초록 ▼

A method and apparatus is disclosed in the separation of a gaseous mixture by pressure swing adsorption utilizing two beds of adsorptive material which are operated out of phase in the cycle thereby providing a more-or-less continuous flow of product. Each adsorbent bed contains a heat exchange cham

A method and apparatus is disclosed in the separation of a gaseous mixture by pressure swing adsorption utilizing two beds of adsorptive material which are operated out of phase in the cycle thereby providing a more-or-less continuous flow of product. Each adsorbent bed contains a heat exchange chamber holding a volatile liquid. The liquid gives up vapor in the bed undergoing adsorption and condenses in the bed undergoing desorption. Heat is thereby transferred between the beds, thus improving the efficiency of each stage by retaining heat which would otherwise be lost.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of separating a gaseous mixture by pressure swing adsorption utilizing at least two beds of adsorbent material capable of adsorbing at least one component of said mixture comprising: (a) admitting the mixture to a bed of adsorbent material under pressure, thereby adsorbing said component an

A method of separating a gaseous mixture by pressure swing adsorption utilizing at least two beds of adsorbent material capable of adsorbing at least one component of said mixture comprising: (a) admitting the mixture to a bed of adsorbent material under pressure, thereby adsorbing said component and discharging a gas relatively lean with regard thereto, and (b) desorbing said adsorbed component from said bed by subjecting the bed to a pressure lower than that at which adsorption is performed and discharging said component, wherein said method is carried out in a cyclic manner with the beds out of phase such that, in each cycle, a portion of the time in which each of said beds is undergoing adsorption, another is undergoing desorption, the method further including transferring heat generated in said bed undergoing adsorption by causing vapor to be evolved from a volatile liquid contained in a heat exchange chamber within said adsorbing bed and causing said vapor to be condensed in a heat exchange chamber in said desorbing bed, the upper and lower portions, respectively, of said heat exchange chambers being in fluid flow communication, such that there is a net flow of vapor from the chamber in the adsorbing bed to the chamber in the desorbing bed and a net flow of liquid from the chamber in the desorbing bed to the chamber in the adsorbing bed.