Method and apparatus for removing residual hydrogen from a purified gas
AssigneeSAES Pure Gas, Inc.
InventorsJeffrey L. Briesacher, Charles H. Applegarth, D'Arcy H. Lorimer
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Abstract
The invention relates generally to a gas purification system for the purification of noble gasses and nitrogen. An improved method of purification generally includes the following steps: (a) heating an impure gas; (b) contacting the impure gas with an impurity sorbing material to produce a purified gas; (c) cooling the purified gas to a temperature less than about 100.degree. C.; and (d) contacting the purified gas with a hydrogen sorbing gas to remove residual hydrogen. The system includes an improved heat exchange apparatus for cooling the purified gas and a low temperature hydrogen sorption apparatus.
Claims22
A method for removing residual hydrogen from a purified gas comprising the steps of:
- (a) heating an impure gas;
- (b) contacting the heated impure gas with an impurity sorbing material to produce a purified gas having trace amounts of residual hydrogen;
- (c) cooling the purified gas to a temperature less than about 100.degree. C.;
- and
- (d) contacting the cooled purified gas with a hydrogen sorbing material to at least partially remove said residual hydrogen.
A gas purification system comprising:
- (a) gas inlet means for impure gas;
- (b) heating means coupled to said gas inlet means for heating said impure gas to a temperature greater than about 200.degree. C.;
- (c) purifier means coupled to said heating means, said purifier means including a getter material capable of removing impurities from said impure gas to produce a purified gas;
- (d) cooling means coupled to said purifier means for cooling said purified gas to a temperature less than about 100.degree. C.;
- (e) hydrogen sorbing means coupled to said cooling means which includes a hydrogen sorbing material to remove residual hydrogen from said purified gas;
- and
- (f) a gas outlet for said purified gas.
A heat exchange apparatus comprising:
- (a) a first monoblock manifold formed from a single piece of material and including a first plurality of integral connector nipples such that interior surfaces of said first plurality of connector nipples do not include a joint between a plurality of pieces;
- (b) a second monoblock manifold formed from a single piece of material and including a second plurality of integral connector nipples aligned with said connector nipples of said first manifold such that interior surfaces of said second plurality of connector nipples do not include a joint between a plurality of pieces;
- (c) a plurality of straight tubes, each tube extending between a first connector nipple on said first manifold and a second connector nipple on said second manifold, each of said straight tubes being welded in place at the first manifold and at the second manifold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.