JP2016055213A - Gas separator for pressure fluctuation adsorption under vacuum and gas separation method for pressure fluctuation adsorption under vacuum - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To separate a predetermined substance out of a gas mixture efficiently at a low cost.SOLUTION: A gas separator 100 for performing pressure fluctuation adsorption under vacuum includes: a gas mixture supply channel (supply pipe 130); an adsorption tower 110; an adsorbent 120 provided in the adsorption tower 110 to adsorb an adsorption objective material; a pump 140 arranged downstream of the adsorption tower in a direction of gas mixture passage to suck the interior of the adsorption tower; and control means 170, which performs adsorption treatment for supplying a gas mixture into the adsorption tower to make the absorbent adsorb the adsorption objective material by making the supply channel communicate to suck the interior of the adsorption tower with the pump, and for discharging a separation gas, obtained by clearing the gas mixture of the adsorption objective material, out of the adsorption tower, and performs desorption treatment for desorbing the adsorption objective material from the absorbent by interrupting the supply channel to suck the interior of the adsorption tower with the pump, and for discharging an adsorption gas, obtained by the desorption, out of the adsorption tower.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas separation apparatus and a gas separation method for separating a predetermined substance from a mixed gas.

  As a technique for separating a predetermined substance (gas) from a mixed gas, a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) method is known. The PSA method is a gas separation method that utilizes the fact that the amount of a substance adsorbed on an adsorbent varies depending on the type of substance and the partial pressure of each substance (gas). In the PSA method, a mixed gas is supplied to an adsorption tower filled with an adsorbent, a predetermined substance contained in the mixed gas is selectively adsorbed on the adsorbent (adsorption process), and after the predetermined substance is adsorbed The predetermined substance is separated from the mixed gas by applying a pressure difference in the process of desorbing the predetermined substance from the adsorbent (desorption process).

  Conventionally, in a gas separation apparatus using the PSA method, a blower that pressurizes a mixed gas and supplies it to an adsorption tower and a vacuum pump that sucks a predetermined substance from the adsorption tower are provided, and the blower is driven in the adsorption process. Then, the vacuum pump is driven in the desorption process. However, since the conventional gas separation device requires both a blower and a vacuum pump, there is a problem that the volume of the device itself is large and the installation location is limited, or the maintenance cost of the blower and the vacuum pump is increased. there were.

  Therefore, one unit that functions to pressurize air as a mixed gas and supply it to the adsorption tower (pressurization function) and to function to depressurize the adsorption tower and suck nitrogen adsorbed on the adsorbent (decompression function). A gas separation device has been developed in which an air pump is provided upstream of the adsorption tower in the air flow direction, and the air pump is driven to perform adsorption treatment and desorption treatment (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-11-90155

  In the gas separation device of Patent Document 1, the adsorption process and the desorption process are performed by a single air pump, so that the volume of the apparatus itself can be reduced as compared to a conventional gas separation apparatus, There is an advantage that the maintenance cost can be reduced.

  However, since such an air pump has both a pressurizing function and a decompressing function, it is necessary to prevent gas leakage from the inside of the air pump and air inflow from the outside to the inside of the air pump. The seal structure becomes complicated. Therefore, there is a problem that the air pump itself is expensive.

  In view of such problems, the present invention provides a gas separation device that performs pressure fluctuation adsorption under vacuum and that can separate a predetermined substance from a mixed gas efficiently at low cost, and pressure fluctuation under vacuum. It aims at providing the gas separation method which performs adsorption | suction.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a gas separation apparatus that performs pressure fluctuation adsorption under vacuum according to the present invention includes a supply channel through which a mixed gas containing a plurality of substances flows, and the mixed gas is introduced from the supply channel. An adsorbing tower, an adsorbent that is provided in the adsorbing tower and adsorbs an object to be adsorbed as a predetermined substance contained in the mixed gas when in contact with the mixed gas, and the mixed gas more than the adsorbing tower. A pump that is arranged downstream in the flow direction and that sucks the inside of the adsorption tower and the supply flow path are communicated, and the inside of the adsorption tower is sucked by the pump, whereby the mixed gas is sucked into the adsorption tower. The adsorbent is adsorbed by the adsorbent, and the separation gas from which the adsorbate has been removed from the mixed gas is discharged from the adsorption tower, and the supply flow path is shut off. The suction tower is sucked by the pump And a control means for performing a desorption process for desorbing the adsorbed material from the adsorbent and exhausting the adsorbed gas obtained by the desorption from the adsorption tower. .

  Further, the pump of the present invention is connected to a separation gas flow path through which the separation gas flows and an adsorption gas flow path through which the adsorption gas flows. When the flow path is communicated and the adsorption gas flow path is blocked and the desorption process is performed, the separation gas flow path may be blocked and the adsorption gas flow path may be communicated.

  Further, the adsorbent of the present invention is a temperature at which the adsorbent is adsorbed when being in contact with the mixed gas at a temperature higher or lower than normal temperature, and the adsorbent is held at a temperature for adsorbing the adsorbent. The holding means is disposed both upstream and downstream of the adsorbent in the flow direction of the mixed gas, and the mixed gas, the separated gas, and the adsorbed gas are circulated, and the separated gas And the heat of either or both of the adsorbed gas is stored and transferred to the mixed gas, or the heat of the mixed gas is stored and either or both of the separated gas and the adsorbed gas are stored. It is good also as providing the thermal storage body which heat-transfers to.

