Process for the enrichment of gases
    4.
    发明授权
    Process for the enrichment of gases 失效
    气体浓缩过程

    公开(公告)号:US4011065A

    公开(公告)日:1977-03-08

    申请号:US523687

    申请日:1974-11-14

    IPC分类号: B01D53/04 C01B13/02 B01D15/06

    摘要: An initial gaseous mixture of at least two components is passed through an adsorber which preferentially adsorbs one of the components. This initially loads the adsorber. Subsequently, another gaseous mixture, having a greater concentration of the preferentially adsorbed component than the initial gaseous mixture, is passed through the adsorber so as to additionally load the adsorber. Part of the gas in the adsorber is then removed. This initially unloads the adsorber and yields a first fraction containing both components with the concentration of the preferentially adsorbed component being greater than that in the initial gaseous mixture. Subsequently, part of the gas still remaining in the adsorber is removed so as to further unload the adsorber. This results in a second fraction including both components and wherein the concentration of the preferentially adsorbed component is greater than that in both the second gaseous mixture to be passed through the adsorber and the first fraction removed from the adsorber. Finally, the remainder of the gas in the adsorber is removed so as to completely unload the adsorber. This yields a third fraction including both components with the concentration of the preferentially adsorbed component being lower than that in the second fraction removed from the adsorber but greater than that in the initial gaseous mixture passed into the adsorber. The first and third fractions may be used for additionally loading the adsorber in a subsequent cycle. A preferred application is the enrichment of oxygen-containing gases, particularly air, which include a component of greater molecular size than oxygen. A preferred adsorber is molecular sieve coke which preferentially adsorbs the oxygen. The process permits air to be enriched to such an extent that the product fraction, namely, the second fraction, removed from the adsorber contains between 70 and 95 volume percent of oxygen.