Patent ID: 6783738
Filing Date: 2004-08-31
Classification: B01D,B01J,Y02C

Abstract:
A gas separator for separating a specific gas from a mixed gas, comprising:an outer casing; a rotating body disposed inside the casing, the rotating body comprising a plurality of circumferentially arranged fan-shaped hollow blocks, each of the blocks having an interior portion with an inner wall surface; a gas absorption/releasing material for absorbing and releasing a specific gas from a mixed gas depending on temperature, disposed on the inner wall surface of each block; first and second independent gas flow path structures, wherein: the first gas flow path structure extends linearly from a gas supply port at a first end of the outer casing to an exhaust port at a second end of the outer casing and which passes through an interior portion of at least one of the hollow blocks when it is between the gas supply port and the exhaust port, and the second gas flow path structure comprises: an introduction path formed at a substantially central portion of the rotating body, and first and second supply paths which are isolated from communication with the interior portions of the respective blocks and which extend between the respective blocks in directions perpendicular to a central axis of the rotating body, the first and second supply paths respectively interconnecting the introduction path with first and second discharge ports by way of first and second spaces located between the outer casing and portions of the outer peripheral portion of the rotating body; wherein: the introduction path and the first and second supply paths are divided into first and second sections and a first temperature control gas and a second temperature control gas flow respectively through the first and second sections to the first and second discharge ports to establish first and second temperature zones within the outer casing, wherein: the discharge ports are disposed at opposed locations on the outer casing such that, with respect to the central axis of the rotating body, the sides of the casing on which the first and second discharge ports are respectively disposed constitute first and second areas wherein the respective blocks of the rotating body are exposed to the first temperature zone when passing the first area for release of the specific gas absorbed by the gas absorption/releasing material therein, while, the blocks of the rotating body are exposed to the second temperature zone, when passing the second area, whereby gas passing through the first gas flow path passes through an interior of each block and the specific gas in the mixed gas is absorbed by the absorption/releasing material, wherein the rotating body has: a hollow static portion which extends along an axis about which the rotating body is rotatable, the hollow static portion being divided into two sections to divide the introduction path into first and second portions for the first temperature gas and the second temperature gas respectively, and sealing portions which are disposed between the static portion and the rotating body and between the rotating body and the casing so as to seal and separate the first and second portions of the introduction supply path through which the first and second temperature adjusting fluids respectively flow, wherein: the rotating body rotates through a plurality of rotational positions, wherein: the mixed gas is fed to the gas absorption/releasing material at a first rotating position of the rotating body which is located in the first temperature zone, the specific gas is released from the gas absorption/releasing material at a second rotational position of the rotating body which is located in the second temperature zone, and wherein: blocking positions which are located in the casing between the first rotational position and the second rotational position, block communication between the first and second rotational position.