Abstract: Methods of providing ozone at a selected pressure above atmospheric pressure include supplying a purge gas supply (22) pressurized above the selected pressure to at least one ozone adsorption apparatus (12); desorbing ozone from the ozone adsorption apparatus (12) with the pressurized purge gas supply (22); and delivering a mixture of ozone and the purge gas supply (24) at the selected pressure without further compression.

Abstract: An air dryer assembly for removing moisture and oil from a compressed air system includes a desiccant material received in a shell for adsorbing moisture as compressed air passes therethrough. A coalescing element is disposed between an inlet and outlet for removing oil aerosols from the compressed air. A check valve is disposed in parallel with the coalescing element and forces the compressed air to pass through the coalescing element as air flows from the inlet to the outlet. During a purge or reverse flow, compressed air bypasses the coalescing element and removes oil collected in the cartridge through the inlet.

Abstract: An air dryer assembly for removing moisture and oil from a compressed air system includes a desiccant material received in a shell for adsorbing moisture as compressed air passes therethrough. A coalescing element is disposed between an inlet and outlet for removing oil aerosols from the compressed air. A check valve is disposed in parallel with the coalescing element and forces the compressed air to pass through the coalescing element as air flows from the inlet to the outlet. During a purge or reverse flow, compressed air bypasses the coalescing element and removes oil collected in the cartridge through the inlet.

Abstract: A continuous flow dryer system for compressed air includes first and second air dryers for receiving and alternately drying compressed air from a source. The dried air from the first dryer is transmitted to the second dryer. First and second reservoirs store the dried compressed air. A plurality of control valves in the second air dryer are used for distributing the dried air to the respective reservoirs.

Abstract: A baffle-style stripping arrangement for an FCC process having substantially horizontal stripping baffles is disclosed. The stripping baffles comprise a perforated section and a downcomer section which generates transverse movement of catalyst across the baffle to ensure adequate vertical movement of stripping media. The perforated section is covered with stripping openings to provide improved stripping efficiency and catalyst flux through the stripping vessel. The perforated section may comprise a grate. Baffles may also include an imperforate section which is vertically aligned with a downcomer section of a superjacent baffle.

Abstract: The present invention includes two beds of activated alumina or similar material, which can remove moisture during a PSA cycle. One bed is placed in series in each drive air line for the pressure intensifier or boost pump. The beds are sized such that there is sufficient material to adsorb the moisture contained in the volume of gas required to move the drive piston through a complete stroke.

Abstract: Carbon monoxide (CO) is removed from a nitrogen and CO containing gas stream such as feed air to an air separation process for recovery of a nitrogen product gas stream or a nitrogen product gas stream from an air separation process by adsorbing CO from said gas stream before or after separation of oxygen from said gas stream to produce a product gas stream containing less than 5 ppb of CO by contacting said gas stream With a solid adsorbent such as a Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Ag, Pd, Co, Pt or Au exchanged zeolite and periodically regenerating the adsorbent by desorption of CO therefrom under a flow of regenerating gas, and, if said gas stream is said feed air, separating oxygen therefrom to produce said nitrogen product.

Abstract: A seal for an opening defined by a sidewall portion of the pressurizable tank. The tank contains desiccant for drying gases which pass through the desiccant. An elongate antenna extends from an interior portion to an exterior portion of the tank and is used for carrying microwave energy to the desiccant for regeneration of the desiccant. The seal has an insulator with an interior surface for receiving engagement with the antenna at the opening of the tank. In one embodiment, the interior surface of the insulator is tapered such that a distance between opposing portions of the insulator reduces as the insulator extends in a direction through the opening toward the exterior of the tank. The antenna has a cross sectional dimension which reduces in size as the antenna extends in the direction through the opening toward the exterior of the tank.

Abstract: A process for removing hydrogen sulfide from a gas stream wherein the filtering media consists essentially of calcined diatomite and between 5% and 30% by weight of ferric ions bonded to the calcined diatomite. This process is particularly efficient due to the fact that the removal of hydrogen sulfide from the gas stream is effected with a single pass adsorption performance of up to 45 mg of H2S per gram of filtering media. Other advantages include the fact that the process has the ability to remove H2S form a gaseous mixture, from a concentration of 30,000 ppm down to non-detectable levels in a single pass. Repeated in-situ regeneration of the filtering media has been proven to be a simple matter of blowing ambient air through the filtering media.

Abstract: A dehumidifier includes a circular rotor accommodating a humidity absorbing material, a disc member provided on each one of two circular end surfaces of the rotor and having a diameter identical to or greater than a diameter of the rotor, and a plurality of openings formed in the disc members, wherein the rotor rotates through a dehumidification zone and a recycle zone formed by a dividing plate disposed so as to project from each one of the disc members, the rotor circulating a first flow of air of relatively high humidity through the dehumidification zone so as to dehumidify and recycle the first flow of air, the rotor circulating a second flow of air of relatively low humidity through the recycle zone so as to dehumidify the humidity absorbing material. The openings in the disc members have an identical substantially fan shape and are disposed so as to radiate from a center of the disc member, thus exposing the humidity absorbing material accommodated therein.

Abstract: A drying material disposed in the passage of a compressed air system for removing moisture from air or gas includes a plurality of semi-rigid porous substrates impregnated with lithium chloride. The drying material is formed by preparing a saturated solution of lithium chloride and a nonflammable solvent. Porous substrata are contacted with the saturated solution to wet the substrata surface. The wet substrata are heated at a sufficient temperature for a sufficient duration to drive off excess liquid from the substrate. A desiccant comprising lithium chloride impregnated substrata is produced.

Abstract: In this process for purifying a gas by adsorption of a first impurity and of a second impurity, at least two main adsorbers (5A, 5B) and at least one auxiliary adsorber (6A, 6B) are used, the main adsorbers comprising a packing (8A, 8B, 9A, 9B) for adsorbing the first and second impurities. During at least a first step, the gas is purified by adsorbing the two impurities by passing through at least a first (5A, 5B) of the main adsorbers without passing through a first auxiliary adsorbers (6A, 6B), and simultaneously the second main adsorber (5A, 5B) and the or each auxiliary adsorbers (6A, 6B, 6) is regenerated in parallel, then, during a second step, at least some of the gas flow is purified by adsorption of the two impurities by passing in series through the first main adsorber (5A, 5B) and through the first auxiliary adsorber (6A, 6B). Application, for example, to the purification of air for the purpose of its distillation.

Abstract: It is an improvement of a package-type compressor that is used for the air compression, refrigerating and air conditioning The compressor is a double scroll compressor that a laps are formed on both sides of an end plate of orbiting scroll. A scroll compressor element is disposed above a motor and a dryer is disposed further above the scroll compressor element. A cooling fan is installed in the motor. A cooler that cools operation gas through the compressor element is disposed above the cooling fan. A partition plate defines a first flow passage for cooling the motor and the compressor element and a second flow passage for cooling the cooler. A first suction port sucking external air to the first and second flow passages is provided on a casing side wall locating in a direction extending from the motor shaft. A suction partitioning plate is attached to a casing sidewall opposite to the casing side wall having the first suction port. The second suction port is lower than the first suction port.

Abstract: Adsorption of carbon dioxide from gas streams at temperatures in the range of 300 to 500° C. is carried out with a solid adsorbent containing magnesium oxide, preferably promoted with an alkali metal carbonate or bicarbonate so that the atomic ratio of alkali metal to magnesium is in the range of 0.006 to 2.60. Preferred adsorbents are made from the precipitate formed on addition of alkali metal and carbonate ions to an aqueous solution of a magnesium salt. Atomic ratios of alkali metal to magnesium can be adjusted by washing the precipitate with water. Low surface area adsorbents can be made by dehydration and CO2 removal of magnesium hydroxycarbonate, with or without alkali metal promotion. The process is especially valuable in pressure swing adsorption operations.

Abstract: Substantially all of the carbon dioxide is removed from a gas containing up to about 1% by volume carbon dioxide by subjecting the gas to a pressure swing adsorption process using a two layer adsorption system, wherein the first layer contains activated alumina and the second layer is a zeolite or a combination of zeolites having a silicon to aluminum atomic ratio of at least 1.5. The process is particularly suitable for removing substantially all carbon dioxide and water vapor contained in air prior to subjecting the air to cryogenic distillation.

Abstract: Process and single-bed pressure swing adsorption system for separating gas mixtures, especially air. The process includes a simultaneous countercurrent product purge and partial product repressurization step which shortens cycle time and improves overall system operation.

Abstract: A process for controlling the atmosphere in a container including the steps of passing a pressurized portion of the atmosphere serially through a plurality of separate but inter-communicating adsorbent beds which selectively adsorb water vapor, ethylene, carbon dioxide and nitrogen from the compressed atmosphere, then isolating the ethylene-selective adsorbent and desorbing ethylene therefrom, then desorbing nitrogen from the nitrogen-selective adsorbent and purging the carbon dioxide-selective bed, the ethylene-selective bed and the water vapor-selective bed with the desorbed nitrogen, and returning the purge and purged gas mixture to the container.

Abstract: In an adsorptive alternating pressure process for the enrichment of air with oxygen using a molecular sieve zeolite in an adsorber, wherein adsorbed components are desorbed under a pressure below the pressure at which air separation and N.sub.2 adsorption is effected and, after desorption, the molecular sieve adsorber is at least partly returned to the air separation pressure with oxygen gas produced in countercurrent to the air separation gas flow, the improvement which comprises cooling product gas and covering the molecular sieve adsorber with the cooled product gas.

Abstract: A process for separating a feed gas stream containing elemental oxygen and nitrogen to produce a purified nitrogen gas stream by removing oxygen from the feed gas stream using an ion transport membrane to produce a retentate gas stream and a permeate gas stream, wherein the feed gas stream or the retentate gas stream is purified to remove impurities either before or after the separation step to produce the purified nitrogen gas stream.

Abstract: A process for removing nitrogen oxides, as well as water and carbon dioxide, from gas streams containing at least 0.2 ppm by volume of nitrogen oxides by passing the gas stream through an alumina adsorbent and a zeolite adsorbent, preferably 13X-zeolite. The process has utility in front end cleanup of air prior to cryogenic distillation of the air where nitrogen oxides would otherwise freeze under the cryogenic processing.

Abstract: An air prepurification process which includes, as a first step, a pressure swing adsorption process in which the air is passed through a bed of adsorbent which contains activated alumina, thereby effecting removal of substantially all moisture and most carbon dioxide from the feed air and as a second step, a temperature swing adsorption process in which the dried feed air is passed through a bed of carbon dioxide-selective adsorbent, thereby removing substantially all of the carbon dioxide remaining in the feed air. The feed air may be passed through beds of hydrogen oxidation and carbon monoxide oxidation catalysts between the first and second steps to convert any hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the feed air to water vapor and carbon dioxide, respectively, these components being removed from the feed air during the second step.

Abstract: A single-bed PSA system comprising a blower, an adsorber vessel, and a gas product storage tank separates a gas mixture using a three-step cycle comprising adsorption, evacuation, and pressurization. Pressurization is accomplished by introducing gas from the gas product storage tank into both the feed end and the product end of the adsorber vessel. Preferably a portion of the pressurization gas is introduced into the adsorber vessel by the blower, which also is used for providing feed to the adsorber and for withdrawing gas from the adsorber during the evacuation step.

Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption apparatus to vary selectively the concentration of at least one constituent of a gaseous mixture by sending a gaseous mixture into an adsorber to generate a particular product gas while delivering to another adsorber both a predetermined portion of the product gas to purge the other adsorber of its adsorbed gas and a selected amount of the product gas, independent of the flow rate and in addition to the predetermined portion, to produce a desired relative concentration of the constituents of the product gas from a range of relative concentrations.

Abstract: A process is set forth for the selective removal of water, CO.sub.2, ethane and C.sub.3 + hydrocarbons from gas streams, particularly a natural gas stream comprising primarily methane. The process comprises contacting the gas stream with an adsorbent material consisting exclusively of one or more compounds which are basic (i.e. compounds which, when contacted with a pH neutral aqueous solution, cause such solution to have a pH greater than 7.0) and which are mesoporous (i.e. compounds which have moderately small pores providing a surface area less than 500 m.sup.2 /g). The key to the present invention is the use of a single homogenous adsorbent without sacrificing performance. Typical mesoporous adsorbents which are useful in the present invention include zinc oxide, magnesium oxide and, in particular, activated alumina.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed showing a system for continuous purification of bulk source specialty gases to less than 10 part per billion levels. Corrosive and non-corrosive specialty gases are purified using this system. Depending on whether corrosive or non-corrosive gases are being purified and the contaminants of concern, the purification beds contain an absorber and/or getter. A dual bed system allows one bed to purify at ambient temperatures while a second bed undergoes regeneration, providing continuous purification for a bulk source specialty gas.

Abstract: An adsorption process and system for the selective adsorption of a more readily adsorbable component, such as nitrogen, as from air or other feed gas mixture is carried out using a composite adsorbent bed containing different adsorbent materials positioned in separate zones in which the temperature conditions favor adsorption performance of the particular adsorbent material under applicable processing conditions in each zone. A method for the selection of the adsorbent materials is based on Adsorption Figure of Merit values.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of natural gas that contains an odorant at a storage site is described, with this process including a storage phase and a draw-down phase which involve at least two adsorbers A and B and in which, during the storage phase, the odorant is extracted from the gas and, during the draw-down phase; the water and H.sub.2 S that are contained in the gas are extracted.

Abstract: Multiple thermal pulses are employed to regenerate segments of an adsorber bed simultaneously in thermal swing adsorption processes. The invention is particularly applicable to air purification as it helps to reduce purge flow and improve regeneration efficiency.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling the pressure in a fuel tank ullage. The apparatus includes a vapor pump which withdraws vapors from the tank ullage responsive to a signal generated by a pressure sensor in communication with the ullage. The vapors are directed to a canister containing a VOC-adsorbent material where the VOC content of the vapor is removed. Non-polluting VOC-free air is vented from the canister to the atmosphere. The invention also contemplates the provision of a second canister which would accept the tank ullage vapors after the material in a first canister becomes saturated. A portion of the VOC-free air exiting the first canister is used a purge gas to regenerate the saturated material in the first canister. The operation of the multiple canisters would alternate between adsorption and regeneration until the tank ullage pressure is reduced to below a threshold level.

Abstract: An adsorption process and system for the selective adsorption of a more readily adsorbable component, such as nitrogen, as from air or other feed gas mixture is carried out using a composite adsorbent bed containing different adsorbent materials positioned in separate zones in which the temperature conditions favor adsorption performance of the particular adsorbent material under applicable processing conditions in each zone. A method for the selection of the adsorbent materials is based on Adsorption Figure of Merit values.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon gas is separated from a gas mixture by concentration swing adsorption in a system consisting of a pair of adjacent adsorption beds that are contained in a cylindrical vessel and separated by a flat partition wall. The system is operated with the beds out of phase, such that one bed is in adsorption service while the other bed is regenerated by purging the bed with air. The pressure and temperature in the bed undergoing adsorption does not differ from the pressure and temperature, respectively in the bed being regenerated sufficiently to create significant stresses in the partition separating the beds.

Abstract: Pressure swing apparatus comprises at least three parallel beds of adsorbent operated on cycles of being on-line to adsorb contaminant from a feed gas stream under pressure, being depressurized, being regenerated by a purge gas, and being repressurised. Feed gas is transferred from a depres-surising bed to a repressurizing bed to reduce switch loss and repressurization is extended to occupy at least 50% of the cycle to smooth the feed gas output.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for separating gases, especially for removing water or from a gas such as air. This invention uses a short-cycle process which produces reduction in dewpoint (for dehydrating gas separation processes) or change in gas concentration (for non-dehydrating gas separation processes) at high pressure, and which includes adding a short burst of heat during the beginning of the reactivation cycle to boost desorption and complete it typically in about thirty minutes or less time. An easily desorbed desiccant (or other adsorbent material for non-dehydrating applications) and the short low-temperature burst of heat serve to reactivate a significant portion of the desiccant bed (or adsorbent bed), and the cooler purge fluid that follows cools that portion of the bed in preparation for the next drying (or adsorbing) cycle.

