Capacity control system for pressure swing adsorption apparatus and associated method

Claim 3

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the pressure swing adsorption apparatus includes means defining at least one passage through which the feed stream is moved as it is drawn into the compressor suction port and the step of controlling includes the step of restricting the one passage to thereby reduce the quantity of the feed stream drawn into the compressor suction port.

Claim 4

In an apparatus including adsorption components adapted to fractionate at least one constituent from a gaseous mixture by pressure swing adsorption and including a compressor for pumping a feed stream of the gaseous mixture through the apparatus wherein the compressor includes a suction port through which a feed stream of air is drawn into the compressor and a discharge port through which the feed stream drawn is pumped from the compressor and into the adsorption components of the apparatus, the improvement comprising: means associated with the compressor suction port for controlling the quantity of the feed stream of air drawn into the compressor wherein the controlling means includes at least one passage through which the feed stream of air is moved as it is drawn toward the compressor suction port and means for restricting the one passage to threreby reduce the quantity of the feed stream of air drawn into the compressor suction port, the means for restricting includes moveable means associated with one passage for movement relative thereto between a first condition at which the quantity of the feed stream drawn through the one passage by the compressor is a first non-zero quantity of air and a second condition at which the quantity of the feed stream drawn through the one passage by the compressor is a second non-zero quantity of air to accomodate an adjustment of the quantity of the air feed stream drawn into the compressor suction port between two non-zero levels.

Claim 5

In an apparatus including adsorption components adapted to fractionate at least one constituent from a gaseous mixture by pressure swing adsorption and including a compressor for pumping a feed stream of the gaseous mixture through the apparatus wherein the compressor includes a suction port through which a feed stream of air is drawn into the compressor and a discharge port through which the feed stream drawn is pumped from the compressor and into the adsorption components of the apparatus, the improvement comprising: means associated with the compressor suction port for controlling the quantity of the feed stream of air drawn into the compressor wherein the controlling means includes at least one passage through which the feed stream of air is moved as it is drawn toward the compressor suction port and means for restricting the one passage to threreby reduce the quantity of the feed stream of air drawn into the compressor suction port, the means for restricting includes moveable means associated with one passage for movement relative thereto between a first condition at which the quantity of the feed stream drawn through the one passage by the compressor is a first non-zero quantity of air and a second condition at which the quantity of the feed stream drawn through the one passage by the compressor is a second non-zero quantity of air to accomodate an adjustment of the quantity of the air feed stream drawn into the compressor suction port between two non-zero levels.

Claim 6

The improvement as defined in claim 3 wherein the restricting means includes means for moving the movable means between the first and second conditions.

Claim 7

The improvement as defined in claim 4 wherein the moving means is actuatable so that when the moving means is actuated, the movable means is positioned in one of the first and second conditions, and when the moving means is deactuated, the movable means is positioned in the other of the first and second conditions.

Claim 8

The improvement as defined in claim 4 wherein the restricting means includes a valve having a plug body which is movable relative to the one passage between two positions so that when the plug body is positioned in a first of the two positions, the first quantity of the feed stream is drawn through the one passage by the compressor and so that when the plug body is positioned in the second of the two positions, the second quantity of the feed stream is drawn through the one passage by the compressor.

Claim 9

The improvement as defined in claim 6 wherein the plug body includes two passageways formed therein and wherein the passageways have cross sections of different sizes so that when the plug body is positioned in the first position, one of the two passageways is substantially positioned in registry with the one passage and so that when the plug body is positioned in the second position, the other of the two passageways is substantially positioned in registry with the one passage.

Claim 10

The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein the adsorption components of the apparatus are adapted to fractionate at least one constituent from a gaseous mixture to produce a product which exits the apparatus in a product stream and wherein the improvement further comprises a pressure regulator situated downstream of the adsorption components for reducing the pressure of the product stream exiting the apparatus in conjunction with the reduction of the quantity of the feed stream drawn into the compressor by way of the controlling means.

Claim 11

In a pressure swing adsorption apparatus including adsorption medium adapted to adsorb nitrogen from a feed stream of air by pressure swing adsorption so that an oxygen-rich product exits the apparatus in a gaseous stream and including a compressor for pumping the feed stream of air toward and through the adsorption medium wherein the compressor includes a suction port through which the feed stream is drawn into the compressor and a discharge port through which the feed stream drawn is pumped from compressor and through the adsorption medium and wherein a restriction in the amount of the feed stream permitted to be drawn into the compressor suction port effects a decrease in the power requirements of the compressor, the improvement comprising: means associated with the compressor suction port for regulating the quantity of the feed stream permitted to be drawn into the compressor suction port between one non-zero level at which the quantity of the feed stream permitted to be drawn into the compressor suction port is substantially unrestricted and another non-zero level at which the quantity of the feed stream permitted to be drawn into the compressor suction port is appreciably restricted to thereby regulate the power consumption of the compressor.

Claim 12

In a pressure swing adsorption apparatus including adsorption medium adapted to adsorb nitrogen from a feed stream of air by pressure swing adsorption so that an oxygen-rich product exits the apparatus in a gaseous stream and including a compressor for pumping the feed stream of air toward and through the adsorption medium wherein the compressor includes a suction port through which the feed stream is drawn into the compressor and a discharge port through which the feed stream drawn is pumped from compressor and through the adsorption medium and wherein a restriction in the amount of the feed stream permitted to be drawn into the compressor suction port effects a decrease in the power requirements of the compressor, the improvement comprising: means associated with the compressor suction port for regulating the quantity of the feed stream permitted to be drawn into the compressor suction port between one non-zero level at which the quantity of the feed stream permitted to be drawn into the compressor suction port is substantially unrestricted and another non-zero level at which the quantity of the feed stream permitted to be drawn into the compressor suction port is appreciably restricted to thereby regulate the power consumption of the compressor.

Claim 13

The improvement as defined in claim 9 wherein the means for regulating includes means defining a passage through which atmospheric air moves as it is drawn into the compressor suction port and passage-restricting means cooperable with the passage-defining means for restricting at least a portion of the passage.

Claim 14

The improvement as defined in claim 10 wherein the passage-restricting means includes a body which is movable relative to the passage between a first position at which a first quantity of atmospheric air is permitted to be drawn into the compressor and a second position at which a second quantity of atmospheric air is permitted to be drawn into the compressor.

Claim 15

The improvement as defined in claim 9 wherein the regulating means includes means defining at least one passage through which the feed stream of air is moved as it is drawn toward the compressor suction port and means for restricting the one passage to thereby reduce the quantity of the feed stream of air drawn into the compressor suction port.

Claim 16

The improvement as defined in claim 12 wherein the means for restricting includes movable means associated with the one passage for movement relative thereto between a first condition at which the quantity of the feed stream of air drawn through the one passage by the compressor is a first quantity and a second condition at which the flow rate of the feed stream of air drawn through the one passage by the compressor is a second quantity.

Claim 17

The improvement as defined in claim 13 wherein the restricting means includes means for moving the movable means between the first and second conditions.

Claim 18

The improvement as defined in claim 14 wherein the moving means is actuatable so that when the moving means is actuated, the movable means is positioned in one of the first and second conditions, and when the moving means is deactuated, the movable means is positioned in the other of the first and second conditions.

Claim 19

The improvement as defined in claim 13 wherein the restricting means includes a valve having a plug body which is movable relative to the one passage between two positions so that when the plug body is positioned in a first of the two positions, the first quantity of the feed stream is drawn through the one passage by the compressor and so that when the plug body is positioned in the second of the two positions, the second quantity of the feed stream is drawn through the one passage by the compressor.

Claim 20

The improvement as defined in claim 16 wherein the plug body includes two passageways formed therein and wherein the passageways have cross sections of different sizes so that when the plug body is positioned in the first position, one of the two passageways is substantially positioned in registry with the one passage and so that when the plug body is positioned in the second position, the other of the two passageways is substantially positioned in registry with the one passage.

Claim 21

The improvement as defined in claim 9 further comprising a pressure regulator situated downstream of the adsorption medium for reducing the pressure of the gaseous stream exiting the apparatus in conjunction with the reduction of the quantity of the feed stream drawn into the compressor by way of the regulating means.