Pressure swing adsorption method and system for separating gas components

A pressure swing adsorption system for separating gas components, comprising:

• a first adsorption bed operable to receive a feed gas, wherein a first gas component of the feed gas substantially passes through the first adsorption bed and a second gas component of the feed gas substantially adsorbs onto an adsorbent in the first adsorption bed, the first adsorption bed further operable to transmit the first gas component of the feed gas passing through the first adsorption bed to a second adsorption bed;
• a second adsorption bed coupled to the first adsorption bed, the second adsorption bed operable to receive the first gas component of the feed gas and to pressurize the second adsorption bed to an adsorption pressure using the first gas component of the feed gas;
• and
• a third adsorption bed coupled to the first adsorption bed, the third adsorption bed operable to receive the second gas component of the feed gas and to displace feed gas in the third adsorption bed.

A pressure swing adsorption system for separating gas components, comprising:

• a plurality of adsorption beds, each respective adsorption bed including an adsorbent;
• a plurality of check valves, each respective adsorption bed coupled to a respective check valve, each respective check valve operable to control flow of gas such that a first gas component of a feed gas received from another adsorption bed flows through the check valve into the respective adsorption bed to pressurize the respective adsorption bed to an adsorption pressure;
• a plurality of feed valves, each respective adsorption bed coupled to a respective feed valve, each respective feed valve operable to control flow of gas such that after the respective adsorption bed reaches the adsorption pressure the feed gas flows through the feed valve into the respective adsorption bed, the first gas component of the feed gas substantially passing through the respective adsorption bed and a second gas component of the feed gas substantially adsorbing onto the adsorbent in the respective adsorption bed;
• a plurality of back pressure regulators, each respective adsorption bed coupled to a respective back pressure regulator, each respective back pressure regulator operable to regulate a back pressure such that the first gas component of the feed gas passing through the respective adsorption bed flows through the back pressure regulator to a second adsorption bed to pressurize the second adsorption bed to the adsorption pressure;
• and
• a plurality of recycle valves, each respective adsorption bed coupled to a respective recycle valve, each respective recycle valve operable to control flow of gas such that the second gas component of the feed gas flows through the recycle valve into the respective adsorption bed to displace feed gas in voids of the respective adsorption bed.

A pressure swing adsorption system for separating gas components, comprising:

• means for pressurizing an adsorption bed to an adsorption pressure using a first gas component of a feed gas, the adsorption bed including an adsorbent for substantially adsorbing a second gas component of a feed gas;
• means for introducing the feed gas to the pressurized adsorption bed, wherein the first gas component of the feed gas substantially passes through the pressurized adsorption bed and the second gas component of the feed gas substantially adsorbs onto the adsorbent;
• means for terminating the introducing of the feed gas to the pressurized adsorption bed and thereafter introducing the second gas component of the feed gas to the pressurized adsorption bed to recover the feed gas in the pressurized adsorption bed;
• means for introducing the recovered feed gas to a second adsorption bed already pressurized to the adsorption pressure, wherein the first gas component of the recovered feed gas substantially passes through the second adsorption bed and the second gas component of the recovered feed gas substantially adsorbs onto a second adsorbent in the second adsorption bed;
• and
• means for depressurizing the pressurized adsorption bed to recover at least a portion of the second gas component of the feed gas in the pressurized adsorption bed.