Gas component extraction

Claim 1

A method of optimizing the production of a product gas mixture in a pressure swing apparatus including two regenerable sorbent beds from an inlet gas mixture from which the sorbent beds extract a component to produce the product gas mixture comprising: extracting a component from a pressurized inlet gas mixture by passing it through a first sorbent bed during an adsorption interval thereby producing a product gas mixture; regenerating a second sorbent bed during the adsorption interval of the first sorbent bed including passing a quantity of the product gas from the first sorbent bed through the second sorbent bed in a reverse direction during a purging interval while the second sorbent bed is vented to the ambient; alternating the first and second beds between adsorption and regeneration operations; sensing the ambient pressure and the temperature and pressure of the pressurized inlet gas mixture; determining from the sensed ambient pressure and the temperature and pressure of the pressurized inlet gas mixture and from the sorption characteristics of the sorbent beds the length of adsorbing and purging intervals that optimize the production of product gas; and adjusting the adsorption and purging intervals of the first and second sorption beds to the respective determined intervals that optimize the production of product gas.

Claim 2

A method of optimizing the production of a product gas mixture in a pressure swing apparatus including two regenerable sorbent beds from an inlet gas mixture from which the sorbent beds extract a component to produce the product gas mixture comprising: extracting a component from a pressurized inlet gas mixture by passing it through a first sorbent bed during an adsorption interval thereby producing a product gas mixture; regenerating a second sorbent bed during the adsorption interval of the first sorbent bed including passing a quantity of the product gas from the first sorbent bed through the second sorbent bed in a reverse direction during a purging interval while the second sorbent bed is vented to the ambient; alternating the first and second beds between adsorption and regeneration operations; sensing the ambient pressure and the temperature and pressure of the pressurized inlet gas mixture; determining from the sensed ambient pressure and the temperature and pressure of the pressurized inlet gas mixture and from the sorption characteristics of the sorbent beds the length of adsorbing and purging intervals that optimize the production of product gas; and adjusting the adsorption and purging intervals of the first and second sorption beds to the respective determined intervals that optimize the production of product gas.

Claim 6

An apparatus for extracting a component from a gaseous mixture comprising: first and second sorption beds, each bed having an inlet for admitting gas and an outlet for discharging gas, said beds for, in an operating condition, adsorbing a component from an inlet gas mixture and supplying as a product gas the mixture from which the component has adsorbed, and for, in a regenerating condition, desorbing the adsorbed component; an inlet conduit for supplying the inlet gas mixture to said inlets of said first and second beds; first and second inlet valves connected between said inlet conduit and said inlets of said first and second beds, respectively, for selectively admitting the inlet gas mixture to said first and second beds; first and second vent valves in fluid communication with said first and second beds, respectively, for venting said first and second beds to the ambient; means for admitting product gas from one bed in an operating condition to the other bed in a regenerating condition to purge said other bed; first and second sensors in fluid communication with said inlet conduit for sensing the pressure and temperature, respectively, of the inlet gas mixture supplied to said first and second inlet valves; a third sensor for sensing ambient pressure proximate said first and second beds; and control means, storing the sorption characteristics of said first and second beds as a function of ambient pressure and temperature and pressure of the inlet gas mixture, for determining, in response to said first, second, and third sensors and the sorption characteristics of said first and second beds, intervals for adsorption by and purging of said first and second beds and for actuating said first and second inlet and vent valves for cycling said first and second beds between operating and regenerating conditions in accordance with the determined adsorption and purging intervals to optimize the production of product gas for the sensed inlet gas mixture and ambient conditions.

