Pressure swing adsorption process and system

Claim 2

A pressure swing adsorption process utilizing an adsorber having an inlet and an outlet and a bed of adsorbent material adapted to fractionate at least one constituent from a feed stream of a gaseous mixture routed through the adsorber between the adsorber inlet and the adsorber outlet and reservoir means for receiving product gas exiting the adsorber outlet, said process comprising the steps of; (a) directing the feed stream into the inlet of the adsorber so that product gas exits the adsorber outlet and accumulates in the reservoir means and so that the internal pressures of the adsorber and the reservoir means are raised to elevated levels; (b) shutting off the feed stream flow to the adsorber inlet and the product gas flow between the adsorber outlet and reservoir means and venting the adsorber inlet so that the internal pressure of the adsorber falls below that of the reservoir means; (c) conducting a flow of product gas from the reservoir means into the adsorber outlet while the feed stream flow to the adsorber inlet remains shut off; and (d) directing the feed stream into the adsorber inlet to resume feed stream flow thereto and so that the internal pressure of the adsorber equalizes with that of the reservoir means.

Claim 3

The process as defined in claim 1 wherein step (d) is followed by a repeat of steps (a) through (d).

Claim 4

The process as defined in claim 1 wherein step (d) is followed by the steps of: (e) shutting off the flow of product gas between the reservoir means and the adsorber so that the continued flow of the feed stream into the adsorber inlet raises the internal pressure of the adsorber to a high level; and (f) routing product gas from the adsorber outlet into the reservoir means so that the product gas begins to re-accumulate in the reservoir means and so that the internal pressure levels of the adsorber and reservoir means move toward equalization.

Claim 5

The process as defined in claim 1 wherein step (b) is followed by a step of discontinuing the of the adsorber inlet so that no gas is permitted to escape the adsorber from the adsorber inlet during the subsequent step of conducting.

Claim 6

A pressure swing adsorption process utilizing an adsorber having an inlet and an outlet and a bed of adsorbent material adapted to fractionate at least one constituent from a feed stream of a gaseous mixture routed through the adsorber between the adsorber inlet and the adsorber outlet and reservoir means for receiving product gas exiting the adsorber outlet, said process comprising the steps of: (a) directing the feed stream into the inlet of the adsorber so that product gas exits the adsorber outlet and accumulates in the reservoir means and so that the internal pressures of the adsorber and the reservoir means are raised to elevated levels; (b) shutting off the feed stream flow to the adsorber inlet and the product gas flow between the adsorber outlet and reservoir means and venting the adsorber inlet so that the internal pressure of the adsorber falls below that of the reservoir means; (c) conducting a flow of product gas from the reservoir means into the adsorber outlet and directing the feed stream flow into the adsorber inlet to resume feed stream flow thereto so that the internal pressure levels of the adsorber and the reservoir means move toward equalization; (d) shutting off the flow of product gas between the reservoir means and the adsorber so that the continued flow of the feed stream into the adsorber inlet raises the internal pressure of the adsorber to a high level; and (e) routing product gas from the adsorber outlet into the reservoir means so that the product gas begins to re-accumulate in the reservoir means and so that the internal pressure levels of the adsorber and reservoir means move toward equalization.

Claim 7

A pressure swing adsorption process utilizing an adsorber having an inlet and an outlet and a bed of adsorbent material adapted to fractionate at least one constituent from a feed stream of a gaseous mixture routed through the adsorber between the adsorber inlet and the adsorber outlet and reservoir means for receiving product gas exiting the adsorber outlet, said process comprising the steps of: (a) directing the feed stream into the inlet of the adsorber so that product gas exits the adsorber outlet and accumulates in the reservoir means and so that the internal pressures of the adsorber and the reservoir means are raised to elevated levels; (b) shutting off the feed stream flow to the adsorber inlet and the product gas flow between the adsorber outlet and reservoir means and venting the adsorber inlet so that the internal pressure of the adsorber falls below that of the reservoir means; (c) conducting a flow of product gas from the reservoir means into the adsorber outlet and directing the feed stream flow into the adsorber inlet to resume feed stream flow thereto so that the internal pressure levels of the adsorber and the reservoir means move toward equalization; (d) shutting off the flow of product gas between the reservoir means and the adsorber so that the continued flow of the feed stream into the adsorber inlet raises the internal pressure of the adsorber to a high level; and (e) routing product gas from the adsorber outlet into the reservoir means so that the product gas begins to re-accumulate in the reservoir means and so that the internal pressure levels of the adsorber and reservoir means move toward equalization.

