Patent DE-102010014890-A1 (DE)
Title: Apparatus for an adsorption of a fluid or fluid stream for desulfurization of a fluid fuel e.g. natural gas, comprises a container for receiving adsorbent material, two fluid line connectors, and a thermally-activated shut-off fluid
Inventor: ANFANG HANS-GEORG
IPC: B01D53/02
Filed: 2010-04-14
Abstract: The apparatus comprises a container (11) for receiving adsorbent material, two fluid line connectors, and a thermally-activated shut-off fluid and/or a fluid flow monitor. The container comprises a fluid inlet opening (14) and a fluid outlet opening (16), two fluid connection devices, and an opening and closing element for reversibly filling the adsorbent material, where one of the fluid connection devices is provided at the fluid inlet opening and the other of the fluid connecting devices is provided at the fluid outlet opening. The apparatus comprises a container (11) for receiving adsorbent material, two fluid line connectors, and a thermally-activated shut-off fluid and/or a fluid flow monitor. The container: comprises a fluid inlet opening (14) and a fluid outlet opening (16), two fluid connection devices, and an opening and closing element for reversibly filling the adsorbent material, where one of the fluid connection devices is provided at the fluid inlet opening and the other of the fluid connecting devices is provided at the fluid outlet opening; has adsorbent materials for the desulfurization of liquefied gas or natural gas, where the adsorbent materials are present as a mixed bed or as a multi-component material; is designed such that it is installed vertically and adjacent to the fluid inlet opening having a cavity or a cavity with a filling or limitation of porous and/or inert material and/or flexible plastic foam for collecting condensate; and exhibits a bed length bulk-to-diameter ratio of 0.1-40, and/or a space velocity of less than 10.000/hour based on the total amount of adsorbent, where the lifter-to-particle diameter ratio of the adsorbent material is greater than 10. The fluid connection devices are locked in a fluid-tight manner and constructed in such a way that they are connected with the respective fluid line connector and are locked or unlocked with the fluid line connector. The two fluid line connectors are configured such that each of them is connected with one of the two fluid connection devices. The unlocked fluid connection devices are safely connected with the fluid line connector and/or the fluid connection devices are configured such that: the fluid line connectors are secured at the unlocking the fluid connection devices; and/or they are using the respective fluid line connectors that are locked manually or automatically; and/or the respective fluid line connector is connected and unlocked sequentially or simultaneously. The fluid connection devices each has a fluid flow channel (19) and a movable closure member (18), and are configured such that the respective closure member is moved through the fluid connecting devices with the fluid line connector and opens the fluid flow channel, and/or is moved by dissolving the fluid line connector piece and closes the fluid flow channel. The closure member closes the fluid flow channel in the fluid-tight manner. The opening and closing element comprises a safety device to prevent the tampering by unauthorized individuals, where the element consists of a cover and a special screw that are opened only with special tools. A cartridge and/or the adsorbent material are in the temperatures of -10 to +90[deg] C and a pressure of -500 to +10 bar and above atmospheric pressure. Independent claims are included for: (1) a method of regenerating and/or disposing, filling and/or installing an apparatus for the adsorption of a fluid or fluid flow; and (2) a method for the adsorption of a fluid or fluid flow for the desulfurization of natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas for fuel cells.