Patent ID: 7066986

Claim:
Apparatus for use in the removal of at least two components including a less strongly adsorbed component and a more strongly adsorbed component from a gas mixture by a TEPSA swing adsorption process having an adsorbent regeneration phase, said apparatus comprising: an adsorber vessel comprising an inlet for said gas mixture and an outlet for purified gas separated by a flow path including a flow chamber containing a body of adsorbent, and having an inlet for regeneration gas and an outlet for regeneration gas separated by a flow path including said flow chamber, said inlet for said gas mixture and said outlet for purified gas optionally constituting also said outlet for regeneration gas and said inlet for regeneration gas, said inlet for regeneration gas having an inlet nozzle containing at least one heater element, wherein said body of adsorbent has a first end which is adjacent said inlet for regeneration gas and a second end which is remote from said inlet for regeneration gas, and the at least one heater element is located so as not to penetrate through the first end of the body of adsorbent, a source of gas mixture to be separated connected to the inlet for gas mixture, a source of regeneration gas connected to the inlet for regeneration gas, and control means for operating a TEPSA cycle of adsorption and regeneration in which: gas mixture is passed over the adsorbent in a first flow direction and is purified by the adsorption of at least two components and flow of the gas mixture over the adsorbent is stopped, regeneration gas is passed over the adsorbent in an opposite flow direction, the regeneration gas being heated by the at least one heater element so as to desorb the less strongly adsorbed component, heating of said regeneration gas is terminated end regeneration gas at a lower pressure than a pressure during the adsorption phase is continued to be passed over the adsorbent so as to desorb the more strongly adsorbed component, and flow of the regeneration gas is stopped and flow of the gas mixture is resumed.