermodynamic cycle, such that heat and the more readily adsorbed component are transported in the second direction, while the less readily adsorbed component is transported in the first direction. Adsorbent bed volume is contracted while pressure is rising, and expanded while pressure is reducing, thus minimizing flow along the flow path except when the more readily adsorbed component is maximally or minimally adsorbed, and consequently improving performance of the pressure swing adsorption cycle.

대표청구항 ▼

A process for separating components of a gas mixture containing a first component which is more readily adsorbed and a second component which is less readily adsorbed by an adsorbent material, the process including the steps of; (a) introducing the gas mixture into a flow path having first and secon

A process for separating components of a gas mixture containing a first component which is more readily adsorbed and a second component which is less readily adsorbed by an adsorbent material, the process including the steps of; (a) introducing the gas mixture into a flow path having first and second ends and an adsorbent bed containing the adsorbent material and providing a flow path volume associated with the flow path and including volume of flow channels of the adsorbent bed, the flow path being disposed between first and second cyclic flow generation means at opposite ends of the adsorbent bed (b) cyclically imposing a flow of the gas mixture in the flow path so as to have cyclic reversals of flow direction along the flow path at a periodic frequency, (c) cyclically exchanging heat between the gas mixture in the flow path and a material with heat capacity disposed along the flow path, (d) cyclically varying total pressure of the gas mixture in the flow path between upper and lower limits, at the same periodic frequency and with phase coordinated with the cyclic reversals of the flow direction, (e) preferentially adsorbing the first component on the adsorbent material under increased pressure when the gas mixture is flowing along the flow path in the direction toward the second end of the adsorbent bed, and desorbing the first component so that it is free to move with the flow under decreased pressure and the flow direction is reversed toward the first end of the adsorbent bed, (f) separating the gas mixture in the flow path by enriching flow toward the first end of the bed in the first component, and enriching flow toward the second end of the bed in the second component, (g) cyclically varying the flow path volume between minimum and maximum limits in accordance with the cyclic pressure variations, so the flow path volume is reduced toward the minimum limit thereof when pressure is higher, and the flow path volume is increased toward the maximum limit thereof when the pressure is lower. A process as claimed in claim 11 further characterized by: (a) opening the exhaust valve means in response to maximum spacing between components of the adsorbent bed, so that the exhaust valve is open when flow path volume is maximum, (b) maintaining the exhaust valve means closed when the flow path volume is below maximum.