IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0475357
(2006-06-27)
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등록번호 |
US-7491261
(2009-02-17)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Warren,John L.
- Hiscock,Anthony
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
9 인용 특허 :
6 |
초록
▼
An improved sieve bed design to manage breakthrough and the mass transfer zone by way of volumetric division. An empty space in the product end is separated from adsorbent-filled sieve space in the feed end by a mid-diffuser plate. The ratio of the empty product end void space to the adsorbent fille
An improved sieve bed design to manage breakthrough and the mass transfer zone by way of volumetric division. An empty space in the product end is separated from adsorbent-filled sieve space in the feed end by a mid-diffuser plate. The ratio of the empty product end void space to the adsorbent filled sieve space within a sieve bed may be determined by the relative percentages of the gasses to be separated and the bulk loading factor of the molecular sieve. A product end void space of the correct volume may ensure the maximum volume of nitrogen has been adsorbed before breakthrough occurs. In operation, pressure in the sieve bed empty space and sieve filled space may be equal at any instant. This contains breakthrough to the location of the mid-diffuser plate. The mass transfer zone may be static at the point of the mid-diffuser plate and as such, gas separation is a function of pressure within the bed.
대표청구항
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We claim: 1. A method of increasing the oxygen concentration of a gas, comprising: a) providing first and second chambers in fluid communication with one another, wherein said first chamber has a first feed end containing first molecular sieve material for adsorbing nitrogen and a first product end
We claim: 1. A method of increasing the oxygen concentration of a gas, comprising: a) providing first and second chambers in fluid communication with one another, wherein said first chamber has a first feed end containing first molecular sieve material for adsorbing nitrogen and a first product end separated from said first feed end by a gas permeable first boundary member which restricts said first molecular sieve material to said first feed end, and wherein said second chamber has a second feed end containing second molecular sieve material for adsorbing nitrogen and a second product end separated from said second feed end by a gas permeable second boundary member which restricts said second molecular sieve material to said second feed end, wherein a first conduit selectively supplies compressed air to said first or second feed ends, wherein a second conduit selectively supplies gas from said first or second product ends to an end use, and wherein a third conduit selectively supplies gas between and to said first and second boundary members; and providing a means for controlling as flow, and, by operation of said means for controlling gas flow, said method, in one cycle of a plurality of cycles, comprising the steps of: b) compressing air-by-air compression means into said first chamber from said first feed end through said first conduit; c) delivering oxygen enriched gas from said first product end through said second conduit for said end use; d) releasing oxygen-enriched gas from the first chamber to said second chamber through said third gas conduit; e) venting said first chamber as exhaust from said first feed end; f) compressing air into said second chamber from said second feed end; g) delivering oxygen enriched gas from said second product end through said second conduit for end use; h) releasing oxygen enriched gas from said second chamber to said first chamber through said third gas conduit; and, i) venting said second chamber as exhaust from said second feed end. 2. The method of claim 1 comprising the step of providing gas diffusers as said first and second boundary members. 3. The method of claim 2 wherein said third conduit has opposite first and second ends, said first and second open ends having corresponding first and second apertures therein, and wherein said first and second apertures are adjacent and spaced from, respectively, said first and second boundary members. 4. The method of claim 3 wherein said first and second apertures are substantially parallel to, respectively, said first and second boundary members. 5. The method of claim 4 wherein said second conduit is a tube. 6. The method of claim 2 further comprising first and second infeed gas diffusers mounted adjacent, respectively, said first and second gas infeed conduits so as to diffuse gas fed into said first and second feed ends through said first and second gas infeed conduits, whereby said molecular sieve material is sandwiched, respectively, between first boundary member and said first infeed gas diffuser, and between said second boundary member and said second infeed gas diffuser. 7. The method of claim 6 wherein said third conduit has opposite first and second ends, said first and second open ends having corresponding first and second apertures therein, and wherein said first and second apertures are adjacent and spaced from, respectively, said first and second boundary members. 