US5090973A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Psa employing high purity purging
Assignee: Messer LLC
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Filing: 1990-10-23
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Granted: 1992-02-25
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Expires: 2010-10-23
Abstract
Abstract Described is an improved pressure-swing adsorption process and apparatus which enable more thorough regeneration and, thus, a higher yield of one or more selected gases and a higher productivity of the adsorbent material. The pressure-swing adsorption process and apparatus for obtaining a selected gas are of the type wherein a PSA product gas is obtained by the steps of pressurizing, producing, purging and venting a vessel that contains an adsorbent for a gas other than the selected gas. The improvement is a step of purging the adsorbent with a purge gas that has a higher concentration of the selected gas than the PSA product gas.
Inventors
- 👤 Ravi Jain
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:52
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/02; B01D53/04; B01D53/047; B01D2253/00; B01D2253/10; B01D2253/106; B01D2253/108; B01D2253/116; B01D2253/25; B01D2256/00; B01D2256/10; B01D2256/12; B01D2257/00; B01D2257/10; B01D2257/102; B01D2257/104; B01D2259/00; B01D2259/40; B01D2259/40011; B01D2259/40035; B01D2259/40037; B01D2259/40043; B01D2259/40045; B01D2259/4005; B01D2259/40052; B01D2259/40058; B01D2259/40067; B01D2259/40077; B01D2259/40081; B01D2259/403; B01D2259/416; B01D53/053
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
In a pressure-swing adsorption process for obtaining a selected gas, of the type wherein a PSA product gas is obtained by the steps of pressurizing, producing, purging and venting a vessel that contains an adsorbent for a gas other than the selected gas, the improvement comprising: purging the adsorbent with the PSA product gas and purging the adsorbent with a purge gas that has a higher concentration of the selected gas than the PSA product gas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
In a pressure-swing adsorption process for obtaining a selected gas, of the type wherein a PSA product gas is obtained by the steps of pressurizing, producing, purging and venting a vessel that contains an adsorbent for a gas other than the selected gas, the improvement comprising: purging the adsorbent with the PSA product gas and purging the adsorbent with a purge gas that has a higher concentration of the selected gas than the PSA product gas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of obtaining the purge gas by vaporizing the liquid phase of the selected gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of obtaining the purge gas by purifying the PSA product gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 3 wherein the purification step includes a step of cryogenically separating the selected gas from the PSA product gas.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 3 wherein the purification step includes a step of catalytically separating the selected gas from the PSA product gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the adsorbent is purged with the PSA product gas prior to purging with the purge gas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
81 words
In a pressure-swing adsorption process for obtaining a selected gas, of the type wherein a PSA product gas is obtained by the steps of pressurizing, producing, purging and venting a vessel that contains an adsorbent for a gas other than the selected gas, the improvement comprising: vaporizing the liquid phase of the selected gas to obtain a purge gas that has a higher concentration of the selected gas than the PSA product gas, and purging the adsorbent with the purge gas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
In a pressure-swing adsorption process for obtaining a selected gas, of the type wherein a PSA product gas is obtained by the steps of pressurizing, producing, purging and venting a vessel that contains an adsorbent for a gas other than the selected gas, the improvement comprising: vaporizing the liquid phase of the selected gas to obtain a purge gas that has a higher concentration of the selected gas than the PSA product gas, and purging the adsorbent with the purge gas.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
In a pressure-swing apparatus for obtaining a selected gas, the apparatus comprising a vessel, an adsorber in the vessel, means for withdrawing a PSA product gas from the vessel, and means for purging the adsorber with the PSA product gas, the improvement comprising: means for purging the adsorber with a purge gas from a source of purge gas having a higher concentration of the selected gas than the PSA product gas.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
71 words
In a pressure-swing apparatus for obtaining a selected gas, the apparatus comprising a vessel, an adsorber in the vessel, means for withdrawing a PSA product gas from the vessel, and means for purging the adsorber with the PSA product gas, the improvement comprising: means for purging the adsorber with a purge gas from a source of purge gas having a higher concentration of the selected gas than the PSA product gas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the source of the purge gas comprises a vaporizer and a reservoir of the liquid phase of the selected gas.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the source of purge gas includes a means for purifying the PSA product.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the purification means includes a cryogenic separator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the purification means includes a catalytic reactor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
80 words
In a pressure-swing apparatus for obtaining a selected gas, the apparatus comprising a vessel, an adsorbed in the vessel, means for withdrawing a PSA product gas from the vessel, and means for purging the adsorber with a purge gas, the improvement comprising: a reservoir of the liquid phase of the selected gas, and means for obtaining the purge gas from the reservoir such that the purge gas has a higher concentration of the selected gas than the PSA product gas.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
80 words
In a pressure-swing apparatus for obtaining a selected gas, the apparatus comprising a vessel, an adsorbed in the vessel, means for withdrawing a PSA product gas from the vessel, and means for purging the adsorber with a purge gas, the improvement comprising: a reservoir of the liquid phase of the selected gas, and means for obtaining the purge gas from the reservoir such that the purge gas has a higher concentration of the selected gas than the PSA product gas.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-02-24 | 1995-08-26 | 1996-02-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-02-24 | 1999-08-26 | 2000-02-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-02-24 | 2003-08-26 | 2004-02-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |