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: A fluid filter arrangement including layered filter media capable of successively filtering varying sized particulate matter from a treated fluid stream with each layer of the layered filter media having a substantially equal terminal pressure drop thereacross.

Abstract: A process for separating a mixture of gases by selective adsorption, in which pressure swing is used to induce both desorption and the flow of gas through at least one simulated moving chromatographic column.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the separation of a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen into each of its constituents, including bringing the mixture to be separated, in an adsorption zone, into contact with a selective adsorbent for nitrogen, the adsorbent being an agglomerated zeolite exhibiting an Si/Al ratio lower than 5, a porosity of between 0.38 and 0.60 and a parameter a.sub.k of at least 0.5 s.sup.-1, the parameter a.sub.k characterizing the kinetics of adsorption of nitrogen on the adsorbent in the adsorption zone in accordance with the Linear Driving Force model, it being understood that when the adsorbent is a zeolite containing lithium its porosity can vary between 0.25 and 0.60.

Abstract: A membrane separation process for treating a gas stream containing methane and nitrogen, for example, natural gas. The separation process works by preferentially permeating methane and rejecting nitrogen. We have found that the process is able to meet natural gas pipeline specifications for nitrogen, with acceptably small methane loss, so long as the membrane can exhibit a methane/nitrogen selectivity of about 4, 5 or more. This selectivity can be achieved with some rubbery and super-glassy membranes at low temperatures. The process can also be used for separating ethylene from nitrogen.

Abstract: A cyclic process is provided for drying a compressed gas using at least two shell and tube adsorber heat exchangers each having a shell-side passage and a tube-side passage wherein the tubes have an interior surface which is uniformly coated with a solid adsorbent. In the operation of the process, a feed gas at ambient conditions is passed to the shell-side passage of the first adsorber to cool the adsorber and heat the feed gas stream to provide a first exchanged stream. The first exchanged stream is compressed and passed to the shell-side passage of another adsorber heat exchanger to provide a second exchanged stream. The second exchanged stream is returned to the tube-side passage of the first adsorber heat exchanger wherein the second exchanged stream is contacted with the adsorbent to adsorb moisture and thereby produce a dry compressed gas stream. A portion of the dry compressed gas stream is employed to purge the tube-side passage of other adsorber heat exchangers.

Abstract: A process for the production of hydrogen that purifies a synthesis gas stream, containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide and combustibles, in a PSA unit. The PSA unit produces at least three streams: a substantially pure hydrogen product stream, a combustible-rich first tail-gas stream, and a carbon dioxide-rich second tail gas stream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the purification and collection of hydrogen isotopes in a flowing inert gaseous mixture containing impurities, wherein metal alloy getters having the capability of sorbing non-hydrogen impurities such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, ammonia, nitrogen and water vapor are utilized to purify the gaseous mixture of impurities. After purification hydrogen isotopes may be more efficiently collected. A plurality of parallel process lines utilizing metal getter alloys can be used to provide for the continuous purification and collection of the hydrogen isotopes.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the shut-down of a membrane separation zone comprising a non-permeate side and a permeate side and processing a feed stream comprising a non-permeable component, a less-readily permeable, condensible component, and a readily permeable component. When the feed stream is not passed to the membrane separation zone, a purge stream is passed to the non-permeate side of the membrane separation zone to remove a residual gas stream and thereby prevent condensation of the less-readily permeable, condensible component upon depressurization and/or cooling of the membrane separation zone. The invention reduces the need for oversizing membrane system which reduces treating costs and prevents permeate damage to membrane surfaces caused by condensation of less-readily permeable, condensible components such as C.sub.6.sup.+ hydrocarbons.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing volatile organic compounds from an air stream wherein airborne adsorbent material is mixed with contaminated exhaust air in a vertical main column. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) within the exhaust air adhere to the adsorbent material and are thus removed from the air. The clean air exits the system and the saturated adsorbent material falls through the bottom of the main column and into a lower reservoir. The saturated adsorbent material is desorbed and recycled through the adsorber apparatus by being drawn up from the lower reservoir through a secondary column and deposited at the inlet to the main column. At the top end of the main column, the adsorbent material is once again dropped into the contaminated exhaust air flowing through the main column. This process is constant and adsorbent material is continuously being recycled through the system.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the dehumidification and VOC odor remediation of an air stream withdrawn from the passenger compartment of a transportation vehicle is disclosed which employs a continuously rotating wheel support and adsorbent selective for the adsorption of water and VOCs. The wheel is coated with a zeolite adsorbent selected from the low cerium rare earth exchanged zeolite Y-84, a rare earth exchanged zeolite LZ-210, a low cerium rare earth exchanged zeolite Y-64, and mixtures thereof. It was discovered that faujasites which have a zeolite structure including .beta.-cages within which are located tri-valent cations exhibit a Type 1M adsorption isotherm for water which provides a good driving force for adsorption at low partial pressures and a heat of adsorption which is slightly greater than the heat of vaporization/condensation of water.

