EP0449448A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Process for producing oxygen enriched product stream
Assignee: Messer LLC
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Filing: 1991-03-11
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-03-11
Abstract
Abstract A two bed pressure swing adsorption process is disclosed having high yield and high production rate. The process utilizes fine or normal size zeolite sieve material and relatively short cycle times. A power saving is obtained by sequencing the various steps of the process to provide continuous use of a vacuum pump 16.
Inventors
- 👤 Eiji Hirooka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:38
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/02; B01D53/04; B01D53/047; B01D53/0476; B01D53/0473; B01D2253/00; B01D2253/10; B01D2253/106; B01D2253/108; B01D2253/30; B01D2253/302; B01D2253/304; B01D2256/00; B01D2256/12; B01D2257/00; B01D2257/10; B01D2257/102; B01D2259/00; B01D2259/40; B01D2259/40011; B01D2259/40035; B01D2259/40037; B01D2259/40043; B01D2259/4005; B01D2259/40052; B01D2259/40058; B01D2259/40066; B01D2259/402; B01D53/053
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
419 words
A process for producing an oxygen enriched product stream from a feed gas containing at least oxygen and nitrogen utilizing two adsorption columns A,B containing an adsorbent capable of selective adsorption of nitrogen and a product reservoir 18 characterised by : (i) introducing gas into the outlet of a first adsorption column A at a low pressure from the outlet of a second adsorption column B at a higher pressure to substantially equalize the pressures in the columns while withdrawing gas from the inlet of the second column B; (ii) after equilization of step (i), introducing product gas contained within the product reservoir 18 at a higher pressure into the outlet of the first column A to backfill the first column A while continuing to withdraw gas from the inlet of the second column B; (iii) introducing feed gas into the inlet of the first column A at a minimum predetermined pressure and recovering the product of enriched oxygen gas from the outlet of the first column A to introduce said enriched oxygen stream to the product reservoir 18, while introducing a portion of the product stream to the outlet of the second column B to purge the second column and simultaneously withdrawing gas from the inlet of the second column B to desorb and evacuate nitrogen rich gas from the second column B; (iv) introducing gas into the outlet of the second column B from the outlet of the first column A at an initially high pressure to equalize the pressures in the columns A, B while withdrawing gas from the inlet of the first column A; (v) after equalization of step (iv), introducing oxygen enriched product gas contained within the product reservoir 18 at a higher pressure into the outlet of the second column B while continuing to withdraw gas from the inlet of the first column A; (vi) introducing feed gas into the inlet of the second column B at a predetermined minimum pressure and recovering the product of enriched oxygen gas from the outlet of the second column B to introduce said enriched oxygen stream to the product reservoir 18 while introducing a portion of the product stream to the outlet of the first column A to purge the first column A while simultaneously withdrawing gas from the inlet of the first column A to desorb and evacuate nitrogen rich gas from the first column A; and (vii) cyclically repeating steps (i) to (vi) while withdrawing oxygen enriched product gas from the product reservoir 18.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
44 words
A processes as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that said feed gas introduced in steps (iii) and (vi) is air at a pressure of from about 0 to about 7 psig and said adsorbent is a fine particle zeolite of about 8-35 mesh.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process as claimed in Claim 2 charactersied in that said fine particle zeolite is in the form of beads or pellets having a size of between about 12 and about 20 mesh.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
A process as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3 charactersied in that said steps (i) and (iv) take place in about 2 to 6 seconds; said steps (ii) and (v) take place in about 1 to 5 seconds; and said steps (iii) and (vi) take place in about 10 to 25 seconds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A process as claimed in Claim 4 characterised in that said steps (i) and (iv) take place in about 4 seconds; said steps (ii) and (v) take place in about 3 seconds; and said steps (iii) and (vi) take place in about 18 seconds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
A process as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5 characterized in that said step (i) and (iv) include equalizing the pressures in the columns A, B to a pressure of from about 470 to about 500 torr; said product gas in steps (ii) and (v) is introduced at a pressure of about 800 torr; and said feed gas is introduced in steps (iii) and (vi) at a pressure of from about 0 to 7 psig.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process as claimed in Claim 6 characterised in that said feed gas is introduced in steps (iii) and (vi) at a pressure of less than about 5 psig.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that said steps (i) through (vi) are carried out in less than about 30 seconds.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
85 words
An apparatus for carrying out the continuous production of an oxygen enriched stream of gas from a feed stream of air comprising two adsorption columns A, B, means to cycle respectively said two adsorption columns between receiving said feed stream of air and producing said enriched oxygen stream, characterised by a vacuum pump 16, said vacuum pump 16 being connected to both of said adsorption columns and adapted to withdraw gas continuously from one or the other of said adsorption columns during said repetitive cycle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as claimed in Claim 9 characterised in that said air feed stream has a pressure of between about 0 to 7 psig and said adsorption columns A, B, contain fine particle zeolite material of about 8-35 mesh.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as claimed in Claim 9 characterised in that said fine particle zeolite material is in the form of beads or pellets and having a size of between 12 and 20 mesh.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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