초록 ▼

A raw gas containing a gas component A with low affinity with an adsorbent and a gas component C with high affinity with the adsorbent are sequentially supplied to at least three adsorption columns, while a desorption gas containing a gas component D which differs from the gas components A and C is

A raw gas containing a gas component A with low affinity with an adsorbent and a gas component C with high affinity with the adsorbent are sequentially supplied to at least three adsorption columns, while a desorption gas containing a gas component D which differs from the gas components A and C is supplied to each of the adsorption columns other than the one to which the raw gas is being supplied. When the raw gas is supplied to the adsorption columns, the gas component A having lower affinity with the adsorbent exits the adsorption columns earlier than the gas component C having higher affinity. The gas components A and C can thus be separated from each other. When a gas including an enriched gas component A is discharged from the outlet of each adsorption column, the full amount is extracted out of the system. When a gas including an enriched gas component C is discharged from the outlet of each adsorption column, the full amount is extracted out of the system. When the gas mixture containing the gas components A and C is discharged from the exit of each adsorption column, all the discharged gas is fed back to the inlet of the adsorption column to which the raw gas is being supplied. It is possible to efficiently and sequentially separate the gas components A and C with this simple structure.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of separating raw gas into a plurality of fractions using at least three adsorption columns packed with an adsorbent, comprising the steps of:sequentially supplying raw gas containing a gas component A having low affinity with said adsorbent and a gas component C having high affinity wit

1. A method of separating raw gas into a plurality of fractions using at least three adsorption columns packed with an adsorbent, comprising the steps of:sequentially supplying raw gas containing a gas component A having low affinity with said adsorbent and a gas component C having high affinity with said adsorbent to said adsorption columns in turn while supplying desorption gas containing a gas component D which is different from said gas components A and C to each of the adsorption columns including the adsorption column to which said raw gas is being supplied; extracting, when gas including an enriched gas component A is discharged from an outlet of any one of said adsorption columns, all the gas discharged from said adsorption column out of the system; extracting, when gas including an enriched gas component C is discharged from an outlet of any one of said adsorption columns, all the gas discharged from said adsorption column out of the system; when gas mixture containing the gas components A and C is discharged from an outlet of any one of said adsorption columns, feeding all the gas discharged from said adsorption column back to the adsorption column to which the raw gas is being supplied; and wherein, (a) when said raw gas is supplied to an inlet of one of said adsorption columns, extracting a fraction including an enriched gas component A or a fraction including an enriched gas component C from the outlet of said adsorption column; (b) in parallel with the above step (a), supplying said desorption gas to an inlet of at least one of other adsorption columns, extracting gas mixture containing said gas components A and C from the outlet of this adsorption column to further introduce said gas mixture into the adsorption column to which the raw gas is being supplied; and (c) in parallel with the above steps (a) and (b), supplying said desorption gas to an inlet of still another adsorption column, and extracting a fraction including an enriched gas component A or a fraction including an enriched gas component C from the outlet of this adsorption column.