System for separation of oxygen from argon/oxygen mixture
AssigneeArbor Research Corporation
InventorsAlexander I. Kandybin, Richard A. Anderson, Daniel L. Reichley
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Abstract
A process for removing argon from a feed gas stream comprising oxygen and argon to yield a high purity oxygen stream and the system for carrying out the process. The process includes the steps of: (a) providing a feed gas of oxygen and argon at a temperature between -30.degree. C. and 100.degree. C. and a pressure between 5 psia and 160 psia; and (b) passing the feed gas over an adsorbent bed comprising a Ag ion exchanged type X zeolite wherein at least 80% of the available ion sites are occupied by Ag such that at least a portion of the argon in the feed gas is adsorbed by the adsorbent bed thereby leaving an oxygen-enriched gas stream.
Claims14
A process for removing argon from a feed gas stream comprising oxygen and argon to provide an oxygen-enriched gas stream, said process comprising:
- a. providing said feed gas at a temperature between about -30.degree. C. and about 100.degree. C. and at an elevated pressure;
- and
- b. passing said feed gas over an adsorbent bed comprising a Ag ion exchanged type X zeolite wherein at least about 80% of the available ion sites are occupied by Ag ions such that at least a portion of the argon in said feed gas is adsorbed by the adsorbent bed thereby leaving an oxygen-enriched gas stream.
In a pressure swing adsorption process for the separation of argon from a feed gas comprising oxygen and argon in a cyclic operation, the sequential steps of:
- a. passing a feed gas comprising oxygen and argon through a column containing an adsorbent bed of Ag ion exchanged type X zeolite under a condition of elevated pressure;
- b. subjecting the column to a cocurrent blowdown;
- c. subjecting the column to a countercurrent blowdown;
- d. purging the column;
- and
- e. repressurizing the column with said feed gas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.