  Further, the supply flow path of the present invention is connected to both one end and the other end of the adsorption tower, the pump is connected to both one end and the other end of the adsorption tower, and the control means includes the mixing unit The gas supply direction, the separation gas discharge direction, and the adsorption gas discharge direction may be controlled.

  Further, in the gas separation device that performs pressure fluctuation adsorption under vacuum according to the present invention, the separation gas and the adsorption gas have different capacities, and the control means repeats the processing steps including the adsorption treatment and the desorption treatment. And in the adsorption process or desorption process of one treatment process, from one end side and the other end side of the adsorption tower from a side different from the side from which a large volume of gas was discharged in the adsorption process or desorption process of the previous treatment process The gas having a large volume may be discharged, and the mixed gas may be supplied from the side where the gas having a large volume is discharged in the adsorption process or the desorption process of the previous process process in the adsorption process of one process process.

  The adsorbent of the present invention may adsorb a substance by chemical adsorption.

  In order to solve the above problems, a gas separation method for pressure fluctuation adsorption under vacuum according to the present invention is provided in an adsorption tower in which the mixed gas is led from a supply channel through which a mixed gas containing a plurality of substances flows. In this gas separation method, pressure fluctuation adsorption is performed under vacuum in which the adsorbent is adsorbed to the adsorbent by adsorbing the adsorbent, which is a predetermined substance contained in the mixed gas, by bringing the mixed gas into contact with the adsorbent. Then, the mixed gas is sucked into the adsorption tower by suctioning the inside of the adsorption tower with a pump arranged in the downstream of the mixed gas in the flow direction of the mixed gas through the supply channel. Supplying and adsorbing the adsorbent to the adsorbent, and performing an adsorption process for discharging the separation gas from which the adsorbed substance has been removed from the mixed gas from the adsorption tower; and blocking the supply flow path And the inside of the adsorption tower by the pump And desorbing the adsorbent from the adsorbent, and performing a desorption process of discharging the adsorbed gas obtained by the desorption from the adsorption tower. .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently separate a predetermined substance from a mixed gas at low cost.

It is a figure explaining the gas separation apparatus concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the flow of a process of the gas separation method concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the opening-and-closing state of the valve | bulb in adsorption processing and desorption processing. It is a figure explaining the gas separation apparatus concerning a 2nd embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the flow of a process of the gas separation method concerning 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the opening-and-closing state of the valve | bulb in a 1st adsorption | suction process and a 1st desorption process. It is a figure for demonstrating the opening-and-closing state of the valve | bulb in a 2nd adsorption | suction process and a 2nd desorption process.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values shown in the embodiments are merely examples for facilitating the understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In the present specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not illustrated. To do.

In the following embodiments, a gas separation device that separates a predetermined substance (gas) from a mixed gas containing a plurality of substances and performs pressure fluctuation adsorption under vacuum using the PSA method (hereinafter simply referred to as “gas separation apparatus”). And a gas separation method that performs pressure fluctuation adsorption under vacuum (hereinafter simply referred to as “gas separation method”). Here, air will be described as an example of a mixed gas, and a configuration in which nitrogen (N ₂ ) and oxygen (O ₂ ) are separated from air will be described as an example.

(First embodiment: gas separation device 100)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a gas separation device 100 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the gas separation device 100 includes a cylindrical (for example, cylindrical) adsorption tower 110. In the adsorption tower 110, an adsorbent 120 (indicated by cross hatching in FIG. 1) is provided (filled). When the adsorbent 120 comes into contact with air under a predetermined pressure and temperature environment, the adsorbent 120 adsorbs oxygen (an object to be adsorbed) contained in the air (mixed gas) and separates oxygen from the air.

Adsorbent 120 is, for example, a perovskite oxide represented by the structural formula _{A 1-x B x C 1} -y D y O 3-z. Here, A is a lanthanoid element or an alkaline earth metal element, B is an element dopant in the group of a lanthanoid element, an alkaline earth metal element, and an alkali metal element, and C is titanium (Ti) or vanadium. (V), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn) is one or a plurality of elements, and D is titanium 1 selected from the group consisting of (Ti), vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) Alternatively, it is a plurality of elements and an element different from C. Specifically, the adsorbent 120 is, for _{example, La 1-x Sr x Co} 1-y Fe y O 3-z (La: Sr: Co: Fe = 1: 9: 9: 1) is.

  The perovskite oxide selectively adsorbs oxygen (chemical adsorption) at a predetermined temperature (for example, 250 ° C. to 900 ° C.). Accordingly, by using a perovskite oxide as the adsorbent 120, oxygen can be selectively adsorbed from the air. Further, the perovskite oxide can easily perform adsorption and desorption of oxygen (the substance adsorbed is separated from the interface) by changing the pressure at 250 ° C. to 900 ° C.

  Further, inside the adsorption tower 110, a heating unit (temperature holding means) 112 for heating the adsorbent 120 to a temperature for adsorbing oxygen is provided. In this embodiment, since the perovskite oxide is used as the adsorbent 120, the heating unit 112 heats the adsorbent 120 to 250 ° C to 900 ° C. The heating unit 112 includes, for example, an electric heater, a gas combustion heater, or a unit that supplies exhaust heat of a plant in which the gas separation device 100 is installed.

  Further, a heat insulating material (temperature maintaining means) 114 is disposed on the outer wall of the adsorption tower 110 to suppress heat radiation from the adsorption tower 110 to the outside. Therefore, the adsorbent 120 is held at a temperature (250 ° C. to 900 ° C.) at which oxygen is adsorbed by the temperature holding means (the heating unit 112 and the heat insulating material 114).

  The adsorption tower 110 is provided with a supply port 116 for supplying air into the adsorption tower 110, and one end of a supply pipe (supply channel) 130 through which air flows is connected to the supply port 116. Yes. In the present embodiment, the opening at the other end of the supply pipe 130 is open to the atmosphere. That is, it can be said that the supply pipe 130 is a pipe that connects the supply source of the mixed gas and the supply port 116. Further, the supply pipe 130 is provided with a valve 132 for opening and closing the supply pipe 130.

  The pump 140 has an inlet connected to a discharge port 118 provided in the adsorption tower 110 via a first discharge pipe 142, and sucks the inside of the adsorption tower 110. A nitrogen storage tank 152 is connected to the outlet of the pump 140 via a second discharge pipe 144, a branch unit 146, and a separation pipe 150 (separation gas flow path), and the second discharge pipe 144 and the branch unit are connected. 146, an oxygen storage tank 162 is connected via an adsorption pipe 160 (adsorption gas flow path). The separation pipe 150 is provided with a valve 154 for opening and closing the separation pipe 150, and the adsorption pipe 160 is provided with a valve 164 for opening and closing the adsorption pipe 160.

  The control means 170 is composed of a semiconductor integrated circuit including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), reads out programs and parameters for operating the CPU itself from the ROM, and cooperates with the RAM as a work area and other electronic circuits. Thus, the entire gas separation device 100 is managed and controlled. In the present embodiment, the control unit 170 controls the driving of the pump 140 and controls the opening and closing of the valves 132, 154 and 164.

(Gas separation method)
Next, a gas separation method using the gas separation device 100 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of the process of the gas separation method according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the open / closed state of the valve in the adsorption process and the desorption process.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the gas separation device 100 repeatedly performs processing steps including an adsorption process and a desorption process. Note that the valves 132, 154, and 164 are closed before the operation is started, and the control unit 170 starts driving the pump 140 when the operation of the gas separation device 100 is started. In addition, when a stop instruction is input, the control unit 170 stops the pump 140 and closes the valves 132, 154, and 164.

(Adsorption processing: Step S210)
The control means 170 opens the valves 132 and 154 and closes the valve 164. Then, as shown in FIG. 3A, the supply pipe 130 is communicated to supply air into the adsorption tower 110, and the supplied air reaches (through) the adsorption tower 110 and reaches the pump 140. Will be. Thus, an adsorption process is performed in which air is supplied into the adsorption tower 110 to adsorb oxygen to the adsorbent 120 and a nitrogen-enriched gas (separated gas) from which oxygen has been removed from the air is discharged from the adsorption tower 110. Will be.

  Further, the control means 170 opens the valve 154 and closes the valve 164. That is, since the separation pipe 150 is communicated and the adsorption pipe 160 is shut off, the nitrogen-enriched gas discharged from the adsorption tower 110 flows through the separation pipe 150 and is sent to the nitrogen storage tank 152. Become.

(Step S212)
The controller 170 determines whether or not a predetermined adsorption time Tq has elapsed since the start of the adsorption processing step S210, and keeps the valves 132 and 154 until the adsorption time Tq has elapsed (NO in step S212). When the valve 164 is kept closed and the adsorption time Tq has elapsed (YES in step S212), the process proceeds to step S214. The adsorption time Tq is set in advance according to the volume of the adsorption tower 110, the type and size of the adsorbent 120, the oxygen concentration in the air, and the capacity of the pump 140.

(Desorption process: Step S214)
The control means 170 closes the valves 132 and 154 and opens the valve 164. Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, the supply pipe 130 is shut off, and the inside of the adsorption tower 110 is sucked by the pump 140 (the inside of the adsorption tower 110 becomes negative pressure). Thereby, while desorbing oxygen from the adsorbent 120, the desorption process by which the oxygen-enriched gas (adsorbed gas) obtained by desorption is discharged | emitted from the inside of the adsorption tower 110 will be performed.

  Further, the control means 170 closes the valve 154 and opens the valve 164. That is, since the separation pipe 150 is shut off and the adsorption pipe 160 is communicated, the oxygen-enriched gas discharged from the adsorption tower 110 flows through the adsorption pipe 160 and is sent to the oxygen storage tank 162. Become.

(Step S216)
The control means 170 determines whether or not a predetermined desorption time Td has elapsed since the start of the desorption processing step S214, and controls the valves 132 and 154 until the desorption time Td elapses (NO in step S216). When the valve 164 is kept open and the desorption time Td has elapsed (YES in step S216), the process proceeds to the adsorption processing step S210. The desorption time Td is set in advance according to the capacity of the adsorption tower 110, the type and size of the adsorbent 120, and the capacity of the pump 140.

  As described above, according to the gas separation device 100 and the gas separation method using the same according to the present embodiment, the adsorption process and the desorption process can be executed by one pump 140. Compared with a gas separation apparatus provided with a blower and a vacuum pump for desorption treatment, the volume of the gas separation apparatus 100 itself can be reduced, and the maintenance cost can be reduced.

  Further, in the gas separation device 100 according to this embodiment, the inside of the adsorption tower 110 and the inside of the pump 140 is maintained at negative pressure or atmospheric pressure by the configuration in which the pump 140 is arranged downstream of the adsorption tower 110 in the air flow direction. can do. For this reason, unlike the air pump that is provided in the conventional gas separation apparatus and performs both the pressurization function and the decompression function, the pump 140 is provided with a seal structure that can prevent the inflow of air into the pump 140 from the outside. It's enough. Therefore, compared with the conventional gas separation device, the seal structure of the pump 140 can be simplified, and the cost of the pump 140 itself is reduced as compared with the conventional air pump that has both the pressurizing function and the decompressing function. It becomes possible.

  In addition to the inside of the pump 140, the entire system of the gas separation apparatus 100 such as the adsorption tower 110, the supply pipe 130, the first discharge pipe 142, the second discharge pipe 144, the branch unit 146, the separation pipe 150, the adsorption pipe 160, and the like. It is possible to simplify the sealing structure of the gas, and the cost of the gas separation device 100 can be reduced.

  Moreover, in the conventional gas separation apparatus provided with the air pump responsible for both the pressurization function and the decompression function, the air pump is provided on the upstream side in the air flow direction from the adsorption tower. The entire amount of air will circulate.

  However, in the gas separation device 100 according to the present embodiment, the pump 140 is disposed downstream of the adsorption tower 110 in the air flow direction, so that only the nitrogen-enriched gas or the oxygen-enriched gas is included in the pump 140. Therefore, the capacity of the pump 140 can be reduced as compared with the conventional gas separation device. Therefore, the cost (equipment cost) of the pump 140 itself can be reduced, and the power consumption of the pump 140 can be reduced.

  Further, when the mixed gas is a corrosive gas, in the conventional gas separation device in which the pump is arranged upstream of the adsorption tower in the flow direction of the mixed gas, the pump sucks the corrosive gas. Therefore, it is necessary to make the pump itself corrosion resistant.

  However, in the gas separation device 100 according to the present embodiment, the pump 140 is disposed downstream of the adsorption tower 110 in the flow direction of the mixed gas, so the pump 140 sucks only the separation gas and the adsorption gas, Mixed gas (corrosive gas) does not flow in. Therefore, it is not necessary to make the pump 140 corrosion resistant, and the cost (equipment cost) of the pump 140 itself can be reduced.

(Second Embodiment: Gas Separator 300)
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a gas separation device 300 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the gas separation device 300 includes an adsorption tower 110, a heating unit 112, a heat insulating material 114, an adsorbent 120, a heat storage body 320 (indicated by 320a and 320b in FIG. 4), a supply Pipes (supply flow paths) 130A and 130B, valves 132A and 132B, pump 140, connection pipes 330 and 340, valves 332 and 342, branch unit 350, first discharge pipe 352, and second discharge pipe 144, branch unit 146, separation pipe 150, nitrogen storage tank 152, valve 154, adsorption pipe 160, oxygen storage tank 162, valve 164, and control means 370. In addition, about the component substantially equivalent to the gas separation apparatus 100 mentioned above, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted, Here, the thermal storage body 320, supply piping 130A, 130B, and valve | bulb 132A from which a structure and a function differ. 132B, connection pipes 330 and 340, valves 332 and 342, branch unit 350, first discharge pipe 352, and control means 370 will be described.

  The adsorption tower 110 of this embodiment contains the heat storage body 320. The heat accumulator 320 is disposed both upstream and downstream of the adsorbent 120 in the air flow direction. In other words, the adsorbent 120 is sandwiched between the two heat storage elements 320 in the adsorption tower 110. In addition, by driving the pump 140, air, nitrogen-enriched gas, and oxygen-enriched gas circulate through the heat storage body 320.

  The heat storage body 320 has a function of storing heat (function of retaining heat), stores heat of the nitrogen-enriched gas and oxygen-enriched gas, and imparts the stored heat to the air (heat transfer). In other words, the nitrogen-enriched gas, the oxygen-enriched gas, and the air are indirectly heat-exchanged by the heat storage body 320. The heat exchange mechanism (heat storage mechanism and heat transfer mechanism) by the heat storage body 320 will be described in detail later.

  By arranging the heat accumulators 320a and 320b on both sides in the flow direction of the fluid (air, nitrogen-enriched gas, oxygen-enriched gas) in the adsorbent 120, the outflow of heat from the adsorbent 120 to the outside, for example, 10 % Can be reduced. Therefore, the energy required for heating the adsorbent 120 can be reduced, and the power consumption required for heating the adsorbent 120 can be reduced. That is, the nitrogen-enriched gas and the oxygen-enriched gas can be produced at a low cost.

  Examples of the heat storage body 320 include a stainless steel heat storage material honeycomb having a liner pitch of about 2 mm and a flat plate thickness of about 0.5 mm. Further, the heat storage body 320 may be composed of the same member as the adsorbent 120. With this configuration, oxygen can be adsorbed and desorbed also in the heat storage body 320. Furthermore, when the heat storage body 320 comes into contact with air in a temperature environment closer to room temperature (for example, 5 ° C. to 30 ° C.) than the predetermined pressure and the adsorbent 120, a substance that adsorbs oxygen (for example, activated carbon (MSC) or Or an adsorbent such as a complex oxide that operates at a low temperature. As a result, the heat storage body 320 can more efficiently adsorb and desorb oxygen.

  In the present embodiment, the supply pipe 130A is connected to one opening 310A (one end side) of the adsorption tower 110, and the supply pipe 130B is connected to the other opening 310B (the other end side). 130A is provided with a valve 132A, and the supply pipe 130B is provided with a valve 132B. In the adsorption process of the present embodiment, air is supplied into the adsorption tower 110 through the opening 310A (supply pipe 130A), and when the nitrogen-enriched gas is discharged from the adsorption tower 110 through the opening 310B, the air is opened. Since the nitrogen-enriched gas may be discharged from the inside of the adsorption tower 110 through the opening 310A while being supplied into the adsorption tower 110 through 310B (supply pipe 130B), each of the openings 310A and 310B serves as an air supply port. It also functions as a discharge port for nitrogen-enriched gas and oxygen-enriched gas.

  In addition, the opening 310 </ b> A of the adsorption tower 110 is connected to the inlet of the pump 140 via the connection pipe 330, the branch unit 350, and the first discharge pipe 352. The opening 310 </ b> B of the adsorption tower 110 is connected to the inlet of the pump 140 via the connection pipe 340, the branch unit 350, and the first discharge pipe 352. The connecting pipe 330 is provided with a valve 332, and the connecting pipe 340 is provided with a valve 342.

  The control means 370 is composed of a semiconductor integrated circuit including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), reads programs and parameters for operating the CPU itself from the ROM, and cooperates with the RAM as a work area and other electronic circuits. The entire gas separation apparatus 300 is managed and controlled. In the present embodiment, the control unit 370 controls the driving of the pump 140 and controls the opening and closing of the valves 132A, 132B, 332, 342, 154, and 164.

(Gas separation method)
Next, a gas separation method using the gas separation device 300 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the process flow of the gas separation method according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 6 explains the open / closed state of the valve in the first adsorption process and the first desorption process. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an open / close state of the valve in the second adsorption process and the second desorption process.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the gas separation device 300, a processing process including a first adsorption process and a first desorption process and a processing process including a second adsorption process and a second desorption process are alternately repeated. Note that the valves 132A, 132B, 332, 342, 154, and 164 are closed before the operation is started, and the control unit 370 starts driving the pump 140 when the operation of the gas separation device 300 is started. In addition, when a stop instruction is input, the control unit 370 stops the pump 140 and closes the valves 132A, 132B, 332, 342, 154, and 164.

(First adsorption process: Step S410)
The control means 370 opens the valves 132A, 342, 154 and closes the valves 132B, 332, 164. Then, as shown in FIG. 6A, the opening 310A functions as a supply port, air is supplied into the adsorption tower 110 through the supply pipe 130A, and the supplied air flows (passes) through the adsorption tower 110. Thus, the pump 140 is reached. Thereby, the adsorption process is executed.

  In the first adsorption processing step S410, air at normal temperature flows through the heat storage body 320a and reaches the adsorbent 120, and nitrogen-enriched gas heated by the adsorbent 120 flows through the heat storage body 320b. Will be. For this reason, the heat storage body 320b is heated by the nitrogen-enriched gas in the distribution process.

  Further, the control means 370 opens the valves 342 and 154 and closes the valve 164. That is, since the connection pipe 340 and the separation pipe 150 are communicated and the connection pipe 330 and the adsorption pipe 160 are shut off, the nitrogen-enriched gas discharged from the adsorption tower 110 flows through the connection pipe 340 and the separation pipe 150. Then, it is sent to the nitrogen storage tank 152.

(Step S412)
The control means 370 determines whether or not a predetermined adsorption time Tq has elapsed since the start of the first adsorption processing step S410, and until the adsorption time Tq has elapsed (NO in step S412), the valve 132A. , 342, 154 are opened and valves 132B, 332, 164 are kept closed, and when the adsorption time Tq has elapsed (YES in step S412), the process proceeds to step S414.

(First Desorption Process: Step S414)
The control means 370 closes the valves 132A, 342, 154 and opens the valves 332, 164. Here, since the valve 132B is maintained in the closed state, as shown in FIG. 6B, the inside of the adsorption tower 110 is sucked by the pump 140 through the supply pipe 130A while the cutoff of the supply pipe 130B is maintained. (The inside of the adsorption tower 110 becomes negative pressure). Thereby, the desorption process is executed.

  In the first desorption process step S414, since the oxygen-enriched gas heated by the adsorbent 120 flows through the heat storage body 320a, the heat storage body 320a is heated by the oxygen-enriched gas in the flow process. The Rukoto.

  Further, the control means 370 closes the valves 342 and 154 and opens the valves 332 and 164. That is, since the connection pipe 340 and the separation pipe 150 are shut off and the connection pipe 330 and the adsorption pipe 160 are communicated with each other, the oxygen-enriched gas discharged from the adsorption tower 110 flows through the connection pipe 330 and the adsorption pipe 160. Thus, the oxygen is stored in the oxygen storage tank 162.

(Step S416)
The control means 370 determines whether or not a predetermined desorption time Td has elapsed since the start of the first desorption processing step S414, and until the desorption time Td has elapsed (NO in step S416), the valves 132A, When 132B, 342, 154 are closed and the valves 332, 164 are maintained open, and the desorption time Td has elapsed (YES in step S416), the process proceeds to step S418.

  Thus, the control means 370 discharges the nitrogen-enriched gas from the one end side of the adsorption tower 110 in the first adsorption processing step S410, and from the other end side of the adsorption tower 110 in the first desorption processing step S414. Exhaust oxygen-enriched gas. Thereby, both the heat storage bodies 320a and 320b arranged on both sides of the adsorbent 120 can be heated.

  However, in one processing step (first adsorption processing step S410 and first desorption processing step S414), the heat storage body 320a is heated by a high-temperature oxygen-enriched gas, and the heat storage body 320b is heated by high-temperature nitrogen. Heated by enrichment gas. However, since the ratio of nitrogen and oxygen in the air is about 8: 2, there is a difference (about four times) in the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the heat storage body 320. That is, a difference occurs in the amount of heat applied to the heat storage body 320.

  Therefore, in the second adsorption process S418, which will be described later, the control means 370 removes the nitrogen-enriched gas from a side different from the side from which the nitrogen-enriched gas was discharged in the adsorption process (first adsorption process S410) of the previous process step. In the second desorption process S422, which will be described later, the oxygen-enriched gas is discharged from a side different from the side from which the oxygen-enriched gas was discharged in the desorption process (first desorption process S414) of the previous process step. By carrying out like this, it becomes possible to heat the thermal storage body 320a, 320b substantially uniformly.

(Second adsorption process: Step S418)
The control means 370 opens the valves 132B, 332, 154 and closes the valves 132A, 342, 164. Then, as shown in FIG. 7A, the opening 310B functions as a supply port, air is supplied into the adsorption tower 110 through the supply pipe 130B, and the supplied air flows (passes) through the adsorption tower 110. Thus, the pump 140 is reached. Thereby, the adsorption process is executed.

  That is, in the second adsorption processing step S418, the nitrogen-enriched gas heated by the adsorbent 120 flows through the heat storage body 320a. For this reason, the heat storage body 320a is heated by the nitrogen-enriched gas in the distribution process.

  In the second adsorption processing step S418, air at normal temperature circulates through the heat storage body 320b and reaches the adsorbent 120. Thus, in the second adsorption process step S418, the control means 370 performs the previous adsorption process (first adsorption process step) out of the opening 310A (one end side) and the opening 310B (the other end side) of the adsorption tower 110. In S410), air is supplied from the side where the nitrogen-enriched gas is discharged. In other words, the control means 370 distributes air to the heat storage body 320b heated by the previous high temperature nitrogen-enriched gas, thereby heating the air by the heat storage body 320b in the distribution process, Cool by air. That is, the heat storage body 320b indirectly exchanges heat between the nitrogen-enriched gas and air. Accordingly, the air reaching the adsorbent 120 can be heated without requiring a separate heating device, and the amount of heating of the adsorbent 120 can be reduced.

  Further, the control means 370 opens the valves 332 and 154 and closes the valves 342 and 164, that is, connects the connection pipe 330 and the separation pipe 150 and shuts off the connection pipe 340 and the adsorption pipe 160. The nitrogen-enriched gas discharged from the adsorption tower 110 flows through the connection pipe 330 and the separation pipe 150 and is sent to the nitrogen storage tank 152.

(Step S420)
The control means 370 determines whether or not the predetermined adsorption time Tq has elapsed since the start of the second adsorption processing step S418, and until the adsorption time Tq has elapsed (NO in step S420), the valve 132B. 332, 154 are opened, valves 132A, 342, 164 are kept closed, and when the adsorption time Tq has elapsed (YES in step S420), the process proceeds to step S422.

(Second desorption process: step S422)
The control means 370 closes the valves 132B, 332, 154 and opens the valves 342, 164. Here, since the valve 132A is maintained in the closed state, as shown in FIG. 7B, the inside of the adsorption tower 110 is sucked by the pump 140 through the supply pipe 130B while the supply pipe 130A is kept shut off. (The inside of the adsorption tower 110 becomes negative pressure). Thereby, the desorption process is executed.

  That is, in the second desorption processing step S422, the oxygen-enriched gas heated by the adsorbent 120 flows through the heat storage body 320b. For this reason, the heat storage body 320b is heated by the oxygen-enriched gas in the distribution process.

  Further, the control means 370 closes the valves 332 and 154 and opens the valves 342 and 164. That is, since the connection pipe 330 and the separation pipe 150 are shut off and the connection pipe 340 and the adsorption pipe 160 are communicated, the oxygen-enriched gas discharged from the adsorption tower 110 flows through the connection pipe 340 and the adsorption pipe 160. Thus, the oxygen is stored in the oxygen storage tank 162.

(Step S424)
The control means 370 determines whether or not a predetermined desorption time Td has elapsed since the start of the second desorption processing step S422, and until the desorption time Td has elapsed (NO in step S424), the valve 132A. 132B, 332, 154 are closed, valves 342, 164 are maintained open, and when the desorption time Td has elapsed (YES in step S424), the process proceeds to step S410.

  Then, in the first adsorption process step S410 of the next process process, the first desorption process S414 of the previous process process is enriched with oxygen-enriched gas, and the second adsorption process S418 of the previous process process is enriched with nitrogen. Since normal temperature air reaches the adsorbent 120 through the heat storage body 320a heated by the chemical gas, the normal temperature air can be heated by the heat of the oxygen-enriched gas and the nitrogen-enriched gas.

  As described above, according to the gas separation device 300 and the gas separation method using the same according to the present embodiment, the heat accumulator 320 is provided both upstream and downstream in the air flow direction from the adsorbent 120. The heating energy of the adsorbent 120 by the heating unit 112 can be reduced and the running cost of the gas separation device 300 can be reduced.

  Focusing on one heat storage body 320, normal temperature air (100%) passes in the adsorption process, and high-temperature oxygen-enriched gas (about 20%) passes in the next desorption process, followed by In the adsorption process, a process in which a high-temperature nitrogen-enriched gas (about 80%) passes is repeated. Therefore, in one heat storage body 320, the heat retained when the high-temperature oxygen-enriched gas and the high-temperature nitrogen-enriched gas are discharged is substantially equal to the heat applied when air is supplied. Therefore, the heat applied from the outside in one heat storage body 320 can theoretically be zero.

  In addition, each process of the gas separation method of this specification does not necessarily need to process in time series along the order described as a flowchart, and may include the process by parallel or a subroutine.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to this embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, air has been described as an example of the mixed gas, oxygen as the adsorbed material, nitrogen-enriched gas as the separation gas, and oxygen-enriched gas as the adsorbed gas. However, the mixed gas, the object to be adsorbed, the separation gas, and the adsorption gas are appropriately changed according to the kind of the adsorbent.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, since the perovskite type oxide was mentioned as an example as the adsorbent 120, the temperature holding means (the heating unit 112 and the heat insulating material 114) is configured to hold the adsorbent 120 at a temperature higher than normal temperature. Explained with an example. However, the temperature holding means may hold the adsorbent 120 at a temperature at which the object to be adsorbed is adsorbed.

  For example, when the adsorbent 120 is Na—K—A zeolite or Na—X zeolite, the temperature holding means holds the adsorbent 120 at a temperature lower than normal temperature (eg, −30 ° C.). In addition, when Na-KA-type zeolite is used as the adsorbent 120, the adsorbent 120 will adsorb oxygen in the mixed gas. Further, when Na-X zeolite is used as the adsorbent 120, the adsorbent 120 adsorbs xenon in the mixed gas.

  In addition, when the adsorbent 120 is held at a temperature lower than normal temperature, the temperature holding means may include a cooling unit that cools the adsorbent 120 to a temperature at which the adsorbent is adsorbed and a heat insulating material.

  When the adsorbent 120 that adsorbs the adsorbed material is lower than room temperature, the heat storage body 320 stores the heat of the mixed gas and transfers it to one or both of the separation gas and the adsorption gas. It will heat up and will cool a mixed gas. Moreover, the heat storage body 320 will reduce the inflow of the heat to the adsorbent 120 from the outside.

In the above embodiment, as the perovskite _{oxides, La 1-x Sr x Co} 1-y Fe y O 3-z (La: Sr: Co: Fe = 1: 9: 9: 1) as an example of and _{although, La 1-x Sr x Co} 1-y Fe y O 3-z may be a (La: Sr: Co: Fe = 1: 9:: 5 5). Further, as the perovskite type oxide of a combination of different atoms _{include Ba 1 Fe y Y 1-y} O 3-z.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the case where the adsorption agent 120 and the thermal storage body 320 were isolate | separated and formed was mentioned as an example, and was demonstrated. However, the adsorbent 120 and the heat storage body 320 may be formed continuously. For example, when the adsorbent 120 and the heat storage body 320 are comprised with the same member, the adsorbent 120 and the heat storage body 320 will be formed continuously.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the structure in which the thermal storage body 320 is accommodated in the adsorption tower 110 was mentioned as an example, and was demonstrated. However, the heat storage body 320 may be disposed at least on the upstream side and the downstream side in the flow direction of the mixed gas with respect to the adsorbent 120, and is not necessarily disposed in the adsorption tower 110.

  Further, in the above embodiment, since the adsorbent 120 has been described by taking as an example the configuration in which the nitrogen-enriched gas and the oxygen-enriched gas are separated from the air, the control unit 370 performs the nitrogen-enriched gas ( The configuration in which the separation gas) discharge side is different from the previous adsorption process and the air (mixed gas) is supplied from the nitrogen-rich gas discharge side in the previous adsorption process has been described. However, when the adsorbed gas has a larger capacity than the separation gas, the control means makes the adsorption gas discharge side different from the previous desorption process in the desorption process, and in the adsorption process, the desorption gas in the previous desorption process. The mixed gas may be supplied from the side from which the gas is discharged.

  In the second embodiment, in the first adsorption process and the first desorption process, or in the second adsorption process and the second desorption process, a side that discharges a nitrogen-enriched gas (separation gas); The configuration in which the oxygen-enriched gas (adsorbed gas) is removed is described as an example. However, in the first adsorption process and the first desorption process, or in the second adsorption process and the second desorption process, the side that discharges the nitrogen-enriched gas (separation gas) and the oxygen-enriched gas (adsorbed gas) The side from which) is pulled out may be the same.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the opening at the other end of the supply pipe 130 is opened to the atmosphere has been described as an example. However, the mixed gas only needs to be circulated through the supply pipe 130, and a mixed gas supply source (for example, a cylinder or a tank) may be connected to the opening at the other end of the supply pipe 130.

