US5234472A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Separation of gas mixtures including hydrogen
Assignee: BOC Group Ltd
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Filing: 1992-03-11
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Granted: 1993-08-10
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Expires: 2012-03-11
Abstract
Abstract A process for separation of a gas mixture containing three components, e.g. a mixture comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide produced by steam reforming a hydrocarbon, by pressure swing adsorption is disclosed. In one embodiment of the process, the gas mixture is sequentially passed through first and second adsorptive regions each of which adsorbs a second component more strongly than a first component but less strongly than a third component, a first fraction enriched in the first component is withdrawn from the downstream end of the second region, introduction of gas mixture to the first region is stopped and the second region is closed to the first region, a second fraction enriched in the second component is withdrawn first from the upstream end of the second adsorptive region while passing gas mixture enriched in the third component into the first region from its upstream end and then from the downstream end of the first region, and withdrawing a third fraction enriched in the third component from the upstream end of the first region. The separation process is also applicable to other gas mixtures such as a mixture of hydrogen, argon, methane and nitrogen commonly available as ammonia plant purge gas from which ammonia has been removed.
Inventors
- 👤 Ramachandran Krishnamurthy
- 👤 Steven L. Lerner
- 👤 Yagya Shukla
- 👤 Alan G. Stokley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:15
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/02; B01D53/04; B01D53/047; C; C01; C01B; C01B23/00; C01B3/00; C01B3/50; C01B3/56; C01B32/00; C01B32/40; B01D2253/00; B01D2253/10; B01D2253/102; B01D2253/106; B01D2253/108; B01D2256/00; B01D2256/16; B01D2256/18; B01D2256/20; B01D2256/22; B01D2257/00; B01D2257/10; B01D2257/102; B01D2257/50; B01D2257/502; B01D2257/504; B01D2257/70; B01D2257/702; B01D2257/7022; B01D2257/7025; B01D2257/80; B01D2259/00; B01D2259/40; B01D2259/40001; B01D2259/40003; B01D2259/40011; B01D2259/40013; B01D2259/40016; B01D2259/40028; B01D2259/4003; B01D2259/40032; B01D2259/40035; B01D2259/40037; B01D2259/40043; B01D2259/40045; B01D2259/4005; B01D2259/40052; B01D2259/40058; B01D2259/40062; B01D2259/40067; B01D2259/40069; B01D2259/40071; B01D2259/40077; B01D2259/40081; B01D2259/402; B01D2259/404; B01D2259/406; B01D2259/4065; B01D2259/414; B01D2259/4141; B01D2259/4145; B01D2259/4146; B01D53/0407; B01D53/0446; B01D53/0476; B01D53/26; B01D53/261; C01B2203/00; C01B2203/04; C01B2203/042; C01B2203/043; C01B2203/0465; C01B2203/047; C01B2203/0475; C01B2203/048; Y; Y02; Y02C; Y02C20/00; Y02C20/20; Y02C20/40; Y02P; Y02P20/00; Y02P20/151; Y02P20/156
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A process of separating a gas mixture comprising at least three components into three different fractions by pressure swing adsorption, comprising repeatedly performing a cycle including: passing said gas mixture sequentially through first and second adsorptive regions on each of which a second component of the mixture is more strongly adsorbed than a first component, but less strongly adsorbed than a third component; withdrawing a first fraction enriched in said first component from the downstream end of the second adsorptive region; stopping admission of the said gas mixture to the first adsorptive region; withdrawing a second fraction enriched in the second component from the downstream end of the first adsorptive region and from the upstream end of the second adsorptive region into a common pipeline; and withdrawing a third fraction enriched in the third component from the upstream end of the first adsorptive region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A process of separating a gas mixture comprising at least three components into three different fractions by pressure swing adsorption, comprising repeatedly performing a cycle including: passing said gas mixture sequentially through first and second adsorptive regions on each of which a second component of the mixture is more strongly adsorbed than a first component, but less strongly adsorbed than a third component; withdrawing a first fraction enriched in said first component from the downstream end of the second adsorptive region; stopping admission of the said gas mixture to the first adsorptive region; withdrawing a second fraction enriched in the second component from the downstream end of the first adsorptive region and from the upstream end of the second adsorptive region into a common pipeline; and withdrawing a third fraction enriched in the third component from the upstream end of the first adsorptive region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
A process in accordance with claim 1, wherein said cycles use at least two pairs of said first and second regions, each pair performing the cycle of operations in chosen phase relationship with the others and wherein intermediate the steps of producing the first and second fractions, the pressures in a pair of the first and second regions are equalized with the pressures in another of the pairs of first and second adsorptive regions.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
168 words
