PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURE SWING ADSORPTION SYSTEM

Abstract: A pressure swing and temperature swing adsorption system (10) is disclosed which continuously purges contaminants such as nuclear, biological and chemical warfare agents from intake air and provides cool clean air to the crew compartment (74) of a vehicle by progressively directing contaminated air through a first adsorption bed (30) to clean the air, while simultaneously directing hot exhaust gases at about 600 DEG F through a second adsorption bed (32) for purging contaminants therefrom, while simultaneously cooling a third adsorption bed (34) for enhancing adsorption of contaminants in the purging bed upon repeating the cycles of operation.

Description: PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURE SWING ADSORPTION SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to method and apparatus for purifying and thereafter continuously controlling the temperature of a three bed PSA/TSA filtering system which receives air containing hazardous nuclear, biological and chemical warfare agents, and supplying cool clean air to personnel within the crew compartment of a combat vehicle or the like by use of combined pressure swing and temperature swing adsorption technology. Description of the Prior Art Assignees Veltman et al Patents 4,732,579 and 4,793,832 disclose air purification and temperature controlling systems and methods which use only pressure swing adsorption systems that include two adsorption beds. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The pressure and temperature swing adsorption system of the present invention combines a pressure swing adsorption system with a temperature swing adsorption system for continuously removing hazardous nuclear, biological and chemical warfare agents from the air before the air is directed into the crew compartment and/or conventional suits and masks worn by the crew of a military vehicle. The cleaned air is directed to the crew at a desire temperature such as about 70° F. and provides the crew with a source of clean cool air within the crew compartment. The combined pressure and temperature swing adsorption system uses three pressure swing adsorption beds, each of which moves gases sequentially through a filtration cycle, a purge and heating cycle, and a cooling cycle resulting in sequentially filtering and cleaning, purging and heating, and cooling of each bed for providing beds having a continuous life and providing a continuous supply of clean air to the crew at a desired temperature. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the pressure and temperature swing adsorption system of the present invention. Figure 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic section of three pressure swing adsorption beds illustrating valves positioned for directing a filtering and cleaning fluid through a first bed; a purging and heating fluid through a second bed; and a cooling fluid through a third bed. Figure 3 is similar to Figure 2 except that the valves are positioned so that the first bed accepts the purging and heating fluids through the first bed, cooling fluids through the second bed, and filtering and cleaning fluids through the third bed. Figure 4 is the same as Figure 2 except that the valves are positioned so that cooling fluids pass through the first bed, filtering and cleaning fluids pass through the second bed, and purging and heating fluids pass through the third bed. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The pressure and temperature swing adsorption system 10 ' (Fig. 1) of the present invention is intended for use in combat vehicles (not shown) for continuously effectively and economically removing nuclear, biological and chemical contamination from air while controlling the temperature of the air for providing clean air at about 70° F. to the crew compartment of the vehicle and/or to conventional suits and masks (not shown) worn by the crew of the vehicle. It will be understood, however, that the system may be used in other environments where combustion power means, such as an engine; or from other sources of compressed air and hot exhaust gases, such as turbine bleed air from a turbine powered vehicle, jet aircraft power units, or similar power means. For example, the system may be used to provide clean cool air to one or more people in buildings, aircrafts, ships and private or commercial vehicles. The system 10 (Fig. 1) includes a power source of anyone of the types mentioned above, which power source will hereinafter be called an engine 11. A first portion of the engine exhaust gas drives a conventional expansion turbine 12 which drives a first turbo-compressor 13 that receives intake air that may be contaminated air. The intake air " first passes through a particulate filter 14 which removes particulates from the air such as dust or sand. The intake air then moves into the first turbo-compressor 13 which compresses the air and directs a portion of the compressed air into the vehicle engine 11 through a conduit 15 at about 35 PSIG and 350° F. A second portion of the bleed air flows through a conduit 16 into a first precooler 17 at about 35 PSIG and a temperature of about 350° F. The precooler 17 cools the air to about 150° F. at 35 PSI gage, and directs the air to a second turbo-compressor 18 which heats the air to about 250° F. and drives a turbo-expander 20 which cools the air. The hot contaminated air from the turbo-compressor 18 is directed into an after cooler 22 and is discharged at a temperature of about 150° F. and a pressure of about 45 PSIG into a reheater 24 which provides contaminated air at about 100° F. and 45 PSIG. The contaminated air then passes through a bulk liquid separator 26 which separates condensed vapors from incoming air and discharges the separated fluids externally of the combat vehicle through a pressure drain (not shown). The air then passes through a dual coalescing HEPA filter 28 which directs the separated contaminated fluids externally of the vehicle. The bulk liquid separator 26 and coalescing filter 28 protects three adsorption beds 30, 32 and 34 of the pressure and temperature swing adsorption system 10 from excessive adsorption of liquids and solids. The contaminated air discharged from the dual coalescing filter 28 flows through a conduit 36 into a double row multiple passage bed feed valve 38 having a plurality of passages therein which will be described later. As indicated previously, the hot compressed exhaust gases from the engine 11 drives the expansion turbine 12 and the first turbo-compressor 13 which directs contaminated air through conduits 15 and 16, the precooler 17, turbo-compressor 18, after cooler 22, reheater 24, bulk liquid separator 26 and filter 28 into the multiple passage valve 38. The above described components are directed to the pressure swing portion of the temperature and pressure swing adsorption system 10. Another portion of the compressed exhaust gas, compressed air and cooled air are directed through the three adsorption beds 30, 32 and 34 for performing different functions at different times as will be described in detail hereinafter. Contaminants are purged from each bed, one at a time, using hot exhaust gases at about 600° F. at a pressure of about 35 PSIG which defines the temperature swing adsorption portion of the present invention. As diagra matically illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, all adsorption beds 30, 32 and 34 are identical, but operate in different sequences, and accordingly only the bed 30 (Fig. 2) will be described in detail. The bed 30 includes a housing 44 (Fig. 2) having an upper manifold 46 and a lower manifold 48 interconnected by a plurality of conduits 50 having heat transmitting fins 52 (only a portion being shown) thereon. A contaminated gas inlet conduit 54 is illustrated as being connected to the valve 38 and extending through the manifold 46, thus directing the contaminated air directly into the filtering material of the pressure and temperature swing BED 1. A clean air outlet conduit 55 extends from the bed through the outlet manifold 48. The sequence of operation of the BEDS 1, 2 and 3 (Fig. 2) is: first; filter and clean the incoming air; second, purge and heat with hot exhaust gases at about 600° F.; and third, cool the bed to prepare the bed to more effectively filter and clean the next portion of contaminated gas. As indicated in Figures 2, 3 and 4, each BED 1, 2 and 3 simultaneously performs different functions of the three cycles, with the cycle time of each step being in the range between five to ten seconds, preferably at seven second intervals. Having reference to Figure 2, contaminated air flows from conduit 36, through a first passage Pi in valve 38, through the conduit 54, and directly into and through the filtering material of BED 1. The filtered and clean air then passes through the conduit 55, a first passage P2 in a double row multi-passage valve 60, a conduit 62 (Figs. 1 and 2) to the turbo-expander 20 (Fig. 1) which is driven by the turbo-compressor 18. The turbo-expander 20 cools the air to about 70° F. and directs it through a conduit 63 , a temperature controller 64, conduit 65, and a mixer 66. The temperature controller 64 is connected to a temperature probe 68 by a conduit 70, and the controller 64 may be adjusted to provide a desired air temperature for the crew in summer between about 60° - 70° F., and in winter at about 90° - 100° F. The mixer 66 directs cool air through a conduit 72 and into a crew compartment 74 of a vehicle (not shown) through a plurality of orifices 76. A conduit 82 receives a portion of the hot exhaust gas from the engine 11 and directs it through - conduit 83 to a valve 86. Cool clean air from a conduit 84 (Fig. 1) passes through a conduit 85 into a heating coil in the reheater 24 which heats a portion of the air from conduits 84 and 85 to about 110° F. which flows through a conduit 87 to conduit 78. This heated air passes through the purge flow control valve 80, conduit 78, mixer 66 and temperature probe 68 to provide cool clean air during the bed cooling cycle, and to provide winter temperatures to the crew compartment 74 at between about 90° - 100° F., and summer temperature between about 60° - 70° F. by appropriate adjustment of the temperature control 64. A portion of the cool air from conduit 84 also flows through a flow control valve 81' in conduit 84 and into the double row multiple-way valve 86. As above described, the contaminated air from outside the system is first filtered in BED 1, is purged/heated in BED 2, and is cooled in BED 3. These functions take place simultaneously during a period of time of between five to ten seconds, preferably about seven seconds. Contaminated air from conduit 36 (Figs. 1 and 2) is directed through passage PI in valve 38 and flows through conduit 54 into and through the filtering material in BED 1 which filters the contaminates from the air. The clean air is discharged through conduit 55, a passageway P2 in multiple row valve 60 and through conduit 62 for providing clean cool air to the crew compartment 74 and for cooling the filtering material in BED 3. Simultaneously with the filtering and cleaning of BED 1, BED 2 receives hot exhaust gases at about 600°F and 35 psi from conduit 83, a passage P3 in valve 86, which hot gases flow through conduit 90 and into the lower manifold 48 of BED 2. The hot exhaust gases then flow through the conduits 50 in BED 2 which transmits heat to the filtering material of BED 2 through the conduits 50 and fins 52. The hot gases then enter the upper manifold 46 of BED 2 and flow through a conduit 92 and a passage P4 in valve 90 to the atmosphere through conduit 106 thus heating the filtering material in BED 2. At the same time, purge air from conduit 78 (Figs. 1 and 2) flows through a passage P5 in valve 60 and a conduit 96 through the filtering material in BED 2 and through a conduit 98, and a passage P6 in valve 38 for discharge to the atmosphere through conduit 100 thus performing the purging operation of BED 2. While BED 1 is filtering and cleaning and BED 2 is purging and heating, BED 3 is being cooled. Clean cool air at about 70°F is directed through conduit 84, through a passage P7 in valve 86, which clean air flow through a conduit 102 and enters the lower manifold 48 of BED 3 and flows through the conduits 50 and into the upper manifold 46 for cooling the filtering material in BED 3. The cooling air is discharged to the atmosphere through conduit 104, a passage P8 in valve 90 and to the atmosphere through conduit 106. After about seven seconds of directing the several fluids into BEDs 1, 2 and 3 of Figure 2, the valves are shifted to cause BED 1 (Fig. 3) to be subjected to purging and heating fluid; BED 2 is subjected to cooling fluid; and BED 3 is receiving contaminated air from the atmosphere for filtering and cleaning. Contaminated air is directed through conduit 36 through a passage Pll in valve 38, conduit 110 to and through the filtering material in BED 3, conduit 108, a passage P12 in valve 60, and conduit 62 to the turbo expander (Fig. 1). At the same time exhaust gases at about 600°F and 35 psig. are directed from conduit 83, through a passage P13 in valve 86 which heats the filtering material in BED 1 by passing through the conduits 50 as indicated by the arrows in BED 1. The hot exhaust gases flow through conduit 88, a passage P14 in valve 90, and to the atmosphere through conduit 106. Purging air from conduit 78 is directed through a passage P15 in valve 60, through conduit 55, the filtering material in BED 1, conduit 54, and a passage P16 in valve 38 for discharge to the atmosphere through conduit 100. Having reference to Figure 4, after an additional time period of about seven seconds, contaminated air from conduit 36 is directed through a passage P17 in valve 38, through conduit 98, through the filtering material in BED 2, through conduit 96, a passageway P18 in valve 60 and thereafter directing the clean air through conduit 62 (Figs. 1 and 4) and to the tuboexpander 20. At the same time, BED 3 is being heated and purged by hot exhaust gas at about 600°F from conduit 83, passageway P19 in valve 86, through conduit 102, into and through the conduits 50 in BED - 3, and through conduit 104, a passage P24 in valve 90 and to the atmosphere through conduit 106, thereby heating the filtering material which enhances the removal of contaminates from the air when in the subsequent cleaning and filtering cycle. At the same time, purging of the contaminates in BED 3 take place by directing cool clean purged air at about 70°F from conduit 78, a passage P20 in valve 60, conduit 108, through the filtering material in BED 3, conduit 110, passage P21 in valve 38, and to the atmosphere through conduit 100. While BED 2 is filtering " and cleaning, and BED 3 is being purged and heated, BED 1 is being cooled. Cool clean purged air from conduit 78, a passage P15 in the valve 60, through the conduits 55 into and through BED 1, conduit 54, a passage P16 in valve 38, and to the atmosphere through conduit 100. The above sequence of operations are repeated continuously while in a contaminated atmosphere to provide cool clean air to the crew compartment of a vehicle. If outside air is cold or hot but does not contain contaminants, the pressure and temperature swing adsorption system of the present invention can be used as an air conditioner. From the foregoing description it is apparent that the pressure and temperature swing adsorption system of the present invention includes three identical adsorption BEDS 1, 2 and 3, each of which sequentially filter and clean contaminated air by first filtering and cleaning the contaminants from the contaminated air, and directing most of the clean air to the crew compartment 74 of the vehicle. When a first bed is cleaning contaminants from the air, a second bed is being purged and heated by engine exhaust gases at 35 PSI and 600° F. which cleans all contaminants from the filtering material in the second bed. At the same time filtering material in the third bed is cleaned by cool clean air at 70° F. and 35 PSI which cools the air and completely cleans the filtering material, thus requiring no replacement of the bed unless damaged by other means. It has been determined that the beds when using 200 cubic feet per minute of contaminated air moving through the system that 120 cubic feet per minute of clean air is directed into the crew compartment 74, 60 cubic feet per minute is used for purging the adsorption beds, and that only 20 cubic feet per minute is used for cooling the pressure swing adsorption beds during each cycle of operation. Although the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention has been herein shown and described, it will be apparent that modification and variation may be made without departing from what is regarded to be the subject matter of the invention. AJM:smb/lu

Claims: What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for continuously purging contaminants from intake air and providing clean air for breathing, comprising: means for directing contaminated air through a first adsorption bed having contaminant filtering material therein for filtering and cleaning the contaminants out of the air and providing a supply of clean air; means for directing a purging and heating gas at a high temperature through a second adsorption bed for cleaning and discharging all contaminants from said filtering material while heating said second adsorption bed to said high temperature; means for expanding and cooling said supply of clean air by passing said supply of clean air through a driven turbo-expander for providing a supply of cool clean air; means for directing a small quantity of cool clean air through a third adsorption bed for cooling said bed and enhancing the ability of said third adsorption bed to remove all contaminants from said third adsorption bed; and control means for repeating the above steps until the contaminants are removed from the intake air. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the contaminants in the intake air include warfare agents such as nuclear, biological and chemical warfare agents. 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the purging and heating gas is heated to about 600° F. 4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said expanding and cooling air is cooled to about 70° F. 5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the percentage of the total volume of cool clean air directed into said third adsorption bed is about thirty percent of the total volume of intake air. 6. A pressure and temperature swing adsorption system, comprising: means for defining at least first, second and third adsorption beds; means for cyclically directing contaminated air into and through said first bed for filtering all contaminants from said bed and for capturing the contaminants in said first bed; means for cyclically directing hot gases into said second adsorption bed which has contaminants therein for purging all contaminants from said second adsorption bed; means for cyclically directing cool clean air into said third adsorption bed having all contaminants purged therefrom for enhancing the ability of the third adsorption bed for filtering incoming contaminated air and removing all contaminants therefrom; and control means for continuously repeating the cycles of operation at even intervals by sequentially directing contaminated air into the cool adsorption bed, directing hot gases into the contaminated bed for purging all contaminants therefrom and directing a small portion of the cool clean air into the clean hot bed for cooling the hot bed. 7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said contaminated air contains nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare agents therein. 8. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said hot gases are exhaust gases from an engine at about 600° F. and thirty-five PSIG. 9. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said cool clean air is at a temperature of about 70° F. and a pressure of about thirty-five PSIG. 10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the major portion of the cool clean air is directed into the crew compartment of a military vehicle. 11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein about sixty percent of the clean air is directed to the crew compartment of the vehicle. 12. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the pressure and temperature swing adsorption system produces about two hundred cubic feet per minute of clean air with about one hundred twenty cubic feet per minute going into the crew compartment of the vehicle, sixty cubic feet per minute being used for purging said adsorption beds, and twenty cubic feet per minute is used for cooling said beds. 13. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the control means controls the duration of each cycle of operation for a period of between about five to ten seconds. 14. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the control means preferably controls the duration of each cycle of operation for a period of about seven seconds. 15. A pressure and temperature swing adsorption system, the improvement comprising: means defining at least three adsorption beds; means for directing contaminated air into and through one of said beds for filtering all contaminants from the air while capturing the contaminants in said one bed and discharging clean breathable air from said one bed; means for simultaneously directing hot gases into a second one of said adsorption beds having contaminants in said second bed for purging all contaminants from said second adsorption bed; and means for simultaneously directing cool clean air into a third adsorption bed having all contaminants purged therefrom for enhancing the ability of said third adsorption bed to adsorb contaminants from incoming air. 16. A cyclical method of continuously purging contaminants from intake air and providing clean cool air for breathing, comprising the steps of: directing the contaminated air through a first adsorption bed having contaminant filtering material therein for filtering and cleaning the contaminants out of the air and providing a supply of clean air; directing a purging and heating gas at a high temperature through a second adsorption bed for cleaning and discharging all contaminants from said filtering material while heating said second adsorption bed to said high temperature; expanding and cooling said supply of clean air by passing said supply of clean air through a driven turbo-expander for providing a supply of cool clean air; directing a small quantity of cool clean air through a third adsorption bed for cooling said bed for enhancing the ability of said third adsorption bed for removing all contaminants out of said beds; and repeating the above steps until the contaminants are not present in the intake air. 17. A method according to claim 1 wherein the contaminants in the air include warfare agents such as nuclear, biological and chemical warfare agents. 18. A method according to claim 16 wherein the purging and heating gas is heated to about 600° F. 19. A method according to claim 16 wherein said cooling air is cooled to about 70° F. 20. A method according to claim 16 wherein said small quantity of cool air is about thirty percent of the clean air. 21. A method according to claim 16 wherein the contaminants are nuclear, biological and chemical warfare agents. 22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the clean cool air is directed into the crew compartment of a vehicle.

Inventors: MALIK RAM L, MALIK, RAM, L.
Applicants: FMC CORP, FMC CORPORATION
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B01D53
IPC codes: B01D53