Abstract: The present invention relates to a PSA system using an indexing rotary dual valve regulating a stepping mode of operation that controls a variable bed inlet feed flow rate, controllable pressure between feed lines in different beds of the PSA system and varied output flow rate of product gas such as high purity hydrogen gas.

Abstract: A low void pressure swing adsorption system wherein flow movement and pressure pulse are influenced from the same source comprised of at least one hermetically sealed vessel containing an adsorbent bed with an inlet coupled to the adsorbent bed by way of an inlet header and an outlet coupled to the adsorbent bed by way of an outlet header. Void volume of the inlet and outlet headers can be limited to less than 20% of the adsorbent bed volume, preferably to less than 10%, and most preferably to less than 5%, by mounting high pressure source(s) and/or low pressure sink(s) proximate to, or nearly proximate to, the adsorbent bed/vessel. Low void volumes and reduced cycle times may be achieved in all bed configurations, including flat header beds, segmented beds, and vertical beds. Radial beds may be configured so that the void volume of the inlet and outlet headers is less than 50% of the volume of the radial adsorbent bed, preferably to less than 20%, and most preferably to less than 10%.

Abstract: A pressure swing process and system for purifying a first gas, preferably argon, from a crude feed gas stream containing the first gas and second gas(es) utilizes two adsorption beds and continuously promotes the crude feed gas to the bed during the process and simultaneous equalization of pressure in the two beds in top-to-top end and bottom-to-bottom end equalizations in each bed following purging of each bed.

Abstract: A pressure swing process and system for purifying a first gas, preferably argon, from a crude feed gas stream containing the first gas and second gas(es) utilizes two adsorption beds and continuously promotes the crude feed gas to the bed during the process and simultaneous equalization of pressure in the two beds in top-top-top end and bottom-to-bottom end equalizations in each bed following purging of each bed.

Abstract: A system including pretreating feed air for a cryogenic air separation plant wherein feed air is passed through an electric field, oxygen is ionized, and ionized oxygen reacts with hydrocarbons upstream of an adsorption prepurifier, and subsequent separation of the feed air by cryogenic rectification.

Abstract: The invention comprises a PSA apparatus for the separation of a heavy component from a light component in a feed stream. The apparatus includes an adsorbent bed comprising either a mixture of adsorbents or composite adsorbent particles wherein each particle comprises two or more adsorbents. At least one of the adsorbents is comparatively weak and the other is comparatively strong. Another embodiment of the invention is a PSA prepurifier having a bed of adsorbent material which comprises a mixture of, or composite adsorbent particles wherein each particle comprises at least two adsorbents, at least one of the adsorbents being comparatively strong and at least another of the adsorbents being comparatively weak.