Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing hydrogen of very high purity from a feed predominantly containing said hydrogen and a minor part of impurities mainly consisting of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane and heavier hydrocarbons. The purification method by hydrogen adsorption using a desorption stage at a lower pressure than the pressure of the feed, such as a PSA method for example, allows to produce the desorption stream and notably to recover the carbon dioxide under pressure and high-purity hydrogen, with a high yield. These performances are obtained by combining the successive stages of the method according to the invention with the use of a new family of adsorbent whose dynamic capacity at a high desorption pressure is greater than that of conventional adsorbents.

Abstract: A process for selectively separating hydrogen from at least one more strongly adsorbable component in a plurality of adsorption beds to produce a hydrogen-rich product gas from a low hydrogen concentration feed with a high recovery rate. Each of the plurality of adsorption beds subjected to a repetitive cycle. The process comprises an adsorption step for producing the hydrogen-rich product from a feed gas mixture comprising 5% to 50% hydrogen, at least two pressure equalization by void space gas withdrawal steps, a provide purge step resulting in a first pressure decrease, a blowdown step resulting in a second pressure decrease, a purge step, at least two pressure equalization by void space gas introduction steps, and a repressurization step. The second pressure decrease is at least 2 times greater than the first pressure decrease.

Abstract: An electronic controller (16) controls the operation of an electrochemical oxygen generating system (14) producing a desired gas. The product gas is fed to a storage unit (12) or a regulator (28) and pulsing valve (28) controlling the gas flow to a user. A two-stage system (180) combines a low pressure 100 and a high pressure (150) gas generating subsystems. The low pressure subsystem (100) uses IMAT's (106) to pump oxygen from ambient air to generate a low-pressure. The high pressure subsystem (150) uses IMAT's (160) to pump oxygen to high-pressure oxygen storage devices (194).

Abstract: Process step in a pressure swing adsorption process using multiple parallel adsorbent beds operating in cyclic process steps to recover a less strongly adsorbable component from a feed gas mixture containing at least one less strongly adsorbable component and at least one more strongly adsorbable component, wherein each adsorbent bed has a feed end and a product end, wherein each bed is subjected to at least a feed/product step, one or more depressurization steps, a purge step in which a purge gas enriched in the less strongly adsorbable component is introduced into the product end of the bed and a purge effluent gas is withdrawn from the feed end of the bed, and one or more repressurization steps. The process step comprises introducing at least a portion of the purge effluent gas from a first bed into the feed end of a second adsorbent bed at any time other than during the feed/product step in the second adsorbent bed.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to processes and systems for recovering helium from low helium-containing feed gases (i.e., containing less than about 10 volume % helium and more typically, less than about 5 % helium by volume). The present invention more particularly relates to processes and systems for recovering helium from low helium-containing feed gases using temperature swing adsorption (TSA) systems and multiple (e.g. two) stage vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA) systems. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the first stage VPSA system is configured to provide regeneration gas for the TSA system, and/or the VPSA second stage tail gas is recycled to the first stage VPSA system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a low-cost ozone production method and apparatus for carrying out ozone/oxygen separation using an ozone adsorbent, that re-uses the recovered oxygen as a feed for ozone production, and that desorbs and recovers the adsorbed ozone using dry air. In the method and apparatus, a gas containing an ozone and oxygen two-component gas supplied from an ozone generator is pressurized, introduced into an ozone adsorbent-packed adsorption column, and brought into contact with the adsorbent to adsorb the ozone to the adsorbent. Using dry air as a counterflow purge gas for the adsorbed ozone, the ozone is desorbed from the ozone adsorbent-packed adsorption column loaded with adsorbed ozone by depressurizing the adsorption column or air is introduced as a purge gas from the rear of the column into the adsorbent bed, whereby an ozone and air two-component gas is recovered.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA) processes and apparatus to recover carbon dioxide having a purity of approximately ?80 mole percent from streams containing at least carbon dioxide and hydrogen (e.g., syngas). The feed to the CO2 VPSA can be at super ambient pressure. The CO2 VPSA unit produces two streams, a H2-enriched stream and a CO2 product stream. The process cycle steps are selected such that there is minimal or no hydrogen losses from the process. The recovered CO2 can be further upgraded, sequestered or used in applications such as enhanced oil recovery (EOR).

Abstract: The present invention is a method for operating a rapid cycling pressure swing adsorption (RCPSA) having a cycle time, T, to separate a feed gas into a non-adsorbed gas and tail gas. The method includes the steps of passing the feed gas having a purity of F % at high pressure into a first end of a bed which selectively adsorbs the tail gas and passes the product gas out a second end of the bed for a time, F. The product gas has a purity, P %, and a rate of recovery of R %. Then the bed is cocurrently depressurized for a time, tCO, followed by countercurrently depressurizing the bed for a time, tCN. The bed is then purged for a time, tP, wherein desorbate (tail gas) is released at the first end of the bed at a pressure greater than 30 psig, Subsequently the bed is repressurized for a duration, tRP. R>80%, P/F?1.1 or R?90%, 0<P/F <1.1.

Abstract: An improved two stage pressure swing adsorption process for producing enriched oxygen and separating nitrogen or oxygen from a feed air stream. The process utilizes two-stage pressure swing adsorption plants which are serially connected. In the first stage, carbon dioxide, water and part of nitrogen are removed and nitrogen is concentrated. In the second stage nitrogen is further separated from the effluent intermediate gas from the adsorption step in the adsorption towers of the first stage and oxygen is concentrated to the desired concentration. In the first stage the adsorption towers go through the steps in turn in a cycle: Adsorption, Purge, evacuation, countercurrent pressure equalization rising of the second stage gas, purge gas pressurization, and final pressurization. In the second stage the adsorption towers go through the steps in turn in a cycle: Adsorption, countercurrent pressure equalization falling, and final pressurization.

Abstract: A rotary valve is disclosed having a rotor and stator that utilizes at least one compression spring to provide contact between the rotor and stator. The spring(s) is configured to oppose the pressure forces that urge the rotors and stators apart and reduce the amount of torque necessary to turn the rotors in the valve while preventing leakage from between the rotor and stator. The spring(s) may be positioned within the valve by a spring locating features.

Abstract: A process for selectively separating hydrogen from at least one more strongly adsorbable component in a plurality of adsorption beds to produce a hydrogen-rich product gas from a low hydrogen concentration feed with a high recovery rate. Each of the plurality of adsorption beds subjected to a repetitive cycle. The process comprises an adsorption step for producing the hydrogen-rich product from a feed gas mixture comprising 5% to 50% hydrogen, at least two pressure equalization by void space gas withdrawal steps, a provide purge step resulting in a first pressure decrease, a blowdown step resulting in a second pressure decrease, a purge step, at least two pressure equalization by void space gas introduction steps, and a repressurization step. The second pressure decrease is at least 2 times greater than the first pressure decrease.

Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption method for separating gas components includes pressurizing an adsorption bed to an adsorption pressure using a first gas component of a feed gas, the adsorption bed including an adsorbent for substantially adsorbing a second gas component of a feed gas; introducing the feed gas to the pressurized adsorption bed, wherein the first gas component of the feed gas substantially passes through the pressurized adsorption bed and the second gas component of the feed gas substantially adsorbs onto the adsorbent; and depressurizing the pressurized adsorption bed to recover at least a portion of the second gas component of the feed gas in the pressurized adsorption bed.

Abstract: Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) assemblies with purge control systems, and hydrogen-generation assemblies and/or fuel cell systems containing the same. The PSA assemblies are operated according to a PSA cycle to produce a product hydrogen stream and a byproduct stream from a mixed gas stream. The byproduct stream may be delivered as a fuel stream to a heating assembly, which may heat the hydrogen-producing region that produces the mixed gas stream. The PSA assemblies may be adapted to regulate the flow of purge gas utilized therein, such as according to a predetermined, non-constant profile. In some embodiments, the flow- of purge gas is regulated to maintain the flow rate and/or fuel value of the byproduct stream at or within a determined range of a threshold value, and/or to regulate the flow of purge gas to limit the concentration of carbon monoxide in a heated exhaust stream produced from the byproduct stream.

Abstract: Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) assemblies with temperature-based breakthrough detection systems, as well as to hydrogen-generation assemblies and/or fuel cell systems containing the same, and to methods of operating the same. The detection systems are adapted to detect a measured temperature associated with adsorbent in an adsorbent bed of a PSA assembly and to control the operation of at least the PSA assembly responsive at least in part thereto, such as responsive to the relationship between the measured temperature and at least one reference temperature. The reference temperature may include a stored value, a previously measured temperature and/or a temperature measured elsewhere in the PSA assembly. In some embodiments, the reference temperature is associated with adsorbent downstream from the adsorbent from which the measured temperature is detected.

Abstract: Method for the separation of a gas mixture comprising providing a pressure swing adsorption system having a plurality of adsorber vessels, wherein each vessel has an inlet, an outlet, and a bed of particulate adsorbent material disposed therein. The adsorbent material is selective for the adsorption of one or more components from the gas mixture, and each bed of adsorbent material is characterized by a bed depth and by an average particle diameter less than about 1.3 mm. A feed step is carried out during a feed time period wherein the gas mixture is introduced into the adsorber vessel, one or more components are selectively adsorbed from the gas mixture, and a product gas is withdrawn from the adsorber vessel. The bed depth in feet times the dimensionless ratio of the empty bed residence time to the feed time period is less than about 4.

Abstract: Pressure swing adsorption system comprising two or more vessels, each having a feed end, a product end, and adsorbent material adapted to adsorb one or more components from a multi-component feed gas mixture; piping adapted to (1) introduce the feed gas mixture into the feed ends, withdraw a product gas from the product ends, and withdraw a waste gas from the feed ends of the vessels, and (2) place the product ends of any pair of vessels in flow communication; a feed pipe adapted to supply the feed gas mixture to the system; a product pipe adapted to withdraw the product gas from the system; and a waste gas pipe adapted to withdraw the waste gas from the system. An indexed rotatable multi-port valve is adapted to place the product end of each vessel in sequential flow communication with the product end of each of the other vessels.

Abstract: A gas separation method is provided in which, when separating a first component and a second component from a mixed gas containing a plurality of components by using a pressure swing adsorption method, these components can be efficiently recovered and cost reduction can be achieved. Between an adsorption step and a regeneration process step, which use a first adsorption column containing a first adsorbent on which the first component is less readily adsorbable and the second component is absorbable, and a second adsorption column containing a second adsorbent on which the first component is readily adsorbable and the second component is less readily adsorbable, an equalization depressurization step and an equalization pressurization process step, in which the pressure of the first and second adsorption columns is equalized, is carried out.

Abstract: A three-bed pressure swing adsorption system providing a constant continuous supply gas, preferably containing a hydrogen component, in a multi-step and preferably in a twelve-step, process cycle that can produce a purified gas product, preferably hydrogen, on a constant flow.

Abstract: A valve assembly for use in a gas purification system having a plurality of vessels each having a first port opening and a second port opening. The gas purification system includes a first valve element having a first aperture to selectively connect a first port opening of a vessel to an outlet of the first valve element. The gas purification system also includes a second valve element having a second aperture to selectively connect a second port opening of a vessel to an input of the second valve element. Also provided are a motor adapted to rotate continuously and a converting mechanism that converts continuous movement of the motor into intermittent movement. The first and second valve elements are intermittently moved by the motor and the converting mechanism such that the intermittent movement changes the vessel connected to the second aperture and the vessel connected to the first aperture.

Abstract: Product gas (Gpro) is separated from material gas (Gmat) by a PSA process utilizing a plurality of adsorption towers (A-C) each loaded with an adsorbent. The separation of the product gas (Gpro) is performed by repeating a cycle comprising an adsorption step, a decompression step, a desorption step, a cleaning step and a pressurization step. In the decompression step, remaining gas (Grem) as cleaning gas is introduced from one adsorption tower (C) to another adsorption tower (B). The amount of the remaining gas (Grem) introduced is 2 to 7 times the volume of the adsorbent loaded in the adsorption tower (B) as converted into volume at common temperature and under atmospheric pressure. To remove both of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide from the material gas (Gmat) by a single kind of adsorbent, use is made of zeolite having a faujasite structure with a Si/Al ratio lying in a range of 1 to 1.5 and a lithium-exchange ratio of no less than 95%.

Abstract: A gas adsorption composite a high density adsorbent including a high density layer having a first density of at least 0.3 g/cc; and a low density adsorbent having a low density layer having a second density of less than 0.3 g/cc, wherein the high density adsorbent is in substantially contiguous contact with the low density adsorbent and each of the high density adsorbent and the low density adsorbent has an adsorbent surface area of at least 500 m2/g. A pressure swing adsorption process for recovering a product gas from a feed gas, the process including supplying a pressure swing adsorption apparatus including a gas adsorption composite, feeding a feed gas into the pressure swing adsorption apparatus during a feed period not exceeding 100 seconds and recovering the product gas from the pressure swing adsorption apparatus.

Abstract: Conducting a PSA process for the purification of gaseous hydrogen contaminated at least with CO and N2 of the H1 where the gas stream to be purified is passed through an adsorption region comprising at least one adsorbent based on zeolite 5A and one adsorbent based on zeolite X exchanged with calcium.

Abstract: CMS adsorbents having suitable indexes are used to improve greatly the performance of nitrogen-producing apparatuses where nitrogen is obtained from the air with a PSA method, so as to improve the efficiency of nitrogen production. A nitrogen PSA apparatus is formed with two adsorbing columns where an adsorption step and a regeneration step are performed alternatively and periodically. The adsorption step is for adsorbing oxygen and conducting nitrogen to a product tank with the supply of compressed air from an air compressor, and the regeneration step for releasing the adsorbed gas after the adsorption step. The adsorbing columns are filled with a carbon molecular sieve (CMS) that selectively adsorbs oxygen as an adsorbent. The CMS adsorbs an oxygen/nitrogen amount of 50% of the saturated adsorption amount with a period TO/TN starting from oxygen/nitrogen supply, wherein TO is 5˜10 seconds and TN is larger than TO by more than 41 times.

Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process for recovering a less readily adsorbable component from a feed gas mixture comprising at least one less readily adsorbable component and at least one more readily adsorbable component. The process utilizes a plurality of adsorbent beds, each bed having a feed end and product end, wherein the process includes the gas transfer steps of (1) transferring gas from the product end of the bed to the product end of another bed; followed by (2) withdrawing waste depressurization gas from the feed end of the bed while continuing to transfer gas from the product end of the bed to the product end of another bed; (3) during either or both of (1) and (2), transferring gas from the feed end of the bed to the feed end or ends of the one or more other beds; and (4) prior to (1), transferring gas from the product end of the bed at a higher pressure to the product end of another bed at a lower pressure.

Abstract: In a process for the production of a polyolefin, an olefin monomer is polymerised said polyolefin and residual monomer is recovered. A gas stream comprising the monomer and nitrogen is subjected to a PSA process in which said monomer is adsorbed on a periodically regenerated silica gel or alumina adsorbent to recover a purified gas stream containing said olefin and a nitrogen rich stream containing no less than 99% nitrogen and containing no less than 50% of the nitrogen content of the gas feed to the PSA process.

Abstract: A process is provided for recovering oxygen-rich gas by enriching gaseous oxygen contained in crude gas by a single-tank PSA process which utilizes a single adsorption tower loaded with an adsorbent. A cycle is repeated including introducing crude gas into the adsorption tower, desorbing unnecessary components from the adsorbent, introducing washing gas into the adsorption tower for discharging the remaining gas from the adsorption tower, and raising the internal pressure of the adsorption tower. The desorbing includes recovering semi-enriched oxygen gas existing in the adsorption tower after finishing of the adsorption for retention in a recovery tank. The introduction of washing gas includes introducing part of the semi-enriched oxygen gas existing in the recovery tank into the adsorption tower as the washing gas. Raising the internal pressure includes introducing the rest of the semi-enriched oxygen gas retained in the recovery tank into the adsorption tower.

Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process which comprises introducing a feed gas mixture into an inlet of an adsorber vessel during a feed period, wherein the feed gas mixture contains a more strongly adsorbable component and a less strongly adsorbable component and the adsorber vessel contains a bed of adsorbent material which selectively adsorbs the more strongly adsorbable component, and withdrawing a product gas enriched in the less strongly adsorbable component from an outlet of the adsorber vessel during at least a portion of the feed period, wherein a dimensionless cycle-compensated mass transfer coefficient defined as K tfeedVads/Vfeed is maintained in the range of about 23 to about 250.

Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process wherein a constant flow of feed gas and product gas is maintained to and from a pressure swing adsorption installation. A part of repressurization is carried out by a product gas split-off, in three stages, with an additional pressure equilibration step between two adsorbers during the second of the three stages, thereby cyclically fluctuating one of the number of adsorbers receiving feed gas during some period. In addition, either combined herewith or not, in case of the use of a higher purge gas pressure, is the return to a regenerated adsorber of a least impure part of the offgas, driven by its initially higher pressure. The result is an increased product recovery efficiency and an improved flexibility of functioning of the installation.

Abstract: A method for the separation of a gas mixture comprises (a) obtaining a feed gas mixture comprising nitrogen and at least one hydrocarbon having two to six carbon atoms; (b) introducing the feed gas mixture at a temperature of about 60° F. to about 105° F. into an adsorbent bed containing adsorbent material which selectively adsorbs the hydrocarbon, and withdrawing from the adsorbent bed an effluent gas enriched in nitrogen; (c) discontinuing the flow of the feed gas mixture into the adsorbent bed and depressurizing the adsorbent bed by withdrawing depressurization gas therefrom; (d) purging the adsorbent bed by introducing a purge gas into the bed and withdrawing therefrom an effluent gas comprising the hydrocarbon, wherein the purge gas contains nitrogen at a concentration higher than that of the nitrogen in the feed gas mixture; (e) pressurizing the adsorbent bed by introducing pressurization gas into the bed; and (f) repeating (b) through (e) in a cyclic manner.

Abstract: A rapid pressure swing adsorption (RPSA) process includes the use of an adsorbent fabric. The fabric can be self-supporting, have an average pore diameter greater than 5 Å and/or have a carbon dioxide mass transfer coefficient of at least 0.5 sec−1. Activated carbon cloths can be suitable for use as the adsorbent fabric. The process can be used to prepare high purity hydrogen and other products. Systems including the adsorbent fabric outperform systems lacking such fabrics in RPSA applications.

Abstract: A method to reduce the cycle time in a pressure swing adsorption process by reducing the required pressure equalization time in a cycle, thereby reducing the overall cycle time and increasing product recovery per unit of adsorbent used. This reduces the amount of adsorbent required in the beds for a given feed rate while continuing to provide product at an acceptable product purity, and has the desirable effect of reducing the capital cost of the process equipment required for a given volumetric production rate.

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 adsorption process for recovery of a more readily adsorbable component, such as nitrogen, and a larger amount of a less readily adsorbable component, such as oxygen, from a feed gas mixture, such as air, wherein the ratio of nitrogen to oxygen is less than about 3:1 and the ratio of the co-purge:feed gas of the process is maintained at less than about 1.15:1.

Abstract: This invention provides a two bed pressure swing adsorption process for recovering a primary gaseous component at a purity of over 99% from a feed gas comprising the primary component and one or more impurities.

Abstract: An improved pressure swing adsorption process and system for producing a high recovery of a highly purified product gas, such as argon, from a feed gas stream containing the product gas and impurity gases employs first and second adsorption stages with beds for adsorbing impurity gases. The system and process provides for sequential steps of: feed pressurization; simultaneous feed pressurization and product pressurization; adsorption; adsorption and purge; adsorption in the absence of purge; pressure equalization between beds; evacuation and depressurization of adsorbent bed; evacuation with product purge; evacuation without purge; and pressure equalization between beds.

Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process includes providing a pressure swing adsorption apparatus having six beds, and equalizing a pressure of each of the six beds in four steps, wherein at all times during the process, at least one of the six beds is providing offgas. The process is particularly suitable for purifying hydrogen from a feed gas mixture containing hydrogen and at least one of methane, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen and water vapor.

Abstract: A single bed pressure swing adsorption process with at least one transfer tank is utilized to separate less adsorbable components from more adsorbable components such as the separation of oxygen from air. Depressurization gas is collected in the transfer tank and is used later exclusively for purging the bed during the regeneration period.

Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process including an adsorption apparatus having a plurality of beds and counter-currently purging at least two of the beds simultaneously throughout the process. The number of beds and number of pressure equalization steps are not particularly limited, but a ten-bed, four pressure equalization step process in advantageous. In addition, other ten-bed, four pressure equalization step processes are disclosed which do not counter-currently purge at least two of the beds simultaneously, but which have an average of at least two of the ten beds being simultaneously regenerated by simultaneously providing off-gas from a feed end of each of the beds to an off-gas line.

Abstract: A repressurization phase of an adsorber comprises a step of first countercurrent repressurization with at least gas from a first co-current decompression of another adsorber, this phase ending in a step of co-current production. Immediately following the first countercurrent repressurization step, air is introduced co-current into the adsorber.

Abstract: The invention maintains a nearly constant cycle pressure ratio along with a balancing of the adsorbent vessel effluents in a pressure swing adsorption process. The invention monitors cycle pressure ratio and subsequently alters the cycle step times and flows to sustain its value, thereby maximizing plant performance and avoiding unnecessary shutdowns. Maintaining a nearly constant pressure ratio assures that the plant production is optimized and that power consumption is minimized. The balancing of the adsorbent vessel effluents, using the corresponding waste purities, is used to further improve plant production.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a process is provided which overcomes historical limitations to the capacity of PSA units for a wide variety of gas separations. Capacities in excess of about 110 thousand normal cubic meters per hour (100 million standard cubic feet per day) can now be achieved in a single integrated process train. The corresponding significant equipment reduction results from a departure from the accepted principle in the PSA arts that the length of the purge step must be equal to or less than the length of the adsorption step.

Abstract: The cycle employed is of the transatmospheric type with the use of a production buffer tank (C1), and with a purge/elution phase close to the low pressure in which gas output by another adsorber in the first cocurrent decompression phase is introduced in countercurrent into the adsorber (A, B) and, simultaneously, the countercurrent pumping is continued. During the production step, the oxygen produced is also sent into an auxiliary tank (C2), and the gas contained in this auxiliary tank is, with regard to the adsorber, used solely during a fraction of the pressurization phase of the adsorber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a pressure swing adsorption process is disclosed that may utilize only a single adsorption stage yet still produce a continuous stream of a concentrated fluid.

Abstract: A high pressure purge is incorporated into the cycle of a PSA process designed for the recovery of strongly adsorbed product gas from a gas mixture. The high pressure purge stream is obtained by compressing the low pressure cocurrent purge step that precedes the countercurrent depressurization or evacuation step. The high pressure purge step is included in the cycle following the adsorption step of the process.

Abstract: A feedstream comprising nitrous oxide is purified by a pressure swing adsorption process employing a copurge with an oxygen-lean stream to produce a high purity nitrous oxide stream. The high purity nitrous oxide stream can be incorporated in a complex for the production of adipic acid to recover nitrous oxide from a dilute waste stream and pass the recovered nitrous oxide to a process for the production of phenol from an aromatic hydrocarbon. Unreacted nitrous oxide from the phenol production step acid can be recovered in a second, or vent PSA step, and combined with the recovery of byproduct nitrous oxide waste streams from the production of adipic for the overall recovery of nitrous oxide, thereby significantly reducing nitrous oxide emissions from the production of adipic acid.

Abstract: Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) separation of a gas mixture is performed in an apparatus with a plurality of adsorbent beds. The invention provides rotary multiport distributor valves to control the timing sequence of the PSA cycle steps between the beds, with flow controls cooperating with the rotary distributor valves to control the volume rates of gas flows to and from the adsorbent beds in blowdown, purge, equalization and repressurization steps.

Abstract: High purity strongly adsorbed gas, e. g., carbon monoxide, is separated from a gas mixture containing one or more other gas components, e. g., hydrogen carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen and possibly other impurities, by a two-phase pressure swing adsorption process carried out in one or more adsorption vessels arranged in parallel and containing adsorbent which adsorbs the strongly adsorbed gas more readily than the other components of the gas mixture. The process includes two evacuation steps and two or more purge steps.

Abstract: This process comprises at least one stage of first decompression/first recompression by balancing the pressures between two adsorbers (2A to 2D) as well as the taking off of a constant product gas rate during the adsorption phase. In the course of the first decompression, the product gas taken off is passed to an auxiliary capacity (6) which is arranged in parallel to the product line (1) and can be connected to the product outlet side of each adsorber (2A to 2D). During the second recompression stage, the adsorber receives the product gas taken off in countercurrent and is at the same time put into communication with the auxiliary capacity. The process is useful in the production of hydrogen from a constant rate of a feed gas mixture.

Abstract: Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) separation of a gas mixture is performed in an apparatus with a plurality of adsorbent beds. The invention provides rotary multiport distributor valves to control the timing sequence of the PSA cycle steps between the beds, with flow controls cooperating with the rotary distributor valves to control the volume rates of gas flows to and from the adsorbent beds in blowdown, purge, equalization and repressurization steps.

Abstract: Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) separation of a gas mixture is performed in an apparatus with a plurality of adsorbent beds. The invention provides rotary multiport distributor valves to control the timing sequence of the PSA cycle steps between the beds, with flow controls cooperating with the rotary distributor valves to control the volume rates of gas flows to and from the adsorbent beds in blowdown, purge, equalization and repressurization steps.