Patent ID: 6372127
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
A simulated moving bed separation system comprising a packed bed assembly having a plurality of packed beds, each containing a filler therein, packed bed washing means for washing each packed bed, said packed beds being connected in series to each other and having charging and discharging ends thereof connected to each other via a looped fluid passage to circulate fluid in a unidirectional direction;wherein each packed bed in the system is consecutively fitted with a port for introducing a desorbing liquid, a port for drawing out a solution containing an extract, a port for introducing a feedstock fluid and a port for drawing out a solution containing a raffinate; said desorbing liquid introducing port, extract draw-out port, feedstock introducing port and raffinate draw-out port can have their positions successively shifted in the unidirectional direction intermittently; and wherein said packed bed washing means comprises a washing liquid injecting means for injecting a washing liquid into said packed bed through said introducing end, washing liquid discharging means for discharging said washing liquid from said discharging end, and washing liquid feeding means for feeding said washing liquid to said washing liquid injecting means, the separation system further comprising: a first rotary valve, a second rotary valve, a third rotary valve and a fourth rotary valve, said first rotary valve having a first inlet and a plurality of outlets, with each of said outlets being connected to a separate packed bed, whereby said first rotary valve is coupled with each of said packed beds, said first rotary valve being designed to supply said feedstock to any selected one of the packed beds in said packed bed assembly; said second rotary valve having a first outlet and a plurality of inlets, with each of said inlets being connected to a separate packed bed, whereby said second rotary valve is coupled with each of said packed beds, said second rotary valve being designed to draw out said solution containing a raffinate from the packed bed positioned downstream of the packed bed to which said feedstock has been supplied; said third rotary valve having a second inlet and a plurality of outlets, with each of said outlets being connected to a separate packed bed, whereby said third rotary valve is coupled with each of said packed beds, said third rotary valve being designed to supply said desorbing liquid to the packed bed positioned downstream of the packed bed from which said solution containing a raffinate has been drawn out; and said fourth rotary valve having a second outlet and a plurality of inlets, with each of said inlets being connected to a separate packed bed, whereby said fourth rotary valve is coupled with each of said packed beds, said fourth rotary valve being designed to select a packed bed to which said desorbing liquid has been supplied, and to draw out said solution containing an extract from said selected packed bed, wherein said first inlet serves for said desorbing liquid introducing port, said first outlet for said raffinate draw-out port, said second inlet for said feedstock introducing port and said second outlet for said extract draw-out port, and said first inlet, said first outlet, said second inlet and said second outlet are shifted in succession intermittently without changing this order by change-over operations of said first to fourth rotary valves.