CA1120411A

CA1120411A - Single bed separator apparatus

Info

Publication number: CA1120411A
Application number: CA000296721A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Paul J. Gardner
Original assignee: Bendix Corp
Current assignee: Bendix Corp
Priority date: 1977-04-04
Filing date: 1978-02-10
Publication date: 1982-03-23
Also published as: AU3489578A; FR2386335A1; IL54375A0; GB1589757A; FR2386335B1; JPS53125268A; IL54375A; DE2814442A1; ES468527A1; IT7821780A0; IT1093984B; AU517879B2

Abstract

SINGLE BED SEPARATOR APPARATUS
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

An apparatus for separating a product effluent from a fluid mixture through the retention of a component, or components, in a bed of adsorption particles. The apparatus has a housing with a chamber therein for retaining the bed of adsorption particles. A first port in the housing connects the chamber with a source of the fluid mixture.
The bed of adsorption particles is connected to a second port in the housing through a header chamber. The second port is connected to a product effluent responsive device. A third port in the housing connects the chamber to a discharge conduit. A first valve controls the communication of the fluid mixture into the chamber and a second valve inhibits the communication of any resultant product effluent through the second port until a specific fluid pressure develops in the chamber whereby the bed of adsorption particles readily adsorbs a component, or components, in the fluid mixture. After this specific fluid pressure is achieved, a fixed volume of the fluid mixture is communicated to the bed of adsorption particles where the component, or components, are retained and a resultant product effluent flows into the header chamber for distribution through the second port.
Upon completion of the communication of the fixed volume of fluid mixture to the bed of adsorption particles, the first valve prevents further fluid mixture communication to the bed of adsorption particles.
Thereafter, the product effluent stored in the header chamber flows into the bed of adsorption particles and purges the component, or components, therefrom by flowing through the third port to the dis-charge conduit.

Description

J~
This invention relates to an apparatus for the separation of a product effluent from a fluid mixture through sequential adsorption and desorption in a sinyle bed of adsorption particles.
Any component in a fluid mixture having adsorbate/
adsorbent isotherms different from the other components in the fluia mi~ture can be separated from the fluid mixture, the component being attracted into the pores or onto rough surfaces of the adsorption particles. The physical adsorption of the component in the pores increases with increa~ing pressure and/or decreasing temperature and is reversed by lowering the pressure and/or increasin~ the temperature. Since adsorption is exothermic and desorption is endothermic the mos-t efficient separation occurs if the thermal energy in the system is conserved and balanced between -the two steps. ~lowever, because of the energy re~uired to provide a -thermal con-tribution to " ~ the separation process currently available, Eluid separation such as disclosed in U.S. Patent 2,9~4,627 only employs the ; use of pressure in the separation process.
The separator disclosed in U.S. Patent 2,94~,6~7 employs two beds of adsorption particles which are alternately connected to a source of fluid mixture under pressure.
Adsorption takes place in one bed at an elevated pressure while the other bed is desorbed at a lower pressure. By alternating the opera-tion of the beds, a continuous flow of product eEfluent is produced. However, in purging the component from the bed of adsorption particles on desorption, it is necesary to utilize up to 75 percent of the product effluent produced by the bed of adsorption particles on adsorption to effectively regenerate a bed saturated with the component. The reasons for such ineffiency are that the exothermic heat of adsorption is displaced and not readily available to desorp-tion; and sb/3 desorption ~low pathq are long and highly restric-tive at the desired operational press~res.
Therefore, before such fluid mixture separa-tions are acceptable for many processes of indus-try, the overall efficiency thereof needs to be improved. 5uch an improved fluid mixture separator would be beneficial in -the separation of oxygen from air ~o improve biological, physiological, chemical and combustion processes which use oxy~en. For instance, hydxocarbon fuel use is relatively inefficient due to the incompleteness o~ fuel oxidation (burning) and the thermal/
thermodynamic management of the burning process. It has been determined that the actual energy output of natural gas or fuel oil in heating systems or gasoline in internal combustion engines could be increased about 30% or more by burning the fuels with air that is oxygen enriched.
Through experimentation it has been determined that the overall efEiciency of pressure swing, adsorption-desorption fluid separators would improve with better fluid dynamics and thermal energy conservation. Fluid dynamics of the separator apparatus would improve iE the length of the bed of adsorption particles and fluid flow path were selected such that with a single gas exposure pass, all the separatable molecules in the fluid mixture would have adequate exposure to an adsorption surface. Whereas, the thermal management of the system would be improved if the exothermic heat of adsorption were retained within the local bed regions of adsorption particles to readily provide the endothermic heat for desorption.
I have devised a separator apparatus which conserves exothermic heat during adsorption to provide endothermic heat which enhances desorption and thereby main-tains a substantially thermal equilibrium within the local bed region of adsorption