Claim 8

The process as defined in claim 5 wherein the step of routing is carried out while the feed stream continues to be directed into the adsorber inlet.

Claim 9

The process as defined in claim 5 wherein step (e) is followed by a repeat of steps (a) through (e).

Claim 10

The process as defined in claim 5 wherein step (c) includes the steps of: conducting a flow of product gas from the reservoir means into the adsorber outlet while the feed stream flow to the adsorber inlet remains shut off; and directing the feed stream into the adsorber inlet to resume feed stream flow thereto following a predetermined period of time during which the feed stream flow to the adsorber inlet remains shut off.

Claim 11

A pressure swing adsorption process utilizing one adsorber having an inlet and an outlet and a bed of adsorbent material adapted to fractionate at least one constituent from a feed stream of a gaseous mixture routed through the adsorber between the adsorber inlet and the adsorber outlet and reservoir means for receiving product ga exiting the adsorber outlet, said process comprising the steps of: (a) directing the feed stream flow into the inlet of the adsorber so that product gas exits the adsorber outlet and accumulates in the reservoir means and so that the internal pressures of the adsorber and the reservoir means are raised to elevated levels; (b) shutting off the feed stream flow to the adsorber inlet and the product gas flow between the adsorber outlet and the reservoir means and venting the adsorber inlet so that the internal pressure of the adsorber falls below that of the reservoir means; (c) conducting a flow of product gas from the reservoir means into the adsorber outlet while the feed stream flow to the adsorber inlet remains shut off; (d) directing the feed stream into the adsorber inlet to resume feed stream flow thereto and so that the internal pressure of the adsorber equalizes with that of the reservoir means; (e) shutting off the flow of product gas between the reservoir means and the adsorber so that the continued flow of the feed stream into the adsorber inlet raises the internal pressure of the adsorber to a high level; and (f) routing product gas from the adsorber outlet into the reservoir means so that product gas begins to re-accumulate in the reservoir means and so that the internal pressure levels of the adsorber and reservoir means move toward equalization.

Claim 12

A pressure swing adsorption process utilizing one adsorber having an inlet and an outlet and a bed of adsorbent material adapted to fractionate at least one constituent from a feed stream of a gaseous mixture routed through the adsorber between the adsorber inlet and the adsorber outlet and reservoir means for receiving product ga exiting the adsorber outlet, said process comprising the steps of: (a) directing the feed stream flow into the inlet of the adsorber so that product gas exits the adsorber outlet and accumulates in the reservoir means and so that the internal pressures of the adsorber and the reservoir means are raised to elevated levels; (b) shutting off the feed stream flow to the adsorber inlet and the product gas flow between the adsorber outlet and the reservoir means and venting the adsorber inlet so that the internal pressure of the adsorber falls below that of the reservoir means; (c) conducting a flow of product gas from the reservoir means into the adsorber outlet while the feed stream flow to the adsorber inlet remains shut off; (d) directing the feed stream into the adsorber inlet to resume feed stream flow thereto and so that the internal pressure of the adsorber equalizes with that of the reservoir means; (e) shutting off the flow of product gas between the reservoir means and the adsorber so that the continued flow of the feed stream into the adsorber inlet raises the internal pressure of the adsorber to a high level; and (f) routing product gas from the adsorber outlet into the reservoir means so that product gas begins to re-accumulate in the reservoir means and so that the internal pressure levels of the adsorber and reservoir means move toward equalization.

Claim 13

The process as defined in claim 9 wherein the step of routing is carried out while the feed stream continues to be directed into the adsorber inlet.

Claim 14

The process as defined in claim 9 wherein the step of routing is followed by a repeat of steps (a) through (f).

Claim 15

The process as defined in claim 9 wherein the bed of adsorbent material is adapted to fractionate nitrogen from a feed stream of air so that the product gas exiting the adsorber outlet during steps (a) and (f) is an oxygen-rich gas.

Claim 16

A pressure swing adsorption system comprising an adsorber having an inlet and an outlet and a bed of adsorbent material adapted to fractionate at least one constituent from a gaseous mixture routed through the adsorber between the adsorber inlet and the adsorber outlet; reservoir means for receiving product gas exiting the adsorber outlet; means for directing a feed stream of a gaseous mixture into the adsorber inlet; first valve means associated with the directing means for selectively conducting the flow of the gaseous mixture into the adsorber inlet or shutting off the flow of the gaseous mixture into the adsorber inlet and for venting the adsorber inlet when the flow of the gaseous mixture into the adsorber inlet is shut off; second valve means interposed between the adsorber outlet and the reservoir means for selectively conducting or shutting off the flow of product gas between the adsorber outlet and the reservoir means; control means associated with the first and second valve means so that the system cycles through the sequential stages of; (a) directing the feed stream into the inlet o the adsorber so that product gas exits the adsorber outlet and accumulates in the reservoir means and so that the internal pressures of the adsorber and the reservoir means are raised to elevated levels; (b) shutting off the feed stream flow to the adsorber inlet and the product gas flow between the adsorber outlet and reservoir means and venting the adsorber inlet so that the internal pressure of the adsorber falls below that of the reservoir means; (c) conducting a flow of product gas from the reservoir means into the adsorber outlet while the feed stream flow to the adsorber inlet remains shut off; and (d) directing the feed stream into the adsorber inlet to resume feed stream flow thereto and so that the internal pressure of the adsorber equalizes with that of the reservoir means.

Claim 17

A pressure swing adsorption system comprising an adsorber having an inlet and an outlet and a bed of adsorbent material adapted to fractionate at least one constituent from a gaseous mixture routed through the adsorber between the adsorber inlet and the adsorber outlet; reservoir means for receiving product gas exiting the adsorber outlet; means for directing a feed stream of a gaseous mixture into the adsorber inlet; first valve means associated with the directing means for selectively conducting the flow of the gaseous mixture into the adsorber inlet or shutting off the flow of the gaseous mixture into the adsorber inlet and for venting the adsorber inlet when the flow of the gaseous mixture into the adsorber inlet is shut off; second valve means interposed between the adsorber outlet and the reservoir means for selectively conducting or shutting off the flow of product gas between the adsorber outlet and the reservoir means; control means associated with the first and second valve means so that the system cycles through the sequential stages of; (a) directing the feed stream into the inlet o the adsorber so that product gas exits the adsorber outlet and accumulates in the reservoir means and so that the internal pressures of the adsorber and the reservoir means are raised to elevated levels; (b) shutting off the feed stream flow to the adsorber inlet and the product gas flow between the adsorber outlet and reservoir means and venting the adsorber inlet so that the internal pressure of the adsorber falls below that of the reservoir means; (c) conducting a flow of product gas from the reservoir means into the adsorber outlet while the feed stream flow to the adsorber inlet remains shut off; and (d) directing the feed stream into the adsorber inlet to resume feed stream flow thereto and so that the internal pressure of the adsorber equalizes with that of the reservoir means.

Claim 18

The system as defined in claim 13 wherein said control means includes timing mechanisms operatively connected to said first and second valve means for actuating said valve means at the end of preselected periods of time so that the aforesaid stages of the system cycles are performed during intervals of predetermined duration.

