US3788036A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressure equalization and purging system for heatless adsorption systems
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-07-26
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Granted: 1974-01-29
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Expires: 1992-07-26
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is concerned with an improved method for fractionating multicomponent gas mixtures. More specifically, the present invention is primarily concerned with the improved process wherein a multicomponent oxygen containing feed stream is fractionated into a stream relatively enriched in the oxygen component of the mixture. The present invention particularly concerns heatless fractionation systems for separating air into an oxygen enriched primary product stream and a nitrogen enriched secondary product stream.
Inventors
- 👤 D Stahl
- 👤 H Lee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 23:53
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/02; B01D53/04; B01D53/047; B01D53/053; C; C10; C10G; C10G25/00; C10G25/02; C10G25/03; C10G25/12; B01D2253/00; B01D2253/10; B01D2253/106; B01D2253/108; B01D2256/00; B01D2256/12; B01D2257/00; B01D2257/10; B01D2257/102; B01D2259/00; B01D2259/40; B01D2259/40011; B01D2259/40028; B01D2259/4003; B01D2259/40032; B01D2259/40035; B01D2259/40037; B01D2259/40043; B01D2259/4005; B01D2259/40052; B01D2259/40058; B01D2259/40066; B01D2259/40067; B01D2259/401; B01D2259/402; B01D53/0473; B01D53/0476
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
37 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein during the flow of purge gas through said adsorbent bed a portion of the product stream gas is flowed through said adsorbent bed as a part of said purge gas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said solid adsorbent is a crystalline zeolite.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said gaseous mixture is air, said one component comprises substantially nitrogen, and said other component is enriched in oxygen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
307 words
A cyclic method for fractionating a gaseous mixture wherein at least one component is selectively adsorbed on a solid adsorbent to a greater extent than other components, comprising flowing said gaseous mixture into a first adsorbent bed for selective adsorption of at least one component so as to produce a product stream flowing from said first adsorbent bed enriched in other components and continuing said flow until said first adsorbent bed has adsorbed a substantial amount of said one component; simultaneously interconnecting a second adsorbent bed with a tank so as to pressure equalize said second adsorbent bed to a second lower pressure; depressurizing said second adsorbent bed to at least about atmospheric pressure; flowing the second lower pressure gas from said tank through said second adsorbent bed as a purge gas; interconnecting said first adsorbent bed and said second adsorbent bed, whereby said first adsorbent bed is pressure equalized to a first lower pressure and said second bed is pressure equalized to a higher pressure; flowing said gaseous mixture into said second adsorbent bed for selective adsorption of at least one component so as to produce a product stream flowing from said second adsorbent bed enriched in other components and continuing said flow until said second adsorbent bed has adsorbEd a substantial amount of said one component; simultaneously interconnecting said first adsorbent bed with said tank so as to pressure equalize said first adsorbent bed to a second lower pressure; depressurizing said first adsorbent bed as a purge gas; and interconnecting said first adsorbent bed and said second adsorbent bed, whereby said second adsorbent bed is pressure equalized to a first lower pressure and said first adsorbent bed is pressure equalized to a higher pressure, thereby preparing said first adsorbent bed for selective adsorption of said one component of said gaseous mixture in the next cycle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein during the period of flow of gas from said tank to said first adsorbent bed or to said second adsorbent bed, a portion of the product stream enriched in an other component is flowed through said first adsorbent bed or said second adsorbent bed as an additional purge gas.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein following the period of flow of gas from said tank to said first adsorbent bed, or to said second adsorbent bed, a portion of the product stream enriched in an other component is flowed through said first adsorbent bed or said second adsorbent bed as an additional purge gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein during and following the period of flow of gas from said tank to said first adsorbent bed or to said second adsorbent bed a portion of the product stream enriched in an other component is flowed through said first adsorbent bed or said second adsorbent bed as an additional purge gas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 8 wherein said solid adsorbent is a crystalline zeolite.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 9 wherein said gaseous mixture is air, and one component comprises substantially nitrogen and said other component is enriched in oxygen.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein said solid adsorbent is a crystalline zeolite.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 11 wherein said gaseous mixture is air, and one component comprises substantially nitrogen and said other component is enriched in oxygen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein the desorption and purging pressure is subatmospheric.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
105 words
An apparatus for fractionating gaseous mixtures comprising: three pressure vessels with one pressure vessel containing a solid adsorbent selective for at least one component of a gaseous mixture; an input conduit for flowing said gaseous mixture to one end of said solid adsorbent containing pressure vessel; valve means on said input conduit for selectively directing gaseous mixture to said solid adsorbent containing pressure vessel and for interconnecting said solid adsorbent containing pressure vessel with the atmosphere; an output conduit with valve means for selectively flowing gaseous material to the other pressure vessels and for flowing a fractionated gas from said solid adsorbent containing pressure vessel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as in claim 14 wherein said solid adsorbent containing pressure vessels contain a crystalline zeolite adsorbent.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 15 wherein said crystalline zeolite adsorbent is of a type which selectively adsorbed nitrogen from an oxygen and nitrogen containing gas.
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) | 1977-01-28 | 1977-07-30 | 1978-01-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-28 | 1981-07-30 | 1982-01-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-28 | 1985-07-30 | 1986-01-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |