Method for argon production via cold pressure swing adsorption
AssigneeAir Products and Chemicals, Inc.
InventorsShubhra Jyoti Bhadra, Roger Dean Whitley, Garret Chi-Ho Lau, David Ross Graham, Donn Michael Herron, Qiao Zhao, Erin Marie Sorensen
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Abstract
Methods and systems for purifying argon from a crude argon stream are disclosed, employing pressure swing adsorption at cold temperatures from −186° C. to −20° C.; more preferably from −150° C. to −50° C.; and most preferably from −130° C. to −80° C. with oxygen-selective zeolite adsorbent. In some embodiments, the oxygen-selective zeolite adsorbent is a 4A zeolite, a chabazite, or a combination thereof.
Claims26
A method for producing a purified argon product, the method comprising:
- providing a pressurized crude argon vapor stream at a temperature from −186° C. to −20° C.;
- introducing the pressurized crude argon vapor stream into a pressure swing adsorption apparatus containing an oxygen-selective zeolite adsorbent and operating the pressure swing adsorption apparatus at a temperature from −186° C. to −20° C.;
- withdrawing an argon enriched product from the pressure swing adsorption apparatus;
- and
- regenerating the oxygen-selective zeolite at a pressure greater than prevailing ambient pressure;
- wherein the operating temperature of the pressure swing adsorption apparatus during operation is not increased except as a function of pressure change or adsorption/desorption.
A method for producing a purified argon product, the method comprising:
- providing a pressurized crude argon stream from a first cryogenic distillation column;
- vaporizing the pressurized crude argon stream;
- introducing the vaporized crude argon stream at a temperature from −186° C. to −20° C. and a feed pressure from 2 bara to 8 bara into a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) apparatus containing an oxygen-selective zeolite adsorbent;
- operating the PSA apparatus at a temperature from −186° C. to −20° C.;
- withdrawing an argon enriched product from the PSA apparatus;
- and
- regenerating the oxygen-selective zeolite at a pressure greater than prevailing ambient pressure;
- wherein the operating temperature of the PSA apparatus during operation is not increased except as a function of pressure change or adsorption/desorption.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.