US4129424A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas separation
Assignee: BOC Ltd Australia
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Filing: 1977-05-05
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Granted: 1978-12-12
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Expires: 1997-05-05
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for separating gaseous mixtures using adsorbent material. The mixture is contacted with an adsorbent bed which adsorbs preferentially a desired product gas constituent of the mixture. The bed is then purged with such gas or a stream rich in such gas at a pressure substantially equal to the partial pressure of that gas in the gaseous mixture fed to the adsorbent bed. The bed is then regenerated to recover product gas.
Inventors
- 👤 John W. Armond
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 03:36
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/02; B01D53/04; B01D53/047; B01D2253/00; B01D2253/10; B01D2253/102; B01D2253/106; B01D2253/108; B01D2256/00; B01D2256/10; B01D2256/20; B01D2256/22; B01D2257/00; B01D2257/10; B01D2257/102; B01D2257/40; B01D2257/404; B01D2257/50; B01D2257/502; B01D2257/504; B01D2259/00; B01D2259/40; B01D2259/40011; B01D2259/40028; B01D2259/4003; B01D2259/40043; B01D2259/4005; B01D2259/40052; B01D2259/40058; B01D2259/40062; B01D2259/403; B01D53/0476; Y; Y02; Y02C; Y02C20/00; Y02C20/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for increasing the proportion of a gas in a gaseous mixture of which it is a constituent, which method consists essentially of sequentially contacting the gaseous mixture with a bed of adsorbent which preferentiallly adsorbs said gas, purging the bed of adsorbent with said gas or a gas stream, which has a higher proportion of said gas than said gaseous mixture, at a pressure substantially equal to the partial pressure of said gas in the gaseous mixture before contact thereof with the bed of adsorbent, and then regenerating the bed to recover a gaseous product enriched in said gas.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for increasing the proportion of a gas in a gaseous mixture of which it is a constituent, which method consists essentially of sequentially contacting the gaseous mixture with a bed of adsorbent which preferentiallly adsorbs said gas, purging the bed of adsorbent with said gas or a gas stream, which has a higher proportion of said gas than said gaseous mixture, at a pressure substantially equal to the partial pressure of said gas in the gaseous mixture before contact thereof with the bed of adsorbent, and then regenerating the bed to recover a gaseous product enriched in said gas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bed is vented after the adsorption step to reduce its pressure to that of the purge gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein such venting takes place in a co-current direction with respect to the direction through the bed of the feed gaseous mixture during the adsorption step.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the adsorbent material is regenerated by reducing the pressure in the bed after the purge step.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein such pressure reduction is achieved either by connecting the bed to a zone at a lower pressure or by using a vacuum pump to evacuate the bed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least three adsorbent beds are used each operating on a similar cycle but out of phase with one another such that a substantially continuous flow of product gas can be obtained.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein such purging takes place in a co-current direction with respect to the direction through the bed of the feed gaseous mixture during the adsorption step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for increasing the proportion of a gas in a gaseous mixture of which it is a constituent, which apparatus comprises a bed of adsorbent which preferentially adsorbs said gas, means to pass said gaseous mixture through the bed, means to pass through the bed a stream of said gas or a gas stream, which has a higher proportion of said gas than said gaseous mixture, means to regenerate the bed to recover a gaseous product enriched in said gas, and control means adapted to operate the aforesaid means such that the bed is purged with said gas or said gas stream at a pressure substantially equal to the partial pressure of said gas in the gaseous mixture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for increasing the proportion of a gas in a gaseous mixture of which it is a constituent, which apparatus comprises a bed of adsorbent which preferentially adsorbs said gas, means to pass said gaseous mixture through the bed, means to pass through the bed a stream of said gas or a gas stream, which has a higher proportion of said gas than said gaseous mixture, means to regenerate the bed to recover a gaseous product enriched in said gas, and control means adapted to operate the aforesaid means such that the bed is purged with said gas or said gas stream at a pressure substantially equal to the partial pressure of said gas in the gaseous mixture.
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) | 1981-12-11 | 1982-06-12 | 1982-12-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-12-11 | 1986-06-12 | 1986-12-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-12-11 | 1990-06-12 | 1990-12-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |