Abstract: An operating system for dual-sieve oxygen concentrators, as used by invalids, provides a method and apparatus for controlling the purging and release of product gas and the cycling period in response to the pressure build-up in each sieve column. The cycling period is thereby self-adjusting to changes in the capacity of the columns. Restricting flow of product gas and purge gas to the higher-pressure part of the adsorption period provides product gas of higher purity and reduces the loss of oxygen in the purge.

Abstract: A process for separating a feed gas mixture into a more strongly adsorbable component and a less strongly adsorbable component in a plurality of adsorbent beds containing an adsorbent selective for the more strongly adsorbable component using pressure equalization between beds after initial depressurization to provide a purge gas, using countercurrent evacuation wherein at least two adsorption beds are countercurrently evacuated simultaneously in overlapping countercurrent evacuation steps in the plurality of adsorption beds, and using a combination of less strongly adsorbable component and feed gas mixture to repressurize the adsorbent bed. Oxygen product can be recovered from air at high recovery using the process.

Abstract: A process for separating a feed gas mixture into a more strongly adsorbable component and a less strongly adsorbable component in a plurality of adsorbent beds containing an adsorbent selective for the more strongly adsorbable component using pressure equalization between beds after initial depressurization to provide a purge gas and using a combination of less strongly adsorbable component and feed gas mixture to repressurize the adsorbent bed. Oxygen product can be recovered from air at high recovery using the process.

Abstract: A process for removal of contaminants from a fluid stream comprising adsorbing the contaminants with an adsorbent, contacting the resulting contaminant-laden adsorbent with a heated fluid, incinerating a portion of the contaminant-laden fluid, mixing at least a portion of the products of combustion with the remaining portion of contaminant-laden fluid, recirculating the mixture of contaminant-laden fluid and combustion products through the adsorbent to increase the concentration of contaminants in the mixture, and incinerating at least a portion of the recirculated mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for cleaning a stream of crude gas and/or waste gas charged with hydrocarbon vapors resulting in recovery of the hydrocarbons. The process consists of adsorption, desorption, and condensation and/or absorption, and the adsorption is accomplished in two two-stage adsorber systems connected to each other in parallel. A charged stream of gas is first directed to the first adsorber system for coarse cleaning by a primary adsorber (2) and then for precision cleaning to a secondary adsorber (4) connected in series to the first adsorber. The hydrocarbons adsorbed in the primary adsorber (2) are desorbed by use of a vacuum pump (26) and the hydrocarbon vapors depleted of inert gas that are obtained are recovered in the condensation and/or absorption system (24) after compression in the vacuum pump (26) and the hydrocarbon components that are not condensed or absorbed are returned to the stream of crude gas.

Abstract: A system for compressing and drying a gas from a gas source comprises a compressor operatively connected to the source for compressing the gas. A regenerative dryer for collecting water from the gas is operatively connected to the compressor such that the compressor is within a path of gas flow between the source and the dryer. The dryer is also operatively connected to the source such that water collected from the gas and removed from the dryer does not enter the compressor. A method of compressing and drying a gas is also provided comprising the steps of: supplying a compressor with gas from a source; compressing the gas; collecting water from the gas with a regenerative dryer; regenerating the dryer by removing collected water from said dryer with a purge gas; and delivering the purge gas to the source such that no purge gas or collected water is supplied to the compressor.