초록 ▼

Gas separation by pressure swing adsorption (PSA) and vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA), to obtain a purified product gas of the less strongly adsorbed fraction of the feed gas mixture, is performed with an apparatus having a plurality of adsorbers. The adsorbers cooperate with first and secon

Gas separation by pressure swing adsorption (PSA) and vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA), to obtain a purified product gas of the less strongly adsorbed fraction of the feed gas mixture, is performed with an apparatus having a plurality of adsorbers. The adsorbers cooperate with first and second valves in a rotary PSA module, with the PSA cycle characterized by multiple intermediate pressure levels between the higher and lower pressures of the PSA cycle. Gas flows enter or exit the PSA module at the immediate pressure levels as well as the higher and lower pressure levels, under substantially steady conditions of flow and pressure. The PSA module comprises a rotor containing laminated sheet adsorbers and rotating within a stator, with ported valve faces between the rotor and stator to control the timing of the flows entering or exiting the adsorbers in the rotor.

대표청구항 ▼

Gas separation by pressure swing adsorption (PSA) and vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA), to obtain a purified product gas of the less strongly adsorbed fraction of the feed gas mixture, is performed with an apparatus having a plurality of adsorbers. The adsorbers cooperate with first and secon

Gas separation by pressure swing adsorption (PSA) and vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA), to obtain a purified product gas of the less strongly adsorbed fraction of the feed gas mixture, is performed with an apparatus having a plurality of adsorbers. The adsorbers cooperate with first and second valves in a rotary PSA module, with the PSA cycle characterized by multiple intermediate pressure levels between the higher and lower pressures of the PSA cycle. Gas flows enter or exit the PSA module at the immediate pressure levels as well as the higher and lower pressure levels, under substantially steady conditions of flow and pressure. The PSA module comprises a rotor containing laminated sheet adsorbers and rotating within a stator, with ported valve faces between the rotor and stator to control the timing of the flows entering or exiting the adsorbers in the rotor. ven enclosure; a gas supply for supplying gas substantially devoid of oxygen; a gas supply flow controller regulating the flow of gas from the gas supply into the oven enclosure prior to the heating cycle to thereby purge oxygen from within the oven enclosure; and an exhaust system having a exhaust flow controller for regulating the flow of gas from within the oven enclosure during the cooling cycle. 16. The chromatography system of claim 15 wherein the gas comprises nitrogen. 17. The chromatography system of claim 15 wherein the gas comprises carbon dioxide. 18. The chromatography system of claim 15 wherein the chromatographic column comprises a bundled coil. 19. The chromatography system of claim 18 wherein the oven enclosure has a substantially annular cavity to contain the coil. 20. The chromatography system of claim 15 wherein the gas supply flow controller and exhaust flow controller regulate the flow of gas through the oven enclosure to purge oxygen from within the oven enclosure prior to the heating cycle. 21. The chromatography system of claim 15 wherein the gas supply flow controller and exhaust flow controller regulate the flow of gas through the oven enclosure to accelerate cooling of the column during the cooling cycle. 22. The chromatography system of claim 15 wherein the gas supply flow controller maintains the oven enclosure at a positive pressure to prevent diffusion of oxygen into the oven enclosure. 23. The chromatography system of claim 15 wherein the exhaust flow controller releases gas from the oven enclosure if the pressure within the oven enclosure exceeds a predetermined limit. velocity of the oxygen is then subsonic. s and a mixed conducting phase capable of conducting both said oxygen ions and electrons, the ion conducting phase being present within the mixture in an amount greater than a percolation threshold and the mixed conducting material and phase having a greater electronic conductivity than ionic conductivity; during the introduction of said feed stream to said cathode side of said ceramic membrane, maintaining said membrane at a temperature of at least about 600° C. and maintaining a pressure difference across said membrane from said cathode side to an opposite anode side thereof. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said ion conducting phase is formed of a first material having an oxygen ion conductivity greater than about 0.01 S/cm at 1000° C. in air and said mixed conducting phase is formed of a second material having an oxygen ion conductivity of greater than about 0.01 S/cm at 1000° C. in air and an electronic conductivity greater than about 0.02 S/cm at 1000° C. in air. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein said first material is a fluorite, a bismuth oxide, an apetite oxide, and mixtures thereof and said second material is a perovskite or a brownmillerite. 4. The method of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein one of said first and second materials is present within said mixture in an amount of no less than about 5% by volume and the other of the first and second materials is present within said mixture at no greater than about 95% by volume. 5. The method of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein one of said first and second materials is present within said mixture in an amount of no less than about 10% by volume and the other of the first and second materials is present within said mixture at no greater than about 90% by volume. 6. The method of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein one of said first and second materials is present within said mixture in an amount of no less than about 20% by volume and the other of the first and second materials is present within said mixture at no greater than about 80% by volume. 7. A ceramic membrane structure comprising a dense layer and at least one active porous layer, the dense layer containing at least a mixed conducting material and the at least one active porous layer formed of a mixture having an ion conducting phase capable of predominantly conducting oxygen ions and a mixed conducting phase capable of conducting both said oxygen ions and electrons, the ion conducting phase being present within the mixture in an amount greater than a percolation threshold and the mixed conducting material and phase having greater electronic conductivity than ionic conductivity. 8. The ceramic membrane structure of claim 7, wherein said ion conducting phase is formed of a first material having an oxygen ion conductivity greater than about 0.01 S/cm at 1000° C. in air and said mixed conducting phase is formed of a second material having an oxygen ion conductivity of greater than about 0.01 S/cm at 1000° C. in air and an electronic conductivity greater than about 0.02 S/cm at 1000° C. in air. 9. The ceramic membrane structure of claim 8, wherein said first material is a fluorite, a bismuth oxide, an apatite oxide, and mixtures thereof and said second material is a perovskite or a brownmillerite. 10. The ceramic membrane structure of claim 8, or claim 9, wherein on of said first and second materials is present within said mixture in an amount of no less than about 5% by volume and the other of the first and second materials is present within said mixture at no greater than about 95% by volume. 11. The ceramic membrane of claim 8 or claim 9, wherein one of said first and second materials is present within said mixture in an amount of no less than about 10% by volume and the other of the first and second materials is present within said mixture at no greater than about 90% by volume. 12. The method of claim 8 or claim 9, wherein one of said first and second materials is present within said mixture in an amount of no less tha n about 20% by volume and the other of the first and second materials is present within said mixture at no greater than about 80% by volume. low-silica type X zeolite and kaolin clay whereby the kaolin clay is converted to a low-silica type X zeolite.