초록 ▼

A pressure swing adsorption process including the step of separating a gas mixture by absorbing at least one gas component in an adsorbent mass provided within each vessel of a plurality of vessels. The separating step has a single pressure equalization cycle. The separating step is preferably perfo

A pressure swing adsorption process including the step of separating a gas mixture by absorbing at least one gas component in an adsorbent mass provided within each vessel of a plurality of vessels. The separating step has a single pressure equalization cycle. The separating step is preferably performed with only four valves per vessel of the plurality of vessels. Additionally, a pressure swing adsorption system of the invention includes a plurality of vessels each containing therein an adsorbent mass configured to separate a gas mixture by absorbing at least one gas component in said adsorbent mass, where the system is configured to separate the gas mixture using a single pressure equalization cycle and includes only four valves per vessel of the plurality of vessels.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: 1. A pressure swing adsorption process, comprising: separating a gas mixture by absorbing at least one gas component in an adsorbent mass provided within each vessel of a plurality of vessels, wherein the se

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: 1. A pressure swing adsorption process, comprising: separating a gas mixture by absorbing at least one gas component in an adsorbent mass provided within each vessel of a plurality of vessels, wherein the separating step has a single pressure equalization cycle, and further comprises: an adsorption step in which the at least one gas component travels through a first vessel of the plurality of vessels, at least one pressure equalization step in which the first vessel is depressurized from a first, higher pressure to a second lower pressure, and a provide purge step immediately following the pressure equalization step in which the first vessel purges a second vessel of the plurality of vessels of adsorbed impurities and providing a throttling assembly comprising at least two throttling orifices configured to regulate flow between at least two vessels of the plurality of vessels, wherein a standard deviation in a diameter of each of the orifices is maintained at less than 2% of a mean orifice diameter. 2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the separating step is performed with only four valves per vessel of the plurality of vessels. 3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the process is performed using four vessels. 4. The process according to claim 1, wherein each vessel of the plurality of vessels is connected to four parallel flow manifolds comprising a feed manifold, a product manifold, a waste gas manifold, and an equalization and purge manifold. 5. The process according to claim 4, wherein a single valve is provided along a conduit connecting each manifold of the four parallel flow manifolds to each respective vessel of the plurality of vessels. 6. The process according to claim 1, wherein the separating step includes performing at least two independent pressure swing adsorption cycles, and wherein the independent pressure swing adsorption cycles are each performed in respective sets of vessels of the plurality of vessels. 7. The process according to claim 6, wherein each vessel of the plurality of vessels is connected to a common feed manifold, a common product manifold, and a common waste gas manifold, and wherein each set of vessels is connected to a separate equalization and purge manifold that is connected to each vessel within a respective set of vessels. 8. The process according to claim 6, wherein each of the sets of vessels is identical to one another. 9. The process according to claim 6, wherein all of the sets of vessels are provided in a single mechanical assembly. 10. The process according to claim 6, wherein each of the at least two independent pressure swing adsorption cycles performs a same series of steps, and wherein a timing of cycles is offset by a predetermined phase angle. 11. The process according to claim 10, wherein durations of time in the steps of the series of steps are equal. 12. The process according to claim 10, wherein durations of time in the steps of the series of steps are unequal. 13. The process according to claim 1, further comprising independently minimizing a variation in a product gas flowrate and a waste gas flowrate. 14. The process according to claim 1, further comprising simultaneously minimizing a variation in a product gas flowrate and a waste gas flowrate. 15. A pressure swing adsorption process, comprising: separating a gas mixture by absorbing at least one gas component in an adsorbent mass provided within each vessel of a plurality of vessels, wherein the separating step has a single pressure equalization cycle, the separating step includes performing at least two independent pressure swing adsorption cycles, the two independent pressure swing adsorption cycles are each performed in respective sets of vessels of the plurality of vessels, the at least two independent pressure swing adsorption cycles performs a same series of steps, a timing of cycles is offset by a predetermined phase angle, and the predetermined phase angle is varied to minimize a predetermined variable including at least one of a total flowrate of waste gas, a composition of waste gas species, and a total flowrate of product gas. 16. The process according to claim 15, wherein the predetermined phase angle is varied to simultaneously minimize more than one predetermined variable. 