Abstract: A process for enhancing the concentration of one component contained in a multi-component gas is disclosed which is particularly well-suited for enriching the oxygen content of air. The process is carried out by a series of adsorption and desorption stages using an Advanced Separation Device comprised of a plurality of adsorbent-filled chambers moving about a circular path in periodic fluid communication with a plurality of fixed feed and discharge ports. By using the Advanced Separation Device, it is possible to load the oxygen content of air onto the adsorbent which is then stripped by a second stream of air. This oxygen-enriched stream of air may then be divided so that the oxygen content of one stream may be adsorbed for subsequent removal by the other stream to produce a doubly-enriched stream.

Abstract: A separation device designed to effect substantially continuous separation and/or fractionation operations as in, for example, ion exchange or other solid-fluid contacting systems. Also disclosed and claimed is a method for effecting such continuous treatment of plural fluid streams. The device is characterized by its construction to permit treatment of plural streams simultaneously and continuously. Fixed inlet and outlet nipples are provided for introducing and removing the fluid streams, and the inlet and outlet nipples are operatively interconnected by a rotating member which is internally divided into a plurality of working sections. By virtue of the rotatable construction of that member and its plural working sections, discrete fluid streams may be treated separately, yet simultaneously. Furthermore, the device of this invention is such that fluid flow in either of two directions may take place through each of the working sections dependent only upon predetermined process parameters.