The present invention relates to the use of a zeolitic adsorbent material based on faujasite (FAU) zeolite crystals, the Si/AI mole ratio of which is between 1.00 and 1.20, and the non-zeolitic phase (NZP) content of which is such that 0<NZP≤25%, for the non-cryogenic separation of industrial gases by (V)PSA, in particular of the air gases.

The invention also relates to respiratory assistance machines comprising at least said zeolitic adsorbent material.

A radial adsorber can be configured to facilitate utilization of different layers of material. The radial adsorber, system using at least one radial adsorber, and methods of utilizing embodiments of the radial adsorber can help permit improved efficient operation of fluid purification processing while also being configured to minimize, if not fully avoid, being susceptible to the effect of fluidization.

A system and method of regenerating a pre-purification vessel is provided that is particularly suitable for pre-purification of a feed air stream in cryogenic air separation unit that uses an oxygen-enriched purge gas stream for regeneration of the pre-purification unit. The disclosed pre-purification systems and methods are configured to remove substantially all of the water, carbon dioxide and other impurities from a feed air stream, optionally including hydrogen and carbon monoxide impurities. The method of regenerating a pre-purification vessel preferably involves regenerating the pre-purification vessel with an oxygen-enriched purge gas after depressurization of the vessel and thereafter partially repressurizing the pre-purification vessel with an auxiliary purge gas thereby diluting the oxygen concentration of the gases contained in the pre-purification vessel and optionally depressurizing the partially repressurized vessel.

Provided is a canister that includes a first adsorbing layer K1 including a first adsorbing material Q1 as an adsorbing material Q and a second adsorbing layer K2 including, as the adsorbing material Q, a second adsorbing material Q2 different from the first adsorbing material Q1. The first absorbing layer K1 and the second absorbing layer K2 are provided inside a casing 10. In a flowing direction of fuel vapor J between one end and another end of the casing 10, the first adsorbing layer K1 is disposed at a position in contact with an air port 10a at the other end, and the second adsorbing layer K2 is disposed closer to the one end than the first adsorbing layer K1 is. The first adsorbing material Q1 adsorbs the fuel vapor J at an adsorbing rate that is lower than an adsorbing rate of the second adsorbing material Q2.

A system and method of regenerating a pre-purification vessel is provided that is particularly suitable for pre-purification of a feed air stream in cryogenic air separation unit that uses an oxygen-enriched purge gas stream for regeneration of the pre-purification unit. The disclosed pre-purification systems and methods are configured to remove substantially all of the water, carbon dioxide and other impurities from a feed air stream, optionally including hydrogen and carbon monoxide impurities. The method of regenerating a pre-purification vessel preferably involves regenerating the pre-purification vessel with an oxygen-enriched purge gas after depressurization of the vessel and thereafter partially repressurizing the pre-purification vessel with an auxiliary purge gas thereby diluting the oxygen concentration of the gases contained in the pre-purification vessel and optionally depressurizing the partially repressurized vessel.

An adsorber for purifying or separating a gas stream, wherein a granular-material filling system is made up of a cylinder that is perforated over all or part of its height, of the top end thereof of diameter Dext, and of the bottom end thereof. The distance Din-Dext is greater than twice the size of particles of the second granular material. A first granular material and the second granular material follow one another in the direction of circulation of the gas stream and are such that M>ADN. And, the second granular material is in contact both with at least a part of the outer surface of the granular-material filling system and at least a part of the inner surface of the domed top end.

The present invention provides processes for filtering undesired chemicals in streams of contaminated air for supply to confined areas. The processes provide (1) contacting air with a filter comprising by volume from about 5% to about 95% impregnated zirconium hydroxide, from about 5% to about 95% activated impregnated carbon, and optionally, up to about 50% ammonia removal material; and (2) supplying the contacted air to a confined area.

The present invention is a sorbent-based atmosphere revitalization (SBAR) system using treatment beds each having a bed housing, primary and secondary moisture adsorbent layers, and a primary carbon dioxide adsorbent layer. Each bed includes a redirecting plenum between moisture adsorbent layers, inlet and outlet ports connected to inlet and outlet valves, respectively, and bypass ports connected to the redirecting plenums. The SBAR system also includes at least one bypass valve connected to the bypass ports. An inlet channel connects inlet valves to an atmosphere source. An outlet channel connects the bypass valve and outlet valves to the atmosphere source. A vacuum channel connects inlet valves, the bypass valve and outlet valves to a vacuum source. In use, one bed treats air from the atmosphere source while another bed undergoes regeneration. During regeneration, the inlet, bypass, and outlet valves sequentially open to the vacuum source, removing accumulated moisture and carbon dioxide.

A system and method of pre-purification of a feed gas stream is provided that is particularly suitable for pre-purification of a feed air stream in cryogenic air separation unit. The disclosed pre-purification systems and methods are configured to remove substantially all of the hydrogen, carbon monoxide, water, and carbon dioxide impurities from a feed air stream and is particularly suitable for use in a high purity or ultra-high purity nitrogen plant. The pre-purification systems and methods preferably employ two or more separate layers of hopcalite catalyst with the successive layers of the hopcalite separated by a zeolite adsorbent layer that removes water and carbon dioxide produced in the hopcalite layers. Alternatively, the pre-purification systems and methods employ a hopcalite catalyst layer and a noble metal catalyst layer separated by a zeolite adsorbent layer that removes water and carbon dioxide produced in the hopcalite layer.

A process and apparatus for producing a hydrogen-enriched product and recovering CO.sub.2 from an effluent stream from a hydrogen production unit are described. The effluent from the hydrogen production unit, which comprises a mixture of gases comprising hydrogen, carbon dioxide, water, and at least one of methane, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, and argon, is sent to a PSA system that produces at least two product streams for separation. The PSA system that produces at least two product streams separates the gas mixture into a high-pressure hydrogen stream enriched in hydrogen, optionally a second gas stream containing the majority of the impurities, and a low-pressure tail gas stream enriched in CO.sub.2 and some impurities. The CO.sub.2-rich tail gas stream is compressed and sent to a CO.sub.2 recovery unit, where a CO.sub.2-enriched stream is recovered. The CO.sub.2-depleted overhead gas stream is recycled to the PSA system that produces at least two product streams.