  In the above embodiment, the control means 370 determines whether or not a predetermined desorption time Td has elapsed since the desorption process started in the desorption process, and executes the desorption process until the desorption time Td elapses. Then, when the desorption time Td has elapsed, the configuration in which execution of the next adsorption process is started is described as an example. However, the gas separation device 100 includes a pressure measurement unit that measures the pressure in the adsorption tower 110, and the control means switches from the desorption process to the adsorption process based on the pressure in the adsorption tower 110 measured by the pressure measurement unit. Switching may be performed.

  The present invention can be used in a gas separation device and a gas separation method for separating a predetermined gas from a mixed gas.

100, 300 Gas separation device 110 Adsorption tower 112 Heating part (temperature holding means)
114 Heat insulating material (temperature holding means)
120 Adsorbent 130 Supply Pipe (Supply Channel)
140 Pump 150 Separation piping (separation gas flow path)
160 Adsorption piping (adsorption gas flow path)
170, 370 Control means 320 Heat storage body

Claims (7)

A supply channel through which a mixed gas containing a plurality of substances flows;
An adsorption tower through which the mixed gas is guided from the supply channel;
An adsorbent that is provided in the adsorption tower and adsorbs an object to be adsorbed as a predetermined substance contained in the mixed gas when it comes into contact with the mixed gas;
A pump that is disposed downstream of the adsorption tower in the flow direction of the mixed gas and sucks the inside of the adsorption tower;
By connecting the supply channel and sucking the inside of the adsorption tower by the pump, the mixed gas is supplied into the adsorption tower to adsorb an object to be adsorbed to the adsorbent, and from the mixed gas The separation gas from which the object to be adsorbed has been removed is discharged from the adsorption tower, the supply channel is shut off, and the inside of the adsorption tower is sucked by the pump, so that the object to be adsorbed is removed. Control means for desorbing from the adsorbent and performing a desorption process for discharging the adsorbed gas obtained by the desorption from the adsorption tower;
A gas separation device that performs pressure fluctuation adsorption under vacuum. The pump is connected to a separation gas channel through which the separation gas flows and an adsorption gas channel through which the adsorption gas flows,
The control means includes
When performing the adsorption treatment, the separation gas flow path is communicated and the adsorption gas flow path is shut off,
2. The gas separation apparatus for performing pressure fluctuation adsorption under vacuum according to claim 1, wherein when performing the desorption process, the separation gas flow path is shut off and the adsorption gas flow path is communicated. When the adsorbent is in contact with the mixed gas at a temperature higher or lower than room temperature, the adsorbent is adsorbed,
Temperature holding means for holding the adsorbent at a temperature for adsorbing the object to be adsorbed;
The mixed gas, the separation gas, and the adsorption gas are circulated in both the upstream side and the downstream side in the flow direction of the mixed gas with respect to the adsorbent, and the separation gas and the adsorption gas The heat of either one or both is stored and transferred to the mixed gas, or the heat of the mixed gas is stored and transferred to one or both of the separated gas and the adsorbed gas. Thermal storage,
The gas separation device that performs pressure fluctuation adsorption under vacuum according to claim 1 or 2. The supply flow path is connected to both one end and the other end of the adsorption tower, the pump is connected to both one end and the other end of the adsorption tower,
The gas for performing pressure fluctuation adsorption under vacuum according to claim 3, wherein the control means controls a supply direction of the mixed gas, a discharge direction of the separation gas, and a discharge direction of the adsorption gas. Separation device. The separation gas and the adsorption gas have different capacities,
The control means includes
Repeatedly performing the treatment steps including the adsorption treatment and the desorption treatment;
In the adsorption process or desorption process of the first process step, the capacity from one end side and the other end side of the adsorption tower is different from the side from which the large volume of gas was discharged in the adsorption process or desorption process of the previous process step. Exhaust a lot of gas,
5. The pressure under vacuum according to claim 4, wherein in the adsorption process of the first process step, the mixed gas is supplied from the side from which a large volume of gas has been discharged in the adsorption process or the desorption process of the previous process step. Gas separation device that performs variable adsorption.   The gas separating apparatus for performing pressure fluctuation adsorption under vacuum according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the adsorbent adsorbs a substance by chemical adsorption. By bringing the mixed gas into contact with an adsorbent provided in an adsorption tower through which the mixed gas is guided from a supply channel through which the mixed gas containing a plurality of substances flows, a predetermined content contained in the mixed gas is obtained. A gas separation method for performing pressure fluctuation adsorption under vacuum for adsorbing a substance to be adsorbed on the adsorbent,
The mixed gas is supplied into the adsorption tower by suctioning the inside of the adsorption tower with a pump disposed in the downstream of the mixed gas in the flow direction of the mixed gas through the supply channel. Adsorbing the adsorbate to the adsorbent and performing an adsorption process for discharging the separation gas from which the adsorbate has been removed from the mixed gas from the adsorption tower;
By shutting off the supply flow path and sucking the inside of the adsorption tower by the pump, the adsorbed material is desorbed from the adsorbent and the adsorbed gas obtained by the desorption is removed from the adsorption tower. A desorption process for discharging from the
A gas separation method for performing pressure fluctuation adsorption under vacuum characterized by comprising:

Images