Abstract: A moisture removal device for compressed gas lines and the like includes a connection head having a gas inlet and a gas outlet. An elongated housing having an internal cavity is attached to the connection head with the use of a clamp ring. The elongated tube and head are sealed to each other with the aid of O-rings preventing the escape of the compressed gases. Internal of the housing is a cartridge containing desiccant media for the removal of water vapor from a compressed gas. The cartridge is sealed and supported to the connection head with the use of a centrally threaded rod and O-rings located between the cartridge and the connection head. The external body of the desiccant cartridge is impermeable to gas and forces compressed gas from the inlet of the connection head to the bottom of the elongated housing.

Abstract: A filter element for an air cleaner including a sheet-like filter medium for purifying air when the air is transferred from one side to the other side of the filter medium, a frame member having a flange confining the filter medium and a side wall formed on the flange, and a fibrous mat having cushioning effect. The filter medium is folded in a sawtooth-shaped pattern and extends along a plane. The filter medium has a base contour contained in the plane and has a sawtooth-shaped peripheral edge section extending along a part of the base contour. The flange outwardly projects from the frame. The side wall is airtightly bonded to the sawtooth-shaped peripheral edge section of the filter medium. The mat continuously extends along the base contour and is fixedly bonded to a surface of the flange facing the other side of the filter medium.

Abstract: A particulate filter for a fluid stream being of preselected thickness with progressively increasing fibrous density from the upstream face toward the downstream face, the filter having a transversely and uniformly extending planar sheet-like adhesive barrier at a preselected location and quantity between the upstream and downstream faces thereof.

Abstract: Selective separation and recovery of gaseous components of hot waste gas of combustion containing carbon dioxide is attained by causing the hot waste gas to contact an adsorbent containing as a substantial main component thereof an inorganic solid substance exhibiting surface basicity and inducing adsorption of the gaseous components of the hot waste gas on the adsorbent and then selectively separating the adsorbed gaseous components by virtue of differences in retention time among the gaseous components on the adsorbent.

Abstract: An adsorption air filter has a self-supporting shaped structure of adsorber particles of regular or irregular form, which are joined to one another by binder particles also of regular or irregular form. The melting range of the binder particles is less than that of the adsorber particles, and the binder particles are smaller than the adsorber particles. The adsorber particles have an average size of 100 to 7000 .mu.m. The three-dimensional structure of the air filter has substantially repeating units of one adsorber particle and one binder particle, without the presence of agglomerates. The binder must not spread over the adsorber surface below 100.degree. C. In the production method, adsorber and binder particles are mixed with water and heated in a closed mold under pressure; the water is then driven off and the shaped element is allowed to cool.

Abstract: A composite gas filtration system for removal of toxic or harmful agents from a breathable gas supply, wherein a compressor fed pressure swing adsorption unit is placed upstream of an adsorbent carbon filter unit in a gas supply line, characterized in that a plenum chamber is positioned in the gas supply line with one or more inlet orifices supplied by gas treated by the pressure swing adsorption unit, one or more exit orifices leading to the carbon filter unit, and one or more further inlet orifices supplied by gas from upstream of the pressure swing adsorption unit, wherein a device for drawing or propelling breathable gas through the plenum chamber and carbon filter from the further inlet orifices in the event of shut down of the pressure swing adsorption unit and/or compressor is provided.

Abstract: A dehumidifier used to remove moisture from a sealed container by isolating a ventilation passage, which is provided in the sealed container, in a plurality of stages by water-vapor permeable waterproof films so that the interior of the ventilation passage has a gradient of density of vapor, and moves the vapor particles from the interior of the container toward the outside air. A structure provided with a cylindrical member fixed to a wall of a box and forming a ventilation passage allowing communication between the interior and exterior of the box, and a bottomed multiplex cylindrical ventilation member. The walls of the ventilation member are formed by first and second waterproof films having minute water-vapor permeable through holes. The bottomed cylindrical ventilation member being provided in the cylindrical member, whereby the ventilation passage is isolated in three stages from the inner portion of the container toward the outer portion thereof.

Abstract: An environmentally safe apparatus for reclaiming uncondensed hydrocarbons normally exhausted to the atmosphere from the still column of a glycol dehydrator system, and utilizing the uncondensed hydrocarbons as fuel in the burner of a reboiler fire-tube by natural draft of the fire-tube exhaust stack.

Abstract: A mixed gas consisting of carbon dioxide and nitrogen is separated into the component gases by a method which comprises treating sepiolite with nitric acid, subjecting the treated sepiolite to an ion-exchange treatment thereby exchanging the cationic metal present in the treated sepiolite with Mg ions, heating the sepiolite resulting from the ion-exchange treatment, and exposing the ultimately prepared sepiolite to the mixed gas.