A method of separating a gas mixture comprising at least three components into three different fractions by pressure swing adsorption, comprising repeatedly performing a cycle including: passing said gas mixture sequentially through first and second adsorptive regions on each of which a second component of the mixture is more strongly adsorbed than a first component but less strongly adsorbed than a third component; withdrawing a first fraction enriched in said first component from the downstream end of the second region; stopping introduction of the gas mixture to the first adsorptive region and closing the second adsorptive region to the first adsorptive region; withdrawing a second fraction enriched in said second component first from the upstream end of the second adsorptive region while passing gas mixture enriched in said third component into said first adsorptive region from its upstream end, and then from the downstream end of the first adsorptive region; and withdrawing a third enriched in said third component from the feed end of the first adsorptive region.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
168 words
A method of separating a gas mixture comprising at least three components into three different fractions by pressure swing adsorption, comprising repeatedly performing a cycle including: passing said gas mixture sequentially through first and second adsorptive regions on each of which a second component of the mixture is more strongly adsorbed than a first component but less strongly adsorbed than a third component; withdrawing a first fraction enriched in said first component from the downstream end of the second region; stopping introduction of the gas mixture to the first adsorptive region and closing the second adsorptive region to the first adsorptive region; withdrawing a second fraction enriched in said second component first from the upstream end of the second adsorptive region while passing gas mixture enriched in said third component into said first adsorptive region from its upstream end, and then from the downstream end of the first adsorptive region; and withdrawing a third enriched in said third component from the feed end of the first adsorptive region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
A process in accordance with claim 3, wherein said cycles use at least two pairs of said first and second regions, each pair performing the cycle of operations in chosen phase relationship with the others and wherein intermediate the steps of producing the first and second fractions, the pressures in a pair of the first and second regions are equalized with the pressures in another of the pairs of first and second adsorptive regions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process in accordance with claim 3, wherein the first component is hydrogen, the second component is argon, and the third component is methane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
180 words
A process of separating a feed gas mixture comprising at least three components by pressure swing adsorption comprising repeatedly performing a cycle including the steps of: (a) passing the gas mixture under pressure through at least one adsorptive bed wherein one or more of the components thereof is more strongly adsorbed than one or more of the remaining components which are continuously discharged therefrom at a first location; and (b) reversing the flow through the adsorptive bed thereby desorbing the adsorbed components therefrom at a second location, wherein a flow of a gas mixture comprising two or more components of continuously varying concentration withdrawn from the adsorptive bed during either of said steps, is collected in two fractions from said first location, in two fractions from said second location or in two fractions from said first location and two fractions from said second location in timed relationship such that the first fraction is enriched in one or more components relative to the second fraction and the second fraction is enriched in one or more components relative to the first fraction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
180 words
A process of separating a feed gas mixture comprising at least three components by pressure swing adsorption comprising repeatedly performing a cycle including the steps of: (a) passing the gas mixture under pressure through at least one adsorptive bed wherein one or more of the components thereof is more strongly adsorbed than one or more of the remaining components which are continuously discharged therefrom at a first location; and (b) reversing the flow through the adsorptive bed thereby desorbing the adsorbed components therefrom at a second location, wherein a flow of a gas mixture comprising two or more components of continuously varying concentration withdrawn from the adsorptive bed during either of said steps, is collected in two fractions from said first location, in two fractions from said second location or in two fractions from said first location and two fractions from said second location in timed relationship such that the first fraction is enriched in one or more components relative to the second fraction and the second fraction is enriched in one or more components relative to the first fraction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A process in accordance with claim 6, wherein said feed gas mixture comprises hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, the gas mixture withdrawn during step (b) comprises carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, and said first and second fractions are relatively enriched in carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, respectively.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
A process in accordance with claim 6, wherein the feed gas mixture comprises hydrogen, argon and methane, said gas mixture withdrawn during step (a) comprises hydrogen and argon and said first and second fractions are relatively enriched in hydrogen and argon, respectively.
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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) | 1996-08-09 | 1997-02-08 | 1997-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-09 | 2001-02-08 | 2001-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-09 | 2005-02-08 | 2005-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |