Patent ID: 6997213

Claim:
A rotary valve assembly for use in an apparatus for adsorption separation with multiple adsorption units and net flow lines comprising: a first rotary plate having a first smooth surface for a sealing contact with a matching stationary surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, an inlet port for fluid communication with each adsorption unit inlet, an outlet port for fluid communication with each adsorption unit outlet, and a plurality of secondary ports equal to the number of adsorption unit inlets and outlets, where the ports extend through the first rotary plate; a second rotary plate having a first surface for a sealing contact with the second surface of the first rotary plate, a second surface opposite the first surface, and defining a plurality of channels where each channel creates fluid communication between a secondary port of the first rotary plate and a port selected from the inlet ports and the outlet ports of the first rotary plate; a first stationary plate having a first surface, a port for each adsorption unit inlet, a port for each adsorption unit outlet, and a port for each net flow line, where the ports extend through the first stationary plate; a second stationary plate having a first surface for a sealing contact with the first surface of the first stationary plate, a second surface opposite the first surface, a port in fluid communication with each adsorption unit inlet, a port in fluid communication with each adsorption unit outlet, a port in fluid communication with one net flow inlet, a port in fluid communication with one net flow outlet, and the second stationary plate defining a plurality of channels equal to one less than the number of adsorption units, where the ports extend through the second stationary plate; and a third stationary plate having a first surface for a sealing contact with the second surface of the second stationary plate, a second surface opposite the first surface and having a smooth face providing the matching stationary surface in contact with the first surface of the first rotary plate, a port in fluid communication with each adsorption unit inlet, a port in fluid communication with each adsorption unit outlet, and a plurality of secondary ports in fluid communication with the secondary ports of the first rotary plate.