Patent ID: 7867320
Filing Date: 2011-01-11
Classification: B01D,C01B

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for separating components from a fluid mixture comprising: a) a first source and a second source of feed fluid; b) a first source and a second source of regeneration fluid; c) a first, second, third and fourth chamber, each containing an adsorbent for selectively adsorbing a component from feed fluid; d) one or more valves, wherein said valve is comprised of (i) a housing, wherein the housing comprises at least two flow ports that are disposed on the outer peripheral wall of the housing and (ii) a rotary plug inside the housing wherein the rotary plug comprises at least one flow passage adapted to connect to said flow ports; wherein the valve is operatively connected to the first source and second source of feed fluid and the first source and second source of regeneration fluid by a plurality of flow passages; wherein said valve has a plurality of positions interconnecting said flow passages with said flow ports; said valve in a first position connects said first source of feed fluid to said first chamber and introduces feed fluid therein to selectively remove a desired component from said feed fluid while simultaneously connecting said second source of feed fluid to said fourth chamber and introduces fluid therein to selectively remove a desired component from said fluid while simultaneously connecting said first source of regeneration fluid to said third chamber to evacuate feed fluid from said third chamber and connecting said second source of regeneration fluid to said second chamber to evacuate fluid from said second adsorbent bed; said valve in a second position connects said first source of feed fluid to said second chamber and introduces fluid therein to selectively remove a desired component from said feed fluid while simultaneously connecting said second source of feed fluid to said first chamber and introduces feed fluid therein to selectively remove a desired component from said feed fluid while simultaneously connecting said first source of regeneration fluid to said fourth chamber to evacuate feed fluid from said fourth chamber and connecting said second source of regeneration fluid to said third chamber to evacuate fluid from said third chamber; said valve in a third position connects said first source of feed fluid to said third chamber and introduce feed fluid therein to selectively remove a desired component from said feed fluid while simultaneously connecting said second source of feed fluid to said second chamber and introduce feed fluid therein to selectively remove a desired component from said feed fluid while simultaneously connecting said first source of regeneration fluid to said first chamber to evacuate feed fluid from said first adsorbent bed and connecting said second source of regeneration fluid to said fourth chamber to evacuate feed fluid from said fourth chamber; said valve in a fourth position connects said first source of feed fluid to said fourth chamber and introduces feed fluid therein to selectively remove a desired component from said feed fluid while simultaneously connecting said second source of feed fluid to said third chamber and introduce feed fluid therein to selectively remove a desired component from said feed fluid while simultaneously connecting said first source of regeneration fluid to said second chamber to evacuate fluid from said second chamber and connecting said second source of regeneration fluid to said first chamber to evacuate feed fluid from said first chamber; and wherein the valve further comprises at least one inflatable seal between the housing and the rotary plug.