Abstract: A method for recovering argon and hydrogen simultaneously from a feed mixture comprising argon, hydrogen, methane, nitrogen, ammonia, and moisture by passing a two stage adsorption separation (PSA). The feed gas including 4-6% hydrogen is sent to the first stage PSA to obtain a product hydrogen during the first period of adsorption step, and to obtain an intermediate product of argon and hydrogen mixture during the next period of adsorption step. The adsorbed gases are evacuated and sent to fuel gas. The intermediate product argon and hydrogen mixture is sent to the second stage adsorption bed. The effluent of adsorption step is recovered as another product hydrogen. After the adsorption step, the second stage adsorber is undergone concurrent blowdown, pressure equalization, argon recovery, argon purge, desorption production of argon, pressure equalization, pressurization with product hydrogen. Through such cyclic operation of two-stage PSA, high purity argon and hydrogen are recovered simultaneously.

Abstract: A non-cryogenic system for producing ultra-pure nitrogen includes a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit for converting incoming ambient air into a process stream containing mainly nitrogen. The process stream is combined with hydrogen, in a reactor, to remove residual oxygen. The process stream is then cooled, and the cooled process stream is directed through a dryer. The output of the dryer is ultra-pure, dry nitrogen. The dryer contains at least two sections, one being the active section and the other section being regenerated. A portion of the output nitrogen leaving the active section is directed back into the section being regenerated, where it absorbs moisture, and is then recycled to the PSA unit. The result is an ultra-pure and dry product. The invention avoids the need for providing heat to the dryer, and also eliminates the need for many of the components used in prior art systems. The invention is economically operated even for small or medium-sized flow rates.

Abstract: Carbon dioxide is removed from gas streams comprised predominantly of gases that are less polar than carbon dioxide by passing the gas stream through a bed of type X zeolite having a silicon to aluminum atomic ratio not greater than about 1.15, thereby adsorbing the carbon dioxide from the gas stream. The process is particularly advantageous when applied to the removal of low levels of carbon dioxide from gas streams at temperatures above 20.degree. C.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for preferentially adsorbing carbon monoxide from a gas stream containing carbon monoxide in the presence of water and potentially ammonia while not adsorbing methane, hydrogen or carbon dioxide which may be present in the gas stream using an adsorbent of a supported cuprous compound situated downstream serially from a pretreatment adsorbent of 3A zeolite which protects the cuprous compound from water. An additional pretreatment layer of a basic metal compound to protect the acid-unstable 3A zeolite layer is also contemplated.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and process for separating oxygen from air by adsorption of at least nitrogen on multiple layers of air separation adsorbent in an adsorption bed wherein the multiple layers are Na X-zeolite followed by at least another layer of adsorbent selected from the group consisting of Ca X-zeolite, Li X-zeolite, Ca A-zeolite followed by Ca X-zeolite, Ca A-zeolite followed by Li X-zeolite, Ca X-zeolite followed by Li X-zeolite, Li X-zeolite followed by Ca X-zeolite and Mg A-zeolite followed by Ca X-zeolite.

Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process employs a simultaneous equalization and evacuation step followed by simultaneous feed and product gas repressurization steps, resulting in faster processing, and a reduction in power requirements, in the recovery of oxygen and argon from feed air.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for separating HF from organics by passing a mixture of HF and organics through a column or bed containing a polymer which sorbs the HF leaving an essentially pure organic stream. The HF may be recovered from the polymer, or the organics may be recovered with reduced HF concentration. The HF and organics may form an azeotropic or azeotrope-like mixture.

Abstract: The gas stream which emanates from landfills is treated to produce a purified gas which is essentially a hydrocarbon such as methane which can be used as the fuel source in a fuel cell power plant, or can be used in other power plants which use natural gas as a fuel. The landfill gas passes through a system which removes essentially all of the hydrogen sulfide; water; organic sulfur and halogen compounds; and solid contaminants from the gas stream. The resultant purified gas stream can be cleanly flared; used to power an energy plant; or put to other useful purposes.

Abstract: Air is purified by being passed in sequence through a first, lower, bed of activated alumina particles which adsorb water vapor preferentially therefrom, and a second, upper, bed of zeolite 13X molecular sieve particles which adsorb carbon dioxide preferentially therefrom. The air passes upwardly through the first bed and downwardly through the second bed. Once fully loaded with the adsorbent components, the beds and are regenerated by the passage therethrough of hot regeneration gas. one part of the regeneration gas flows downwardly through the first bed; another part flows upwardly through the second bed. The hot regeneration gas causes the previously adsorbed components to be desorbed. Once regeneration has ended, and the beds have returned their adsorbing temperature, they may be used again to purify air.

Abstract: A gas drying device (30) in which wet gas (31) is introduced into a chamber (36) containing desiccant (38) in which the desiccant (38) adsorbs moisture from the wet gas (31) to dry the wet gas (31) and in which energy is utilized to energize and to remove the moisture from the desiccant (38) to dry and to regenerate the desiccant (38) for reuse to dry wet gas (31) includes a microwave generator (52) and an antenna member (48) in communication with microwaves (50) generated by the microwave generator (52) in which at least a portion of the antenna (48) is disposed within the chamber (46).

Abstract: The removal of components from fluid mixtures in aircraft utilizes an adsorbent bed which is regenerated by passing dry ambient air through the adsorbent bed when the aircraft reaches a height at which such dry ambient air is available. An example of mixtures that can be treated in this way are water/oil mixtures, air/water vapor mixtures and air/odor mixtures. By periodically regenerating the adsorbent bed in this way, an adsorbent bed of small size can be used but yet have a substantial life.

Abstract: A device (10) for removing contaminants from truck air systems or the like includes an assembly including a desiccant canister (100), a carrier (46), and a bottom closure (28) vertically removable in a passage (14) of a collar (12) mounted to the truck. The carrier (46) includes a horizontal plate (48) which divides the passage (14) into a coalescing chamber having a horizontally orientated, tubular coalescing filter (98) extending vertically above and diametrically over the sump including an electrically actuated purge valve (42) of the bottom closure (28). Air is directed vertically downward from the filter (98) by vertical legs (62) extending down from the horizontal plate (48) and on opposite sides of the filter (98). A follower plate (118) is biased in the canister (100) against the desiccant beads (116) by a wave spring (140) sandwiched thereagainst by a slideable retainer (142) fixed in the side wall (104) of the canister (100).

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 with two cocurrent depressurizations, first to provide product and then 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 two stage pressure swing adsorption process is set forth for producing high purity oxygen from a feed air stream wherein carbon dioxide, water and preferably nitrogen are removed in the first stage and wherein an oxygen selective adsorbent is used to adsorb oxygen in the second stage. The oxygen product is recovered upon depressurization of the second stage. The high purity of the oxygen product is achieved by rinsing the oxygen selective adsorbent with oxygen prior to the depressurization step. A key to the present invention is that the effluent streams from the second stage feed and rinse steps are used to regenerate the first stage adsorbent(s) in a specific regeneration scheme.

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: Process for obtaining nitrogen from air or nitrogen-containing gases by pressure exchange adsorption and desorption on two alternately operated adsorbers filled with carbon molecular sieves, whereby air is passed through the adsorber so that the oxygen is adsorbed and enriched nitrogen is obtained, while at the same time the other adsorber is regenerated by pressure relief, whereby in a first carbon molecular sieve layer (on the air intake side) of the two adsorbers, making up 1/20 to 1/2 of the entire carbon molecular sieve layer, a carbon molecular sieve A is introduced which serves simultaneously for the adsorption of the residual humidity and gas separation, and that in a second (on the air-outlet side) carbon molecular sieve layer a carbon molecular sieve B is introduced serving exclusively for gas separation, and that the carbon molecular sieve A has a relative volume of 3.0 to 3.4 and the carbon molecular sieve B has a relative volume of 2.3 to 2.95.

Abstract: Separation process of gaseous impurities from hydrogen gas by the known pressure swing adsorption method uses a holding column of the feed-in/feed-out sequence retaining type and at least three adsorption columns containing adsorbents. Each adsorption column is pressurized and depressurized in cycle to repeat adsorption and desorption, during which the holding column is used as an intermediate gas reservoir so that the efficiency of the separation of the impurity can be improved. In this invention, at least one of the following structures is used as the holding column:j) at least one row of spaces divided by partition walls and arranged in series;k) at least one hollow body; andl) at least one row of divided compartments arranged in series.