초록 ▼

An axial flow adsorber apparatus includes a bed of adsorbent material, a barrier in the form of an open-cell material combined with a distribution screen or baffle, graded balls, and an inflatable bladder. The adsorbent bed is the active adsorbent required for a separation process. The barrier combi

An axial flow adsorber apparatus includes a bed of adsorbent material, a barrier in the form of an open-cell material combined with a distribution screen or baffle, graded balls, and an inflatable bladder. The adsorbent bed is the active adsorbent required for a separation process. The barrier combines the open-cell material, which provides uniform retention of all adsorbent material, with the distribution screen, which provides uniform flow and pressure distribution across the bed. The barrier substantially covers a top surface of the adsorbent bed to prevent fluidization of the bed. Graded balls on the barrier uniformly distribute a downward pressure supplied by the inflatable bladder above the balls. The uniform pressure is transmitted through the balls to the barrier to further suppress fluidization. The balls also serve to direct gas flow in the upper end of the vessel and reduce void volume in the apparatus that would trap product gas. The flexible bladder maintains a uniform pressure on the bed while also eliminating a major portion of the void volume in the heads of the adsorber apparatus.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An adsorber apparatus comprising:a chamber defined by a peripheral wall and feed and distal end walls, said peripheral wall defining a cross-section of said chamber, the chamber having an outlet end adjacent to one of said feed and distal end walls and having an inlet end adjacent the other of sa

1. An adsorber apparatus comprising:a chamber defined by a peripheral wall and feed and distal end walls, said peripheral wall defining a cross-section of said chamber, the chamber having an outlet end adjacent to one of said feed and distal end walls and having an inlet end adjacent the other of said feed and distal end walls, and an axis extending from the inlet end to the outlet end; an inlet port in fluid communication with said inlet end for supplying a fluid mixture to said chamber and for removing a gas from said chamber; an outlet port in fluid communication with said outlet end through which a separated fluid product flows out of the chamber; a particulate bed substantially filling a portion of the chamber between said inlet end and said outlet end, a surface of said bed facing said outlet end and formed from a plurality of particles each having a minimum dimension, said surface corresponding dimensionally to said cross-section; a porous barrier on said surface, said porous barrier adapted to restrain said particles having said minimum dimension from entering said outlet end and adapted to permit the separated fluid product to enter said outlet end, wherein at least one of said porous barrier and said bed is movable along said axis toward the other of said porous barrier and said bed, means for biasing one of said porous barrier and said bed toward the other of said porous barrier and said bed such that said bed is restrained from fluidization; and distribution means between said porous barrier and said outlet port adapted to permit the separated fluid to flow from the porous means to the outlet port; wherein said distribution means is a plurality of balls.