Patent US5268022A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5268022A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Gas separation method and apparatus
Assignee: BOC Group Ltd
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Filing: 1992-03-06
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Granted: 1993-12-07
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Expires: 2012-03-06
Abstract
Abstract A pressure swing adsorption plant for the separation of gas mixtures includes at least one pressure vessel containing an adsorbent bed that is able preferentially to adsorb at least one component of the gas mixture. The pressure vessel has an inlet at its top for the feed gas mixture, an outlet at its bottom for non-adsorbed gas and at least one heat conductive member containing a liquid medium arranged within the bed such that, in operation, heat is able to be conducted by convection through the liquid from a region of maximum temperature at or near the bottom of the bed to a region of minimum temperature at or near the top of the bed.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael E. Garrett
- 👤 John B. Gardner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:59
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/02; B01D53/04; B01D53/047; B01D53/0476; B01D53/0407; B01D53/0438; B01D2253/00; B01D2253/10; B01D2253/104; B01D2253/106; B01D2253/108; B01D2256/00; B01D2256/12; B01D2257/00; B01D2257/10; B01D2257/102; B01D2257/80; B01D2259/00; B01D2259/40; B01D2259/40011; B01D2259/40013; B01D2259/40015; B01D2259/4002; B01D2259/40022; B01D2259/40028; B01D2259/40032; B01D2259/40033; B01D2259/40043; B01D2259/4005; B01D2259/40052; B01D2259/40056; B01D2259/40058; B01D2259/40069; B01D2259/40071; B01D2259/40077; B01D2259/40081; B01D2259/403; B01D2259/414; B01D2259/4141; B01D2259/4145; B01D2259/4146; B01D2259/65; B01D2259/652; B01D53/0473; B01D53/26; B01D53/261; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S95/00; Y10S95/90; Y10S95/902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of separating a gas mixture by pressure swing adsorption comprising the steps of feeding the gas mixture downwardly through a bed of adsorbent which preferentially adsorbs at least one component of the gas mixture, thereby causing said at least one component of the gas mixture to be adsorbed, regenerating the bed by desorbing gas at reduced pressure from the adsorbent and causing such desorbed gas to flow from the bed countercurrently to the flow of the feed gas, whereby, on repeated performance of such adsorption and desorption steps, a temperature differential is created between a maximum temperature region at or near the bottom of the bed and a minimum temperature near the top of the bed, and conducting heat by convection from said maximum temperature region to said minimum temperature region through a liquid medium held in at least one elongate member within the bed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of separating a gas mixture by pressure swing adsorption comprising the steps of feeding the gas mixture downwardly through a bed of adsorbent which preferentially adsorbs at least one component of the gas mixture, thereby causing said at least one component of the gas mixture to be adsorbed, regenerating the bed by desorbing gas at reduced pressure from the adsorbent and causing such desorbed gas to flow from the bed countercurrently to the flow of the feed gas, whereby, on repeated performance of such adsorption and desorption steps, a temperature differential is created between a maximum temperature region at or near the bottom of the bed and a minimum temperature near the top of the bed, and conducting heat by convection from said maximum temperature region to said minimum temperature region through a liquid medium held in at least one elongate member within the bed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the adsorbent is a zeolite molecular sieve that adsorbs nitrogen in preference to oxygen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the liquid medium is water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, in which the water has dissolved in it a substance to lower its freezing point.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the liquid medium is an organic liquid having a freezing point below 0° C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which from 2 to 20 elongate members are disposed in said bed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which said at least one elongate member is a right cylinder closed at both its ends.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
113 words
Apparatus for separating a gas mixture, including at least one vessel containing a bed of adsorbent that is able preferentially or more rapidly to adsorb one component of a gas mixture to be separated, said vessel having an inlet at its top for the feed gas mixture, an outlet at its bottom for non-adsorbed gas, and at least one elongate heat conductive member containing a liquid medium, said at least one heat conductive member being disposed in the bed such that in operation heat is able to be conducted by convection through the liquid from a maximum temperature region at or near the bottom to a minimum temperature region near the top thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
113 words
Apparatus for separating a gas mixture, including at least one vessel containing a bed of adsorbent that is able preferentially or more rapidly to adsorb one component of a gas mixture to be separated, said vessel having an inlet at its top for the feed gas mixture, an outlet at its bottom for non-adsorbed gas, and at least one elongate heat conductive member containing a liquid medium, said at least one heat conductive member being disposed in the bed such that in operation heat is able to be conducted by convection through the liquid from a maximum temperature region at or near the bottom to a minimum temperature region near the top thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which the adsorbent is a zeolite molecular sieve that adsorbs nitrogen in preference to oxygen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, in which the liquid medium is water.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which the water has dissolved in it a substance to lower its freezing point.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, in which the liquid medium is an organic liquid having a freezing point below 0° C.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, in which from 2 to 20 elongate members are disposed in said bed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, in which said at least one elongate heat conductive member is a right cylinder closed at both ends.
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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) | 1996-12-06 | 1997-06-07 | 1997-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-12-06 | 2001-06-07 | 2001-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-12-06 | 2005-06-07 | 2005-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |