US4758252A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydrostatic method employing PSA vent gas pressure for vacuum regeneration
Assignee: Messer LLC
•
Filing: 1987-06-26
•
Granted: 1988-07-19
•
Expires: 2007-06-26
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to an energy efficient method of vacuum regenerating an adsorbent bed. In a typical process, the adsorbent bed undergoes an adsorption step, a vent step, and a vacuum purge step. According to the present invention, the energy of the usually discarded vent gas is used to raise a dense liquid from a lower tank to a higher tank. The potential energy of the raised liquid, upon returning from the higher tank to the lower tank, is used to generate a vacuum for vacuum regeneration of the adsorbent bed.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven L. Lerner
- 👤 Ramachandran Krishnamurthy
- 👤 Donald L. MacLean
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:08
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/02; B01D53/04; B01D53/0407; B01D53/0446; B01D53/047; B01D53/0476
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A process of regenerating an adsorption bed following the adsorption stage of a pressure swing adsorption cycle comprising the following steps: (i) venting an adsorbent bed to atmospheric pressure, the vent gas stream being directed to a first tank containing a liquid causing the level of the liquid to be lowered and at least a portion of said liquid to be transferred via a conduit to a second tank positioned at a greater height than said first tank; and (ii) regenerating said adsorbent bed by permitting pressure equalization between said adsorbent bed initially at atmospheric pressure and the upper portion of said second tank above the level of liquid contained therein, while disconnecting said adsorbent bed from said first tank, such that the liquid level in said second tank is lowered and a portion of said liquid is transferred via a conduit to said first tank, thereby achieving a vacuum in said adsorbent bed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
A process of regenerating an adsorption bed following the adsorption stage of a pressure swing adsorption cycle comprising the following steps: (i) venting an adsorbent bed to atmospheric pressure, the vent gas stream being directed to a first tank containing a liquid causing the level of the liquid to be lowered and at least a portion of said liquid to be transferred via a conduit to a second tank positioned at a greater height than said first tank; and (ii) regenerating said adsorbent bed by permitting pressure equalization between said adsorbent bed initially at atmospheric pressure and the upper portion of said second tank above the level of liquid contained therein, while disconnecting said adsorbent bed from said first tank, such that the liquid level in said second tank is lowered and a portion of said liquid is transferred via a conduit to said first tank, thereby achieving a vacuum in said adsorbent bed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the portion of liquid transferred to said second tank is equal to the portion of liquid subsequently transferred back to said first tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1, wherein steps (i) and (ii) are repeated in a cyclical operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1, wherein further vacuum is provided in said adsorbent bed by a mechanical pump means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
147 words
A pressure swing adsorption system employing vacuum regeneration, comprising at least one adsorbent bed adapted to communicate through a first conduit with a first tank containing a non-toxic liquid, and wherein said adsorbent bed is adapted to communicate through a second conduit with the upper portion of a second tank, and wherein the bottom portion of said first tank is adapted to communicate through a third conduit with the bottom portion of said second tank, and wherein said second tank is at a sufficiently high altitude with respect to said first tank so that when said liquid in said first tank is transferred to said second tank, a potential energy is developed which is capable of providing a vacuum in said adsorbent bed when said liquid is returned to said first tank while the upper portion of said second tank is in communication with said adsorbent bed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
147 words
A pressure swing adsorption system employing vacuum regeneration, comprising at least one adsorbent bed adapted to communicate through a first conduit with a first tank containing a non-toxic liquid, and wherein said adsorbent bed is adapted to communicate through a second conduit with the upper portion of a second tank, and wherein the bottom portion of said first tank is adapted to communicate through a third conduit with the bottom portion of said second tank, and wherein said second tank is at a sufficiently high altitude with respect to said first tank so that when said liquid in said first tank is transferred to said second tank, a potential energy is developed which is capable of providing a vacuum in said adsorbent bed when said liquid is returned to said first tank while the upper portion of said second tank is in communication with said adsorbent bed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
10 words
The system of claim 5, wherein said liquid is water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 1, further comprising a first valve positioned in said first conduit between said adsorbent bed and said first tank and a second valve positioned in said second conduit between said adsorbent bed and said second tank, said first and second valves adapted for independent control.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 7, further comprising a third valve positioned in a conduit adapted to permit communication between said first tank and a locale at ambient pressure and a fourth valve positioned in a conduit adapted to permit communication between said second tank and the same or a different locale at ambient pressure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US361174A
Cited
US297433A
Cited
US1799591A
Cited
US2944627A
Cited
US3696588A
Cited
US3801513A
Cited
US3960522A
Cited
US3829246A
Cited
US3934989A
Cited
US3834136A
Cited
US4093544A
Cited
FR2329597A1
Cited
DE2906057A1
Cited
JPS55132618A
Cited
US4415340A
Cited
US4407665A
Cited
US4378978A
Cited
US4340398A
Cited
US4508549A
Cited
DE3303420A1
Cited
US4534346A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-07-19 | 1992-01-18 | 1992-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-07-19 | 1996-01-18 | 1996-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-07-19 | 2000-01-18 | 2000-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |