Patent ID: 7504076
Filing Date: 2009-03-17
Classification: B01J,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for performing a process having a plurality of steps in which each step is performed in a vessel by flowing a fluid through said vessel, said steps comprising at least a first step and at least one subsequent step, at least one of said subsequent steps comprising a final step, and at least one step in which a product id produced, each step having a step period in which at least one step has a longest step period, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of vessels, each of said plurality of vessels for performing sequentially all said steps of said process and each of said plurality of vessels for performing each steps of said process in the longest step period, each of said vessels having a inlet for receiving fluid and an outlet for discharging fluid; valve means in communication with the inlet of each of said plurality of vessels and in communication with the outlet of each of said plurality of vessels, said valve means capable of being placed in communication with a plurality of fluid sources for placing a fluid corresponding to a step of said process in the inlet of each of said plurality of vessels and to receive fluid from the outlet of each of said vessels to allow each of said vessels to perform sequentially all said steps of a process and each of said steps in all of said vessels in said longest step period, and said valve means having at least one exit conduit for receiving discharging a product, said valve means responsive to one or more signals from control means to direct a fluid from said plurality of fluid sources through said vessels for each step of said process and a product into said exit conduit; and; control means in communication with said valve means and having means to determine the longest period, said control means sending one or more signals to said valve means to perform said process in said plurality of vessels simultaneously and sequentially in which no more than one vessel will complete said final step in any step period.