A system and method for separating and/or purification of CO.sub.2 gas from a CO.sub.2 feed stream is described. The system and method include a plurality of fixed sorbent beds, adsorption zones and desorption zones, where the sorbent beds are connected via valve and lines to create a simulated moving bed system, where the sorbent beds move from one adsorption position to another adsorption position, and then into one regeneration position to another regeneration position, and optionally back to an adsorption position. The system and method operate by concentration swing adsorption/desorption and by adsorptive/desorptive displacement.

An air dryer for a locomotive air supply system that includes a controller programmed to initiate a sleep mode that inhibits the air dryer and de-energizes all valves. The controller determines when it is appropriate to enter into sleep mode based on various conditions of the locomotive air supply system. More specifically, the controller is programmed to calculate whether the air dryer should be placed into sleep mode based on operational characteristics of the locomotive air supply system that are indicative that the system has been idled. The initiation of an air dryer sleep mode by the controller prevents undesirable venting of air from the air supply system and unnecessary usage of locomotive battery power.

An air breather system to dehydrate atmospheric air entering an oil tank includes first and second breathers, first and second desiccator tanks, a control unit, a ventilation fan, four conduits, plurality of valves, moisture absorbent, two heating elements, and two moisture sensors. The first and second breathers work one at a time. The atmospheric air entering the first breather is dehydrated by moisture absorbent present in first desiccator tank and is released to the oil tank. When the moisture absorbent of the first breather absorbs moisture to its full capacity, it is regenerated, and the second breather starts functioning. During regeneration, moisture absorbent is heated by the heating element. Hot air along with the vapours of moisture absorbed by the absorbent generated during regeneration process is sucked by the ventilation fan and released out of the air breather system, without allowing moisture in the hot air to condense.

A method and system for manufacturing and using a self-supporting structure in processing unit for adsorption or catalytic processes. The self-supporting structure has greater than 50% by weight of the active material in the self-supporting structure to provide an open-celled structure providing access to the active material. The self-supporting structures, which may be disposed in a processing unit, may be used in swing adsorption processes and other processes to enhance the recovery of hydrocarbons.

An air dryer includes a supporting base, a drying agent container, and an outer cover. The supporting base includes an inlet for receiving compressed air to be subject to a drying process and an outlet for delivering the processed compressed air that has undergone the drying process. The drying agent container is a container supported on the supporting base, contains a drying agent in the interior, and enables the drying process to be performed by passing the compressed air from the inlet through the drying agent. The outer cover surrounds the outer side of the drying agent container on the supporting base and defines a chamber for storing the compressed air between itself and the drying agent container. The supporting base includes first and second mounting surfaces, which are oriented in different directions, and a plurality of inlets, which are oriented in different directions and receive the compressed air.

A multi-tower blower purge dryer system for use with a compressed air stream provided from a compressor is disclosed. In one form the system includes two dryers that can be alternated to dry the compressed air stream. The tower used to dry the compressed air stream can be referred to as the drying tower, and the tower being regenerated can be referred to as the regenerated tower. A number of valves and passages are used to connect the towers to one another and/or to an intake passage from the compressor. A blower purge heater is provided to regenerate the dryers. After a regeneration step in which a tower may be relatively warm, the valves can be actuated to place the warm regenerated tower in fluid communication with the intake passage from the compressor, which can then provide air to the drying tower. In this manner the regenerated tower is cooled.

An air dryer having a heater associated with its inlet and exhaust valves to prevent freezing at cold temperatures. The air dryer includes a temperature sensor associated with the valve block and a controller that can inhibit the operation of the valves when the temperature falls is a predetermined threshold until the heater can sufficiently warm the valve block. To prevent overheating of the heater, the controller can adjust the duty cycle of the heater as the inlet air temperatures increases.

A device for drying compressed gas with an inlet for compressed gas to be dried originating from a compressor and an outlet for dried compressed gas, whereby this device comprises a number of vessels that are filled with a regeneratable drying agent and a controllable valve system that connects the aforementioned inlet and outlet to the aforementioned vessels, wherein the device comprises at least three vessels, whereby the aforementioned valve system is such that at least one vessel is always being regenerated, while the other vessels dry the compressed gas, whereby due to the control of the valve system the vessels are each successively regenerated in turn.

A gas compression system is provided. The gas compression system includes a compressor, an adsorption device, and a fluid control device. The compressor includes a first port and a second port. The adsorption device is adapted to output the high pressure hydrogen gas to the first port and absorb the low pressure hydrogen gas from the second port. The adsportion includes a first container connected to the first port or the second port, and a second container connected to the first port or the second port. The first container and the second container includes a hydrogen adsorption material adapted to release the high pressure hydrogen gas when heated, and absorb the low pressure hydrogen gas when cooled. A method of using the gas compression system is also provided.

Systems and methods for producing a product gas are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes at least one separation bed to separate adsorbable components from a gas source, a valving means to selectively direct gas from the gas source to the at least one separation bed, at least one sensing device associated with the at least one separation bed to sense the progress of an adsorption zone within the separation bed, and a controller. The controller includes logic to read the output of the at least one sensing device and control the gas separation process based on the progress of the adsorption zone.