US3785120A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Recovery of purified helium or hydrogen from gas mixtures
Assignee: United States Atomic Energy Commission
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Filing: 1971-10-15
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Granted: 1974-01-15
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Expires: 1991-10-15
Abstract
Abstract A process for the removal of a component selected from helium and hydrogen from gaseous mixtures also containing contaminants. The gaseous mixture is contacted with a liquid fluorocarbon in an absorption zone maintained at superatmospheric pressure to preferentially absorb the contaminants in the fluorocarbon. Unabsorbed gas enriched in hydrogen or helium is withdrawn from the absorption zone as product. Liquid flurocarbon enriched in contaminants is withdrawn separately from the absorption zone.
Inventors
- 👤 J Merriman
- 👤 J Pashley
- 👤 M Stephenson
- 👤 D Dunthorn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:41
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/14; B01D53/1487; B01D53/1493; C; C01; C01B; C01B3/00; C01B3/50; C01B3/52; C01B2203/00; C01B2203/04; C01B2203/0415; C01B2203/0465; C01B2203/047; C01B2203/0475; C01B2203/048; C01B2203/0485; Y; Y02; Y02C; Y02C20/00; Y02C20/40; Y02P; Y02P20/00; Y02P20/151
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
48 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said stream enriched in said constitutents is passed through a gas-stripping zone at a lower pressure than said absorber to desorb gaseous constitutents dissolved therein, thereby regenerating said liquid fluorocarbon for recycle to said absorption zone for flowing contact with said mixture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
52 words
The process of claim 2 wherein prior to passage through said gas-stripping zone, said stream enriched in said constitutents is passed through a fractionating zone at a pressure intermediate of the respective pressures in said absorption zone and said gas-stripping zone to desorb from said stream part of said constituents dissolved therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 3 wherein constituents desorbed in said fractionating zone are recycled for blended with said mixture prior to passage of said mixture through said absorption zone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said liquid fluorocarbon is a member selected from the group consisting of alkane and cycloalkane derivatives having at least one fluorine atom; perfluoroamines; and perfluoroethers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
86 words
The process of recovering hydrogen from a gaseous mixture containing mainly hydrogen and methane, said process comprising passing said mixture through an absorption zone at superatomspheric pressure and a temperature in the range of about -200 to +250*F in flowing contact with a liquid fluorocarbon to preferentially absorb in said fluorcarbon constituents of said mixture more soluble therein than hydrogen, withdrawing from said absorption zone a stream of saod liquid fluorocarbon enriched in said constituents, and separately withdrawing from said zone unabsorbed gas enrIched in hydrogen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said liquid fluorocarbon is a member selected from the group consisting of alkane and cycloalkane derivatives having at least one fluorine atom; perfluoroamines; and perfluoroethers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
The process of recovering helium from a gaseous mixture containing helium and a low-boiling main constituent selected from the group consisting of methane and nitrogen, said process comprising passsing said mixture through an absorption zone at superatmospheric pressure at a temperature in the range of about -200 to +250*F in flowing contact with a liquid fluorocarbon to preferentially absorb in said fluorocarbon constituents of said mixture more soluble therein than helium, withdrawing from said absorption zone a stream of said liquid fluorocarbon enriched in said constituents, and separately withdrawing from said zone unabsorbed gas enriched in helium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method fo claim 8 wherein said liquid fluorocarbon is a member selected from the group consisting of alkane and cycloalkane derivatives having at least one fluorine atom; perfluoroamines; and perfluoroethers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said gaseous mixture contains low-boiling impurities in the amount from about 0.5 percent to 40 percent by volume.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-14 | 1977-07-16 | 1978-01-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-14 | 1981-07-16 | 1982-01-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-14 | 1985-07-16 | 1986-01-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |