US 7,094,275 B2 · Modular pressure swing adsorption apparatus

Abstract

A rotary module for implementing a high frequency pressure swing adsorption process comprises a stator and a rotor rotatably coupled to the stator. The stator includes a first stator valve surface, a second stator valve surface, a plurality of first function compartments opening into the first stator valve surface, and a plurality of second function compartments opening into the second stator valve surface. The rotor includes a first rotor valve surface in communication with the first stator valve surface, a second rotor valve surface in communication with the second stator valve surface, and a plurality of flow paths for receiving adsorbent material therein. Each flow path includes a pair of opposite ends, and a plurality of apertures provided in the rotor valve surfaces and in communication with the flow path ends and the function ports for cyclically exposing each flow path to a plurality of discrete pressure levels between the upper and lower pressures for maintaining uniform gas flow through the first and second function compartments.

Claims33

Dependent claims

A rotary module for implementing a pressure swing adsorption process having an operating pressure cycling between an upper pressure and a lower pressure for extracting a first gas fraction and a second gas fraction from a gas mixture including at least the first and second gas fractions, the rotary module comprising:

a stator including a first stator valve surface, a second stator valve surface, a plurality of first function compartments opening into the first stator valve surface, and a plurality of second function compartments opening into the second stator valve surface;
a rotor rotatably coupled to the stator and including a first rotor valve surface in communication with the first stator valve surface, a second rotor valve surface in communication with the second stator valve surface, a plurality of flow paths for receiving adsorbent material therein, each said flow path including a pair of opposite ends, and a plurality of apertures provided in the rotor valve surfaces and in communication with the flow path ends and the function compartments for cyclically exposing each said flow path to a plurality of discrete pressure levels between the upper and lower pressures for the pressure swing adsorption process;
and
a gas mixing means in communication with at least two function compartments for mixing a relatively higher pressure gas flow with a relatively lower pressure gas flow to effect a let-down of pressure in the relatively higher pressure gas flow, while providing a source of reduced pressure or vacuum to the relatively lower pressure gas flow.

1 more element

A rotary module for implementing a pressure swing adsorption process having an operating pressure cycling between an upper pressure and a lower pressure for extracting a first gas fraction and a second gas fraction from a gas mixture including the first and second gas fractions, the rotary module comprising:

a stator including a first stator valve surface, a second stator valve surface, a plurality of first function compartments opening into the first stator valve surface, and a plurality of second function compartments opening into the second stator valve surface;
a rotor rotatably coupled to the stator and including a first rotor valve surface in communication with the first stator valve surface, a second rotor valve surface in communication with the second stator valve surface, a plurality of flow paths for receiving adsorbent material therein, each said flow path including a pair of opposite ends, and a plurality of apertures provided in the rotor valve surfaces and in communication with the flow path ends and the function compartments for cyclically exposing each said flow path to a plurality of discrete intermediate pressure levels intermediate the upper and lower pressures for releasing gas from or supplying gas to the flow paths so as to perform the pressure swing adsorption process;
and
a gas expander for pressure letdown of gas released from or supplied to at least one of said flow paths at an intermediate pressure level, and for recovery of mechanical power from the pressure letdown.

1 more element

A method for producing a product gas enriched in hydrogen from a petroleum refinery process gas containing hydrogen, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the petroleum refinery process gas containing hydrogen as a feed gas to a rotary module configured to implement a pressure swing adsorption process cycling between an upper working pressure and a lower working pressure, the rotary module comprising:
a stator including a first stator valve surface, a second stator valve surface, a plurality of first function compartments opening into the first stator surface, and a plurality of second function compartments opening into the second stator valve surface;
a rotor rotatably coupled to the stator and including a first rotor valve surface in communication with the first stator valve surface, a second rotor valve surface in communication with the second stator valve surface, a plurality of flow paths for receiving adsorbent material therein, each said flow path including a pair of opposite ends, and a plurality of apertures provided in the rotor valve surfaces and in communication with the flow path ends and the function compartments for cyclically exposing each said flow path to a plurality of discrete intermediate pressure levels intermediate the upper and lower working pressures for releasing gas from or supplying gas to the flow paths so as to perform the pressure swing adsorption process;
and
performing a pressure swing adsorption process with the rotary module to produce a hydrogen-enriched product gas and a hydrogen-depleted exhaust gas.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Modular pressure swing adsorption apparatus

Life of this patent

Modular pressure swing adsorption apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims33