Patent ID: 6253778
Filing Date: 2001-07-03
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
An air separation process using a rotary valve, said process comprising flowing a feed stream through a cylindrical rotary valve having first and second inlet flow passages on each end of said valve, first and second outlet flow passages on the sides of said valve and one or more outlet flow ports, wherein said valve has a plurality of positions simultaneously interconnecting the first and second outlet flow passages to selected outlet flow ports, wherein said valve further comprises an internal rotary plug that is rotatable about a longitudinal axis to move between said positions, and containing openings to connect said inlet flow passages to said outlet flow passages, and wherein said plug is divided into two chambers, each of which may be moved independently of each other, wherein the valve has a housing and the flow ports disposed on outer peripheral walls of said housing, and wherein said feed stream enters said first and second inlet flow passages, flows in an axial direction and exits radially through said outlet flow passages.