Process and installation for the separation of a gas mixture by adsorption
AssigneeL'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
InventorsYves Engler, Christian Monereau
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Abstract
This process comprises at least one stage of first decompression/first recompression by balancing the pressures between two adsorbers (2A to 2D) as well as the taking off of a constant product gas rate during the adsorption phase. In the course of the first decompression, the product gas taken off is passed to an auxiliary capacity (6) which is arranged in parallel to the product line (1) and can be connected to the product outlet side of each adsorber (2A to 2D). During the second recompression stage, the adsorber receives the product gas taken off in countercurrent and is at the same time put into communication with the auxiliary capacity. The process is useful in the production of hydrogen from a constant rate of a feed gas mixture.
Claims10
A process for the separation of a gas mixture by pressure swing adsorption in an adsorption apparatus having n adsorbers, where n>1, including a cycle having the following steps for each adsorber;
- (a) a substantially isobaric adsorption step at a high pressure of the cycle for producing a product gas stream
- (b) a regeneration step, comprising at least one sub-step (b1) of a first depressurization with pressure balance with another adsorber at a low pressure, and at least another sub-step (b3;
- b4) of depressurization down to a low pressure of the cycle;
- and
- (c) a pressure raising step, comprising at least one repressurization sub-step (c1) with pressure balance with another adsorber in said sub-step (b1),
- wherein a substantially constant product gas flow is derived from the product gas stream during said step (a) and is introduced into an adsorber in the course of said step (c) and/or into a auxiliary capacity used in said step (c), and wherein
- during a first sub-step (a1) of step (a), the derived product gas flow is passed into the auxiliary capacity, and
- during a subsequent second sub-step (a2) of step (a), the derived product gas flow is passed into an adsorber undergoing an intermediate repressurization step (c2), while said adsorber is simultaneously communicating with said auxiliary capacity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.