US5137548A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process and apparatus for purifying air to be distilled by adsorption
Assignee: LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
•
Filing: 1991-05-06
•
Granted: 1992-08-11
•
Expires: 2011-05-06
Abstract
Abstract According to this process, compressed air is cooled and purified by adsorption by passing same in a first direction through a mass of adsorbent material (8), then a residual gas from the distillation apparatus passes in opposite direction through this mass to regenerate same. During the entire regeneration, the residual gas is at a constant regeneration temperature which is between the temperature of the air entering into the mass of adsorbent material and at a temperature which is about 50° C. above this temperature.
Inventors
- 👤 Maurice Grenier
- 👤 Sophie Gastinne
- 👤 Pierre Petit
- 👤 Francois Venet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:50
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25J; F25J3/00; F25J3/02; F25J3/04; F25J3/04248; F25J3/04284; F25J3/0429; F25J3/04303; B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/02; B01D53/04; B01D53/26; B01D53/261; F25J3/04006; F25J3/04012; F25J3/04024; F25J3/04151; F25J3/04157; F25J3/04163; F25J3/04169; F25J3/04181; F25J3/04187; F25J3/04193; F25J3/04296; B01D2257/00; B01D2257/50; B01D2257/504; B01D2259/00; B01D2259/40; B01D2259/402; F25J2205/00; F25J2205/02; F25J2205/04; F25J2205/60; F25J2205/64; F25J2205/66; F25J2205/70; F25J2230/00; F25J2230/04; Y; Y02; Y02C; Y02C20/00; Y02C20/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of drying and decarbonating air supplied to a cold box of an air distillation apparatus producing a product gas and a residual gas, comprising the steps of compressing the air, cooling the compressed air to a first positive temperature (°C.), passing the cooled compressed air in a first direction through at least one mass of adsorbent material for purifying said cooled compressed air, supplying the purified air to the cold box of the air distillation apparatus and cyclically passing the residual gas produced by the air distillation apparatus at a second temperature in opposite direction through said at least one mass of adsorbent material, the second temperature being between 10° and 50° C. higher than the first temperature and wherein the passing of cooled compressed air in said first direction and passing the residual gas in opposite direction comprise a cycle of adsorption and regeneration, and the duration of said cycle of adsorption and regeneration is not less than 30 minutes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of drying and decarbonating air supplied to a cold box of an air distillation apparatus producing a product gas and a residual gas, comprising the steps of compressing the air, cooling the compressed air to a first positive temperature (°C.), passing the cooled compressed air in a first direction through at least one mass of adsorbent material for purifying said cooled compressed air, supplying the purified air to the cold box of the air distillation apparatus and cyclically passing the residual gas produced by the air distillation apparatus at a second temperature in opposite direction through said at least one mass of adsorbent material, the second temperature being between 10° and 50° C. higher than the first temperature and wherein the passing of cooled compressed air in said first direction and passing the residual gas in opposite direction comprise a cycle of adsorption and regeneration, and the duration of said cycle of adsorption and regeneration is not less than 30 minutes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the duration of a cycle of adsorption and regeneration is less than 3 hours.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the first temperature is between 5° and 25° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of warming the purified air to a third temperature slightly higher than the first temperature.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the warming of the purified air is carried out by heat exchange with the compressed air.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the warming of the purified air is carried out by compression.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of warming the residual gas before passing the residual gas through the at least one mass of adsorbent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the difference between the second and first temperatures is between 10° and 20° C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the duration of a cycle of adsorption and regeneration is between 1 hour and 2 hours.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the warming of the residual gas is carried out by heat exchange with the compressed air.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2224227A
Cited
US2588296A
Cited
US2968160A
Cited
US3210950A
Cited
US3140931A
Cited
US3594984A
Cited
US3722226A
Cited
GB1450164A
Cited
US3967464A
Cited
US4092131A
Cited
GB1586961A
Cited
JPS5337583A
Cited
JPS5337585A
Cited
US4152130A
Cited
JPS54152667A
Cited
US4380457A
Cited
US4329158A
Cited
EP0044679A1
Cited
US4372764A
Cited
US4375367A
Cited
US4557735A
Cited
US4746343A
Cited
US4711645A
Cited
US4806136A
Cited
US4957523A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-08-11 | 1996-02-10 | 1996-08-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-08-11 | 2000-02-10 | 2000-08-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-08-11 | 2004-02-10 | 2004-08-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |