Heat-reactivatable adsorbent gas fractionator and process

Claim 1

In the process for removing a first polar gas from a mixture thereof with a second gas by flow of the gas mixture continuously through a stationary sorbent bed having a preferential affinity for the first polar gas which includes the steps of passing the gas mixture in contact with and from one end to another end of a first bed of the sorbent; sorbing first polar gas thereon and, as the sorption of the first polar gas continues, forming a concentration gradient of first polar gas in the first bed progressively decreasing from one end to the other end of the bed ranging from a substantial proportion of the first sorbent capacity therefor at one end to less than 20% of its capacity therefor at the other end, so as to produce a gaseous effluent which has a concentration of the first polar gas therein below a predetermined maximum; removing first polar gas sorbed on the second sorbent bed by passing a purge flow of effluent gas in contact with the sorbent bed, discontinuing the purge flow, and then resuming passing the gas mixture in contact with the sorbent bed, the improvement which consists essentially in utilizing a sorbent transparent to microwave energy having a frequency within the range of about 0.03 to about 3000 giga Hertz, and desorbing first polar gas by applying during the purge flow microwave energy having a frequency within the range of about 0.03 to about 3000 giga Hertz at a temperature at which the sorbent is transparent to microwave energy, the microwave energy being preferentially absorbed by the first polar gas sorbed on the sorbent, and this gas thereby being desorbed, and halting application of the microwave energy when desorption of first polar gas is substantially complete, and before water of hydration of the sorbent is removed.

Claim 21

An apparatus for reducing the concentration of a first polar gas in a mixture thereof with a second gas to below a limiting maximum concentration thereof comprising, in combination, a stationary bed of sorbent having a preferential affinity for the first polar gas; and transparent to microwave energy having a frequency within the range of about 0.03 to about 3000 giga Hertz; an inlet line for delivering influent gas at an inlet end of the bed; and an outlet line for delivering effluent gas from an outlet end of the bed; means for applying to the sorbent bed microwave energy having a frequency within the range of about 0.03 to about 3000 giga Hertz for desorbing first polar gas from the bed at the conclusion of an adsorption cycle; and means for supplying a flushing flow of purge gas during application of microwave energy to remove desorbed first polar gas from the bed.

Claim 22

An apparatus for reducing the concentration of a first polar gas in a mixture thereof with a second gas to below a limiting maximum concentration thereof comprising, in combination, a stationary bed of sorbent having a preferential affinity for the first polar gas; and transparent to microwave energy having a frequency within the range of about 0.03 to about 3000 giga Hertz; an inlet line for delivering influent gas at an inlet end of the bed; and an outlet line for delivering effluent gas from an outlet end of the bed; means for applying to the sorbent bed microwave energy having a frequency within the range of about 0.03 to about 3000 giga Hertz for desorbing first polar gas from the bed at the conclusion of an adsorption cycle; and means for supplying a flushing flow of purge gas during application of microwave energy to remove desorbed first polar gas from the bed.