Patent ID: 6558451
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
A method of producing a concentrated product gas from a supply gas mixture in a pressure swing adsorption apparatus comprising three adsorber beds, to adsorb at least one constituent gas from the supply gas mixture and in which usable product gas is produced in cycles by steps of feeding the supply gas mixture sequentially in a co-current direction through each of the adsorber beds to adsorb at least a substantial portion of the constituent gas and of purging adsorbed constituent gas by pressurized gas fed in a counter-current direction, the improvement comprising the steps of (a) partially repressurizing each one of the adsorber beds by using pressurized gas from an adsorber bed other than the adsorber bed then producing the usable product gas, after completing in each cycle the step of purging constituent gas adsorbed by the one adsorber bed, and (b) then continuing repressurization of the one adsorber bed by using pressurized product gas from the adsorber bed then producing the usable product gas.