Claim 19

A pressure swing adsorption system comprising: an adsorber having an inlet and an outlet and a bed of adsorbent material adapted to fractionate at least one constituent from a gaseous mixture routed through the adsorber between the adsorber inlet and the adsorber outlet; reservoir means for receiving product gas exiting the adsorber outlet; means for directing a feed stream of a gaseous mixture into the adsorber inlet; first valve means associated with the directing means for selectively conducting the flow of the gaseous mixture into the adsorber inlet or shutting off the flow of the gaseous mixture into the adsorber inlet and for venting the adsorber inlet when the flow of the gaseous mixture into the adsorber inlet is shut off; second valve means interposed between the adsorber outlet and the reservoir means for selectively conducting or shutting off the flow of product gas between the adsorber outlet and the reservoir means; control means associated with the first and second valve means so that the system cycles through the sequential stages of; (a) directing the feed stream into the inlet of the adsorber so that product gas exits the adsorber outlet and accumulates in the reservoir means and so that the internal pressures of the adsorber and the reservoir means are raised to elevated levels; (b) shutting off the feed stream flow to the adsorber inlet and the product gas flow between the adsorber outlet and reservoir means and venting the adsorber inlet so that the internal pressure of the adsorber falls below that of the reservoir means; (c) conducting a flow of product gas from the reservoir means into the adsorber outlet and directing the feed stream flow into the adsorber inlet to resume feed stream flow thereto so that the internal pressure levels of the adsorber and the reservoir means move toward equalization; (d) shutting off the flow of product gas between the reservoir means and the adsorber so that the continued flow of the feed stream into the adsorber inlet raises the internal pressure of the adsorber to a high level; and (e) routing product gas from the adsorber outlet into the reservoir means so that the product gas begins to re-accumulate in the reservoir means and so that the internal pressure levels of the adsorber and reservoir means move toward equalization.

Claim 20

A pressure swing adsorption system comprising: an adsorber having an inlet and an outlet and a bed of adsorbent material adapted to fractionate at least one constituent from a gaseous mixture routed through the adsorber between the adsorber inlet and the adsorber outlet; reservoir means for receiving product gas exiting the adsorber outlet; means for directing a feed stream of a gaseous mixture into the adsorber inlet; first valve means associated with the directing means for selectively conducting the flow of the gaseous mixture into the adsorber inlet or shutting off the flow of the gaseous mixture into the adsorber inlet and for venting the adsorber inlet when the flow of the gaseous mixture into the adsorber inlet is shut off; second valve means interposed between the adsorber outlet and the reservoir means for selectively conducting or shutting off the flow of product gas between the adsorber outlet and the reservoir means; control means associated with the first and second valve means so that the system cycles through the sequential stages of; (a) directing the feed stream into the inlet of the adsorber so that product gas exits the adsorber outlet and accumulates in the reservoir means and so that the internal pressures of the adsorber and the reservoir means are raised to elevated levels; (b) shutting off the feed stream flow to the adsorber inlet and the product gas flow between the adsorber outlet and reservoir means and venting the adsorber inlet so that the internal pressure of the adsorber falls below that of the reservoir means; (c) conducting a flow of product gas from the reservoir means into the adsorber outlet and directing the feed stream flow into the adsorber inlet to resume feed stream flow thereto so that the internal pressure levels of the adsorber and the reservoir means move toward equalization; (d) shutting off the flow of product gas between the reservoir means and the adsorber so that the continued flow of the feed stream into the adsorber inlet raises the internal pressure of the adsorber to a high level; and (e) routing product gas from the adsorber outlet into the reservoir means so that the product gas begins to re-accumulate in the reservoir means and so that the internal pressure levels of the adsorber and reservoir means move toward equalization.

Claim 21

The system as defined in claim 15 wherein said control means includes timing mechanisms operatively connected to said first and second valve means for actuating said valve means at the end of preselected periods of time so that the aforesaid cycling stages are performed during intervals of predetermined duration.

Claim 22

A pressure swing adsorption system comprising: an adsorber having an inlet and an outlet and a bed of adsorbent material adapted to fractionate at least one constituent from a gaseous mixture routed through the adsorber between the adsorber inlet and the adsorber outlet; reservoir means for receiving product gas exiting the adsorber outlet; means for directing a feed stream of a gaseous mixture into the adsorber inlet; first valve means associated with the directing means for selectively conducting the flow of the gaseous mixture into the adsorber inlet or shutting off the flow of the gaseous mixture into the adsorber inlet and venting the adsorber inlet when the flow of the gaseous mixture into the adsorber inlet is shut off; second valve means interposed between the adsorber outlet and the reservoir means for selectively conducting or shutting off the flow of product gas between the adsorber outlet and the reservoir means; control means associated with the first and second valve means so that the apparatus cycles through the sequential stages of: (a) directing the feed stream flow into the inlet of the adsorber so that product gas exits the adsorber outlet and accumulates in the reservoir means and so that the internal pressures of the adsorber and the reservoir means are raised to elevated levels; (b) shutting off the feed stream flow to the adsorber inlet and the product gas flow between the adsorber outlet and the reservoir means and venting the adsorber inlet so that the internal pressure of the adsorber falls below that of the reservoir means; (c) conducting a flow of product gas from the reservoir means into the adsorber outlet while the feed stream flow to the adsorber inlet remains shut off; (d) directing the feed stream into the adsorber inlet to resume feed stream flow thereto and so that the internal pressure of the adsorber equalizes with that of the reservoir means; (e) shutting off the flow of product gas between the reservoir means and the adsorber so that the continued flow of the feed stream into the adsorber inlet raises the internal pressure of the adsorber to a high level; and (f) routing product gas from the adsorber outlet into the reservoir means so that product gas begins to re-accumulate in the reservoir means and so that the internal pressure levels of the adsorber and reservoir means move toward equalization.

Claim 23

A pressure swing adsorption system comprising: an adsorber having an inlet and an outlet and a bed of adsorbent material adapted to fractionate at least one constituent from a gaseous mixture routed through the adsorber between the adsorber inlet and the adsorber outlet; reservoir means for receiving product gas exiting the adsorber outlet; means for directing a feed stream of a gaseous mixture into the adsorber inlet; first valve means associated with the directing means for selectively conducting the flow of the gaseous mixture into the adsorber inlet or shutting off the flow of the gaseous mixture into the adsorber inlet and venting the adsorber inlet when the flow of the gaseous mixture into the adsorber inlet is shut off; second valve means interposed between the adsorber outlet and the reservoir means for selectively conducting or shutting off the flow of product gas between the adsorber outlet and the reservoir means; control means associated with the first and second valve means so that the apparatus cycles through the sequential stages of: (a) directing the feed stream flow into the inlet of the adsorber so that product gas exits the adsorber outlet and accumulates in the reservoir means and so that the internal pressures of the adsorber and the reservoir means are raised to elevated levels; (b) shutting off the feed stream flow to the adsorber inlet and the product gas flow between the adsorber outlet and the reservoir means and venting the adsorber inlet so that the internal pressure of the adsorber falls below that of the reservoir means; (c) conducting a flow of product gas from the reservoir means into the adsorber outlet while the feed stream flow to the adsorber inlet remains shut off; (d) directing the feed stream into the adsorber inlet to resume feed stream flow thereto and so that the internal pressure of the adsorber equalizes with that of the reservoir means; (e) shutting off the flow of product gas between the reservoir means and the adsorber so that the continued flow of the feed stream into the adsorber inlet raises the internal pressure of the adsorber to a high level; and (f) routing product gas from the adsorber outlet into the reservoir means so that product gas begins to re-accumulate in the reservoir means and so that the internal pressure levels of the adsorber and reservoir means move toward equalization.

Claim 24

The system as defined in claim 17 wherein said control means includes timing mechanisms operatively connected to said first and second valve means for actuating said valve means at the end of preselected periods of time so that the aforesaid cycling stages are performed during intervals of predetermined duration.

Claim 25

The system as defined in claim 17 wherein said directing means includes a compressor having an inlet and an outlet and said first valve means includes a four-way valve operatively connected between the compressor inlet, compressor outlet and the adsorber inlet so that during one setting of the valve, the feed stream is pumped by the compressor into the adsorber inlet and during another setting of the valve, the adsorber inlet is vented through the compressor inlet.

Claim 26

The system as defined in claim 17 wherein the bed of adsorbent material is adapted to fractionate nitrogen from a feed stream of air so that product gas collected by the reservoir means is an oxygen-rich gas.