Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

Tracey Ann Cook

Rakesh Agrawal

Timothy Christopher Golden

Jianguo Xu

Thomas Stephen Farris

Robin Joyce Maliszewskyj

David Lester Rarig

Kuo-Kuang Hsu

Michelle Schoonover

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.

Pressure swing adsorption process with reduced pressure equalization time

The present invention provides a pressure swing adsorption process. The process includes providing a pressure swing adsorption apparatus having a discharge end adsorption layer of activated carbon, feeding through the apparatus a feed gas including hydrogen, carbon monoxide and at least one of argon and oxygen, and collecting a product gas from the apparatus, wherein the product gas is high purity hydrogen. Also provided is a method for decreasing an amount of impurities in a product gas from a pressure swing adsorption process for separating hydrogen from impurities including carbon monoxide, and at least one of argon and oxygen. The method includes providing an improved adsorption layer in at least a discharge end of a pressure swing adsorption apparatus in which the pressure swing adsorption process is conducted, wherein the improved adsorption layer includes activated carbon in an amount effective to: (a) decrease the amount of impurities in the product gas; (b) increase a time until initial impurity breakthrough; and (c) improve hydrogen recovery of the process.

Use of activated carbon adsorbent in argon and/or oxygen controlling hydrogen PSA

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Blandon, PA, United States of America

Tracey Ann Cook