Claim 7

An apparatus for extracting a component from a gaseous mixture comprising: first and second sorption beds, each bed having an inlet for admitting gas and an outlet for discharging gas, said beds for, in an operating condition, adsorbing a component from an inlet gas mixture and supplying as a product gas the mixture from which the component has adsorbed, and for, in a regenerating condition, desorbing the adsorbed component; an inlet conduit for supplying the inlet gas mixture to said inlets of said first and second beds; first and second inlet valves connected between said inlet conduit and said inlets of said first and second beds, respectively, for selectively admitting the inlet gas mixture to said first and second beds; first and second vent valves in fluid communication with said first and second beds, respectively, for venting said first and second beds to the ambient; means for admitting product gas from one bed in an operating condition to the other bed in a regenerating condition to purge said other bed; first and second sensors in fluid communication with said inlet conduit for sensing the pressure and temperature, respectively, of the inlet gas mixture supplied to said first and second inlet valves; a third sensor for sensing ambient pressure proximate said first and second beds; and control means, storing the sorption characteristics of said first and second beds as a function of ambient pressure and temperature and pressure of the inlet gas mixture, for determining, in response to said first, second, and third sensors and the sorption characteristics of said first and second beds, intervals for adsorption by and purging of said first and second beds and for actuating said first and second inlet and vent valves for cycling said first and second beds between operating and regenerating conditions in accordance with the determined adsorption and purging intervals to optimize the production of product gas for the sensed inlet gas mixture and ambient conditions.

Claim 16

An apparatus for supplying a breathable gas mixture to aircraft crew members from compressed air comprising: first and second sorption beds, each bed having an inlet for admitting gas and an outlet for discharging gas, respectively, said beds for, in an operating condition, adsorbing nitrogen from air and supplying an oxygenenriched mixture as a product gas, and for, in a regenerating condition, desorbing adsorbed nitrogen from said beds; an inlet conduit for supplying the inlet gas mixture to said inlets of said first and second beds; first and second inlet valves connected between said inlet conduit and said inlets of said first and second beds, respectively, for selectively admitting the inlet gas mixture to said first and second beds; first and second vent valves in fluid communication with said first and second beds, respectively, for venting said first and second beds; means for admitting product gas from one bed in an operating condition to the other bed in a regenerating condition to purge said other bed; first and second sensors in fluid communication with said inlet conduit for sensing the pressure and temperature, respectively, of the air supplied to said first and second inlet valves; a third sensor for sensing ambient pressure proximate said first and second beds; and control means, storing the sorption characteristics of said first and second beds as a function of ambient pressure and temperature and pressure of the air, for determining, in response to said first, second, and third sensors and the sorption characteristics of said first and second beds, intervals for adsorption by and purging of said first and second beds and for actuating said first and second inlet and vent valves for cycling said first and second beds between operating and regenerating conditions in accordance with the determined adsorption and purging intervals to optimize the production of product gas for the sensed inlet air and ambient conditions.

Claim 17

An apparatus for supplying a breathable gas mixture to aircraft crew members from compressed air comprising: first and second sorption beds, each bed having an inlet for admitting gas and an outlet for discharging gas, respectively, said beds for, in an operating condition, adsorbing nitrogen from air and supplying an oxygenenriched mixture as a product gas, and for, in a regenerating condition, desorbing adsorbed nitrogen from said beds; an inlet conduit for supplying the inlet gas mixture to said inlets of said first and second beds; first and second inlet valves connected between said inlet conduit and said inlets of said first and second beds, respectively, for selectively admitting the inlet gas mixture to said first and second beds; first and second vent valves in fluid communication with said first and second beds, respectively, for venting said first and second beds; means for admitting product gas from one bed in an operating condition to the other bed in a regenerating condition to purge said other bed; first and second sensors in fluid communication with said inlet conduit for sensing the pressure and temperature, respectively, of the air supplied to said first and second inlet valves; a third sensor for sensing ambient pressure proximate said first and second beds; and control means, storing the sorption characteristics of said first and second beds as a function of ambient pressure and temperature and pressure of the air, for determining, in response to said first, second, and third sensors and the sorption characteristics of said first and second beds, intervals for adsorption by and purging of said first and second beds and for actuating said first and second inlet and vent valves for cycling said first and second beds between operating and regenerating conditions in accordance with the determined adsorption and purging intervals to optimize the production of product gas for the sensed inlet air and ambient conditions.