17. The process according to claim 15, wherein the separating step is performed with only four valves per vessel of the plurality of vessels. 18. The process according to claim 15, wherein the process is performed using four vessels. 19. The process according to claim 15, wherein each vessel of the plurality of vessels is connected to four parallel flow manifolds comprising a feed manifold, a product manifold, a waste gas manifold, and an equalization and purge manifold. 20. The process according to claim 19, wherein a single valve is provided along a conduit connecting each manifold of the four parallel flow manifolds to each respective vessel of the plurality of vessels. 21. The process according to claim 15, wherein each vessel of the plurality of vessels is connected to a common feed manifold, a common product manifold, and a common waste gas manifold, and wherein each set of vessels is connected to a separate equalization and purge manifold that is connected to each vessel within a respective set of vessels. 22. The process according to claim 15, wherein each of the sets of vessels is identical to one another. 23. The process according to claim 15, wherein all of the sets of vessels are provided in a single mechanical assembly. 24. A pressure swing adsorption process, comprising: separating a gas mixture by absorbing at least one gas component in an adsorbent mass provided within each vessel of a plurality of vessels, wherein the separating step has a single pressure equalization cycle, the separating step includes performing at least two independent pressure swing adsorption cycles, the two independent pressure swing adsorption cycles are each performed in respective sets of vessels of the plurality of vessels, the at least two independent pressure swing adsorption cycles performs a same series of steps, a timing of cycles is offset by a predetermined phase angle, and the predetermined phase angle is varied to maximize a predetermined variable including a concentration of waste gas species. 25. The process according to claim 24, wherein the separating step is performed with only four valves per vessel of the plurality of vessels. 26. The process according to claim 24, wherein the process is performed using four vessels. 27. The process according to claim 24, wherein each vessel of the plurality of vessels is connected to four parallel flow manifolds comprising a feed manifold, a product manifold, a waste gas manifold, and an equalization and purge manifold. 28. The process according to claim 27, wherein a single valve is provided along a conduit connecting each manifold of the four parallel flow manifolds to each respective vessel of the plurality of vessels. 29. The process according to claim 24, wherein each vessel of the plurality of vessels is connected to a common feed manifold, a common product manifold, and a common waste gas manifold, and wherein each set of vessels is connected to a separate equalization and purge manifold that is connected to each vessel within a respective set of vessels. 30. The process according to claim 24, wherein each of the sets of vessels is identical to one another. 31. The process according to claim 24, wherein all of the sets of vessels are provided in a single mechanical assembly. 32. A pressure swing adsorption process, comprising: separating a gas mixture by absorbing at least one gas component in an adsorbent mass provided within each vessel of a plurality of vessels, wherein the separating step separates the gas mixture using at least two independent pressure swing adsorption cycles, the at least two independent pressure swing adsorption cycles are each performed in respective sets of vessels of the plurality of vessels, and the separating step further comprises: an adsorption step in which the at least one gas component travels through a first vessel of the plurality of vessels, at least one pressure equalization step in which the first vessel is depressurized from a first, higher pressure to a second lower pressure, and a provide purge step immediately following the pressure equalization step in which the first vessel purges a second vessel of the plurality of vessels of adsorbed impurities; and providing a throttling assembly comprising at least two throttling orifices configured to regulate flow between at least two vessels of the plurality of vessels, wherein a standard deviation in a diameter of each of the orifices is maintained at less than 2% of a mean orifice diameter. 33. The process according to claim 32, further comprising independently minimizing a variation in a product gas flowrate and a waste gas flowrate. 34. The process according to claim 32, further comprising simultaneously minimizing a variation in a product gas flowrate and a waste gas flowrate.