US 4,312,640 A · Heat-reactivatable adsorbent gas fractionator and process

Abstract

A process and apparatus are provided for removing a first polar gas from a mixture thereof with a second gas. The gas mixture is passed through a sorbent bed having a preferential affinity for the first polar gas and the first polar gas is sorbed thereon so as to produce a gaseous effluent which has a concentration of first polar gas therein below a predetermined maximum. Then the polar gas sorbed on the sorbent bed is removed therefrom by application of microwave energy, at a temperature at which the sorbent is transparent to such energy, while passing a purge flow of gas in contact with the bed to flush out desorbed first polar gas from the bed. The bed is allowed to cool to a relatively efficient temperature for adsorption. The gas mixture is then again passed in contact with the bed. If two beds are used, one bed can be desorbed while the other is on-stream thereby maintaining a substantially continuous flow of effluent gas. The apparatus of the invention provides a sorbent bed assembly having a microwave energy generator positioned to direct such energy into the sorbent bed for desorption of first polar gas from the bed.

Claims25

Dependent claims

In the process for removing a first polar gas from a mixture thereof with a second gas by flow of the gas mixture continuously through a stationary sorbent bed having a preferential affinity for the first polar gas which includes the steps of passing the gas mixture in contact with and from one end to another end of a first bed of the sorbent;

sorbing first polar gas thereon and, as the sorption of the first polar gas continues, forming a concentration gradient of first polar gas in the first bed progressively decreasing from one end to the other end of the bed ranging from a substantial proportion of the first sorbent capacity therefor at one end to less than 20% of its capacity therefor at the other end, so as to produce a gaseous effluent which has a concentration of the first polar gas therein below a predetermined maximum;
removing first polar gas sorbed on the second sorbent bed by passing a purge flow of effluent gas in contact with the sorbent bed, discontinuing the purge flow, and then resuming passing the gas mixture in contact with the sorbent bed, the improvement which consists essentially in utilizing a sorbent transparent to microwave energy having a frequency within the range of about 0.03 to about 3000 giga Hertz, and desorbing first polar gas by applying during the purge flow microwave energy having a frequency within the range of about 0.03 to about 3000 giga Hertz at a temperature at which the sorbent is transparent to microwave energy, the microwave energy being preferentially absorbed by the first polar gas sorbed on the sorbent, and this gas thereby being desorbed, and halting application of the microwave energy when desorption of first polar gas is substantially complete, and before water of hydration of the sorbent is removed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Heat-reactivatable adsorbent gas fractionator and process

Life of this patent

Heat-reactivatable adsorbent gas fractionator and process

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25