Vacuum-pressure swing absorption fractionator and method of using the same
AssigneeSeQual Technologies, Inc.
InventorTheodore B. Hill
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention involves a vacuum-pressure swing adsorption process for the separation of components of a fluid mixture. The process includes (a) transferring a fluid mixture through an adsorbent bed at an elevated pressure Ph so as to produce a purified product fluid; (b) venting the adsorbent bed down to an ambient fluid pressure Pa; (c) applying a vacuum force to the adsorbent bed to bring the adsorbent bed to a reduced pressure Pl; and (d) venting the adsorbent bed up to an ambient fluid pressure Pa.
Claims59
A vacuum-pressure swing adsorption process for the separation of components of a fluid mixture, comprising:
- (a) transferring a fluid mixture through an adsorbent bed at an elevated pressure Ph so as to produce a purified product fluid;
- (b) venting the adsorbent bed down to an ambient fluid pressure Pa;
- (c) applying a vacuum force to the adsorbent bed to bring the adsorbent bed to a reduced pressure Pl;
- (d) venting the adsorbent bed up to the ambient fluid pressure Pa.
A vacuum-pressure swing adsorption system for the separation of components of a fluid mixture, comprising:
- a plurality of adsorbent beds;
- and
- a valve assembly to provide valving action to transfer a fluid mixture through each adsorbent bed at an elevated pressure Ph so as to produce a purified product fluid, vent the adsorbent bed down to an ambient fluid pressure Pa, cause a vacuum force to be applied to the adsorbent bed to bring the adsorbent bed to a reduced pressure Pl and vent the adsorbent bed up to the ambient fluid pressure Pa.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.