Patent ID: 6508862
Filing Date: 2003-01-21
Classification: B01D,B01J,C01B,F28D,F28F

Abstract:
A method of separating a fluid component from a mixture comprising:a first step comprising sorbing a fluid component, this first step comprising passing a fluid mixture into a flow channel at a first temperature; wherein the flow channel comprises a porous sorbent within the channel and wherein substantially all the fluid mixture flowing through the flow channel flows through the porous sorbent, wherein the sorbent is cooled by fluid flowing through a heat exchanger; and wherein flow through the channel is constrained such that in at least one cross-sectional area of the channel that comprises the sorbent, the height of the flow channel is 1 cm or less; a second step comprising increasing the temperature of the sorbent, this second step comprising adding energy from an energy source; and desorbing a fluid component at a second temperature and obtaining a fluid component that was sorbed in the first step, wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature; and wherein the first and second steps, combined, for a non-condensed fluid mixture take 10 seconds or less and wherein at least 20% of the gaseous component sorbed in the first step is desorbed from the sorbent; or for a liquid mixture take 1000 seconds or less and wherein at least 20% of the fluid component sorbed in the first step is desorbed from the sorbent.