# US 2021/0333245 A1 · Fluidized Bed for Industrial Hygiene Applications

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- Number: US 2021/0333245 A1
- Document ID: US20210333245A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/859,215
- Filed: 2020-04-27
- Published: 2021-10-28
- Earliest claimed: 2020-04-27
- Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
- Applicants: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
- Inventors: Ayman Al-Arfaj
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210333245A1

## CPC

- G01N 30/10: using a splitter
- B01D 53/12: according to the "fluidised technique"
- B01D 2253/102: Carbon
- B01D 2257/7022: Aliphatic hydrocarbons
- B01D 2257/7027: Aromatic hydrocarbons
- B01D 2257/708: Volatile organic compounds V.O.C.'s
- B01D 2257/91: Bacteria; Microorganisms
- B01D 2258/06: Polluted air
- B01D 2259/4508: for cleaning air in buildings
- G01N 2030/025: {Gas chromatography}
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)

## Abstract

Embodiments relate to systems and methods for fluidization in industrial hygiene applications. The method includes collecting air samples of contaminants onto the surface of fluidized activated carbon particulate as opposed to fixed-bed particulate. The adsorbates include toluene (a cyclic compound) and n-hexane (an open-chain compound). The obtained results are analyzed and discussed in terms of breakthrough times. The input parameters are the initial concentration of toluene or n-hexane in the air feed stream and the amount of the sorbent used. The feed flow rate is at 2 liters/min, and the temperature and humidity are kept constant at their prevailing laboratory conditions, i.e., 22±2° C. and 34±2% RH, respectively.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for an industrial hygiene application, the system comprising:
an air compressor configured to receive an air stream;
a pressure regulator configured to regulate a pressure within the air stream;
a precision rotameter configured to split the air stream into a first air stream and a second air stream, and to regulate a flow rate of the first air stream and the second air stream;
a volatile organic compound (VOC) generator configured to receive the first air stream, wherein the volatile organic compound generator comprises a plurality of first metal bubblers;
a humidity generator configured to receive a portion of the second air stream, wherein the humidity generator comprises a plurality of second metal bubblers; and
a fluidized bed sampler for receiving a combination of the first air stream and the second air stream.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the fluidized bed sampler further comprises:
a tube holder with an inlet for air to flow in and an outlet for the air to flow out;
a top screen or grid disposed in the tube holder closer to the outlet;
a bottom screen or grid disposed in the tube holder closer to the inlet; and
an adsorbent medium disposed between the top screen and the bottom screen.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the humidity generator further comprises:
two bubblers containing distilled water, wherein the two bubblers are immersed in a thermal bath to control temperature and vapor pressure of the water; and
a third bubbler configured to trap condensed water vapor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the volatile organic compound generator further comprises:
a first bubbler containing a predetermined amount of a volatile organic compound; and
a second and third bubbler configured to trap condensed VOC vapor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the adsorbent medium comprises fluidized activated carbon or charcoal particulates.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the airstream includes adsorbates comprising toluene (a cyclic compound) and n-hexane (an open-chain compound). The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a gas chromatograph for receiving the air stream from the fluidized bed sampler, wherein the gas chromatograph is on-line calibrated.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the temperature within the system is about 22±2° C.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the relative humidity within the system is about 34±2%.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the degree of fluidization, voidage, or expansion ratio is determined using the formula:
v
b
=
H
f
-
H
s
H
f
where Hf is the average height of the fluidized bed at a given flow rate, Hs is the height of the static bed when flow rate Q is zero, and Vb the bed voidage.

### Claim 11

A method for use in an industrial hygiene application, the method comprising:
providing an air compressor for receive an air stream;
providing a pressure regulator for regulate a pressure within the air stream;
providing a precision rotameter for split the air stream into a first air stream and a second air stream, and to regulate a flow rate of the first air stream and the second air stream;
providing a volatile organic compound (VOC) generator for receive the first air stream, wherein the volatile organic compound generator comprises a plurality of first metal bubblers;
providing a humidity generator for receive a portion of the second air stream, wherein the humidity generator comprises a plurality of second metal bubblers; and
providing a fluidized bed sampler for receiving a combination of the first air stream and the second air stream.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the fluidized bed sampler further comprises:
a tube holder with an inlet for air to flow in and an outlet for the air to flow out;
a top screen or grid disposed in the tube holder closer to the outlet;
a bottom screen or grid disposed in the tube holder closer to the inlet; and
an adsorbent medium disposed between the top screen and the bottom screen.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the humidity generator further comprises:
two bubblers containing distilled water, wherein the two bubblers are immersed in a thermal bath to control temperature and vapor pressure of the water; and
a third bubbler for trap condensed water vapor.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the volatile organic compound generator further comprises:
a first bubbler containing a predetermined amount of a volatile organic compound; and
a second and third bubbler for trap condensed VOC vapor.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the adsorbent medium comprises fluidized activated carbon or charcoal particulates.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the airstream includes adsorbates comprising toluene (a cyclic compound) and n-hexane (an open-chain compound).

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising:
providing a gas chromatograph for receiving the air stream from the fluidized bed sampler, wherein the gas chromatograph is on-line calibrated.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the temperature is maintained at about 22±2° C.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the relative humidity is maintained at about 34±2%.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining the degree of fluidization, voidage, or expansion ratio using the formula:
v
b
=
H
f
-
H
s
H
f
where Hf is the average height of the fluidized bed at a given flow rate, Hs is the height of the static bed when flow rate Q is zero, and Vb the bed voidage.