Patent ID: 7793675

Claim:
A method for supplying a high purity gas product comprising (a) providing a first gas stream comprising a major component and at least one impurity component; (b) determining the concentration of the at least one impurity component and comparing the concentration so determined with a reference concentration for that component; (c) when the value of the concentration so determined is less than or equal to the reference concentration, utilizing the first gas stream to provide the high purity gas product; and (d) when the value of the concentration so determined is greater than the reference concentration, (1) providing a second gas stream comprising the major component, wherein the second gas stream is provided by dividing the first gas stream into a first substream and a second substream, removing at least a portion of the at least one impurity component in the first substream to provide a purified substream, and mixing the purified substream with the second substream to provide the high purity gas product; and (2) mixing the first gas stream with the second gas stream to yield a mixed gas stream having a concentration of the at least one impurity component that is less than the reference concentration, and utilizing the mixed gas stream to provide the high purity gas product.