GB887293A - Method and apparatus for separation of components of a gaseous mixture - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0887293/III/1> <PICT:0887293/III/2> A gas mixture is continuously separated into two fractions by continuously moving an endless adsorbent packing (21, Fig. 4) in an unbroken path, introducing a purge gas into said packing (at point 24) releasing said purge gas at two points (25, 26) so located that the purge gas passes from one (25) to the other (26) in the opposite direction to the movement of the packing and introducing the gas mixture into said packing (at point 23) between said outlets and on the opposite side of the circuit to the purge gas inlet point, whereby the less strongly adsorbed fraction is recovered from the first mentioned purge outlet (25) and the more strongly adsorbed fraction at the second outlet (26). Preferably, a third outlet 27 is provided to remove purge gas passing through the adsorbent from inlet 24 in the same direction as the adsorbent. An apparatus for performing this process comprises (Fig. 3) a rotatable shaft 2 carrying a disc 1 having an annular chamber 3 for the adsorbent packing; the chamber is provided with a large number of holes 4 arranged in a staggered circular row, and a cover plate 6 located by means of studs 8 with a similar row of holes 22. A lower base plate 12 is provided with the inlets such as 23 and an upper cover plate 14 has outlets such as 26, 27. To seal holes 4, 22, bearing rings 13, 15 of suitable plastic material are provided. The assembly is clamped together by a number of bolts such as 16. If so desired, the holes 4 or 22 may be absent and the inlets and outlets provided on only one cover plate. The inlets and outlets may be equipped with throttle valves. The gas sample is preferably mixed with a carrier gas such as nitrogen; the adsorbent may be a gas adsorbtion material or a pervious material coated with a liquid.