8. The method of claim 7 further comprising first and second gas plenums, respectively, between said first gas infeed conduit and said first infeed gas diffuser, and between said second gas infeed conduit and said second infeed gas diffuser. 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising first and second gas manifolds mounted respectively, adjacent and between said first end of said second conduit and said first boundary member, and adjacent and between said second end of said second conduit and said second boundary member. 10. The method of claim 1 further comprising: a) providing a means for detecting a drawing of said oxygen enriched gas to said end use from said second conduit, a means for detecting a pressure drop below a lower threshold pressure in a reservoir of said oxygen enriched gas cooperating in fluid communication with said second conduit wherein said pressure drop is due to said drawing of said oxygen enriched gas from said second conduit, a means for signalling said pressure drop to said means for controlling gas flow; b) establishing a pressurized reservoir of said oxygen enriched gas for delivery through said second conduit for said end use; c) ceasing said flow of gas into or between said first and second chambers once said pressurized reservoir of said oxygen enriched gas is established until said pressure drop below said lower threshold pressure, upon the detection of which re-commencing said flow of gas into or between said first and second chambers. 11. The method of claim 10 further comprising providing a discrete reservoir for said reservoir of said oxygen enriched gas. 12. The method of claim 10 wherein said product ends provide said reservoir of said oxygen enriched gas. 13. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of monitoring pressure in said reservoir of said oxygen enriched gas. 14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of ceasing production of said oxygen enriched gas upon detection of pressure equal to or greater than an upper threshold pressure in said reservoir of said oxygen enriched gas. 15. The method of claim 14 further comprising providing a means for selectively varying a delivery volume of said oxygen enriched gas delivered per said drawing to said end use. 16. The method of claim 15 further comprising providing a means for selectively varying the sensitivity of said means for detecting a drawing of said oxygen enriched gas. 17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of: a) pre-setting a selectively adjustable oxygen conservation ratio in said means for controlling gas flow and a selectively adjustable drawing sensitivity, b) monitoring for pressure change which, according to said drawing sensitivity, is indicative of drawing of said oxygen enriched gas from said second conduit for said end use, c) upon detection of said sharp pressure change, allowing said oxygen enriched gas to flow from said reservoir along said second conduit to said end use in a volume according to said pre-set oxygen conservation ratio. 18. The method of claim 17 comprising the further steps of: a) monitoring time intervals between or frequency of sequential said drawings of said oxygen enriched gas, b) selectively varying said conservation ratio and/or said drawing sensitivity so as to: (i) increase said sensitivity upon an increase in said time interval or drop in said frequency relative to first threshold values; (ii) decrease said sensitivity upon a decrease in said time interval or increase in said frequency relative to second threshold values; (iii) increase said conservation ratio so as to decrease supply of said oxygen enriched gas if said conservation ratio is low and said drawing frequency is low; or, (iv) decrease said conservation ratio so as to increase supply of said oxygen enriched gas if said conservation ratio is high and said drawing frequency is high. 19. In a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process wherein a gaseous feedstock mixture of a less strongly adsorbed component in admixture with a more strongly adsorbed component is separated from said feedstock in a reactor having a bed of particulate adsorbent, the improvement which comprises the steps of: (a) passing said feedstock into said reactor; (b) fitting said reactor with a gas diffuser plate to create an initial adsorption zone filled with said particulate adsorbent bed and a subsequent void zone from which said less strongly adsorbed component is withdrawn; (c) determining the ratio of said void zone to said adsorption zone based on the relative percentages of the gasses in said feedstock and the bulk loading factor of said particulate adsorbent; and (d) locating said diffuser plate based on said determined ratio. 20. The improved process of claim 19, wherein said feedstock comprises air, said less strongly adsorbed component comprises oxygen, said more strongly adsorbed component comprises nitrogen, said particulate adsorbent comprises a zeolite, said bulk loading factor is 3:1. 21. The improved process of claim 19, wherein said reactor is pressurized with said feedstock.
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