Production of constant composition gas mixture streams
AssigneeThe BOC Group, Inc.
InventorsDavid W. Birch, André Micke, Shuen-Cheng Hwang, Lesli B. Cosey, Carl W. Schmidt, Robert F. Phillips, D. Bruce Wilson
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Abstract
Gas mixtures having precise compositions are prepared by separately pumping the components in liquid phase through piping, vaporizing the components, blending the components and analyzing the mixture for composition. A signal sent to a control unit causes any necessary change in the rate of pumping of the liquid components to reduce the difference between the measured concentration and the desired concentration. When the composition is within desired limits it is charged into gas cylinders.
Claims13
A method of producing a gas mixture stream of any desired substantially constant composition comprising:
- (a) establishing liquid phase flow of each liquefied gas component to be included in the desired mixture using variable output pump means;
- (b) vaporizing the components;
- (c) mixing the vaporized components;
- (d) measuring the concentration of each component of the vaporized mixture;
- (e) adjusting the liquid phase flow of one or more of said components in a manner that will reduce the difference between the measured composition and the desired composition of the gas mixture;
- and
- (f) periodically repeating step (d) and step (e).
A system for providing flow of gas mixtures of precisely measured components comprising:
- (a) variable output pump means for controlling the rate of flow of each of two or more vaporizable liquids;
- (b) liquid vaporizing means;
- (c) gas mixing means;
- (d) gas mixture analyzing means;
- (e) flow adjustment control means;
- (f) control loop means for transmitting a signal from said gas mixture analyzer means to said flow adjustment control means upon determination of the composition of a gas mixture flowing through said system;
- (g) further control loop means for transmitting flow adjustment signals from said flow adjustment control means to said variable output pump means;
- (h) first conduit means providing fluid communication between sources of vaporizable liquids and said variable output pump means;
- (j) second conduit means providing fluid communication between said variable output pump means and the inlet end of said liquid vaporizing means;
- (k) third conduit means providing fluid communication between the outlet end of said liquid vaporizing means and the inlet end of said gas mixing means;
- and
- (l) fourth conduit means providing fluid communication between the outlet end of said gas mixing means and a downstream application.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.