- 2 -s b ~",! a particles.
According to the present ;nvention, there is provided an apparatus for separating a product effluerlt from a fluid mixture, the apparatus including a housing having a bore therein with a first port, a second port and a third port, the irst port being connec-ted to a source o Eluid mixture, the second port be.ing connected to a product eEfluent responsive device, and the third port being connected to a discharge conduit. Piston means is located in the housing for separating the bore into a pressurizing chamber and an expansion chamber, the piston having a separa-ting chamber therein for retaining a bed oE adsorption particles. Motor means reciporcates the piston i.n the bore to pressurize a fixed volume of the fluid mixture in the pressuri~ing chamber while expanding any fluid in the expandlng chamber during a down stroke of the piston means. The pressuri~ed fluid mixture from the prassurizing chamber being communicated to the separation chamber were a .
component of the fluid mixture is adsorbed in the bed of adsorption particles and the produc-t effluent is communicated to the second port during the down stroke. The component is purged from the bed of adsorption particles by the product effluent flowing into the expansion chamber on the up stroke of the piston means while the fixed volume of the fluid mixture is drawn into the pressurized chamber to complete a cycle of operation.
In a specific embodiment of the invention, a groove located on the periphery of the piston cooperates with the housing to establish a header chamber. The piston has a control chamber which connects the bed of adsorption particles and the pressurizing and expansion chambers. A first valve controls the flow of the fluid mixture through the Eirst port. A second valve controls the flow of product effluent through the se_ond sb/),j port. A thi,rd valve controls the flow of the product effluent and a componen-t through the third port. A shaEt connected to a mo-tor is attached to the piston. The shaft supplies the piston with reciprocal motion to establish a first and second mode in an operational cycle for the separator apparatus.
During the first mode of the operational cycle, the piston moves toward the pressuriæing chamber to compress the fluid mixture therein. The compressed fluid mixture is communicated to the bed of adsorption particles through the control chamber. The second valve prevents and delays the product effluent from being communicated from the header chamber through the second port until a saturation or active adsorption fluid pressure level is developed in the bed of ads~rption particles. At the same time the piston compresses the fluid mixture in the pressuriæing chamber, the residual product effluent and component in the expansion chamber is e~panded to reduce the fluid pressure therein.
At the top of the piston stroke the direction of the ~ 20 piston is reversed and the second mode of the operational ; cycle initiated. Upon initiation of the second mode, the fluid mixture communication between the bed and the pressurizing ; chamber is interrupted. Thereafter, the bed of adsorption particles is connected to the low pressure of the expansion chamber through the control chamber. The product ", -- ~L --sb/),~, effluent In the header chamber flows through the bed Q~ adsorption partlcles and desorbs or purges the component retained thereon. The product eFf1uPnt and component flows to the expansTon chamber until the flutd pressure tn the header chamber, bed of adsorption parttcles, and expansion chamber are equal. ThereaFter, the thlrd valve opens and allows tha product effluent and component to fl~w Into the dis-charge conduit.
As the pTston moves during the second mode, the ~1rst valve means opens and allows a flxed volume of f1uld mlxture to flow into the pressur~2ing chamber for distrlbution to the bed of adsorptTon particles In the next "first mode" cycle of operation.
Thus, ~he thermal energy creat~d b~y the pls~on in compresslng the fluid mixture complements the he~t o~ adsorption in tha bed of adsorptton particles to main~atn the separator apparatus at a sub-stantlal thermal equilibrium betNeen the adsorptTon and desorptlon cycles of operation.
tt is the object ~ this inventton ~o provide a separator apparatus with a means to conserve and balanc~ the thermal energy generated in a single bed of adsorptlon particles during ads~rptton of a component from a fluld mixture w1th the thermal energy lost during desorp~ion of the component from the single bed of adsorptlon partlcles by low pressure expanston dlscharge therefrom.
It is another object of this invention to pro~ide a fluld separator apparatus with a piston havlng a chamher thereln ~or retain-ing a bed of adsorptlon partTclesO The piston wherl moved in a first mode of opera~ton pressurizes a fixed volume of fluid mixture in a pressurizing chamber and evacuates an expansion chamber~ This pres-surized fluid mixture is communicated to the bed o~ adsorption partlcles ~here a component is adsorbed and a product e~fluent Is communtcated

3 to a dlstributton conduit. When the piston moves in a second mode of ~ 5 ~
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i~`, operatlon~ the pressurizing of the fluid mixture termTnates and the product effluent flo~ls to the expanston chamber to purge the component from the bed of adsorptton parttcles. The product effluent flows into the expanston chamber unttl the pr~ssure tn the ~eds of adsorption parttcles and the expanston chamber is equa1. Ther2after, the piston pushes the product effluent and eomponent through a dTscharge port to cteanse the cxpansion chamber. At the same time the ptston draws a ftxed volume of the flutd mtxture tnto the pressurlziny chamber for separatTon In the bed of adsorptton par~lcles when the dtrection of the piston ts reversed to Inlttate another opera~ional cycle ln the separator apparatus.
It Ts a further objec~ of this tnvention to provide a sTngle bed of adsorptton partlcles wlth means to delay the transmisslon of a produ~t effluent from the slngle bed unt11 a saturatlon or active adsorptîon fluid pressure lavel Ts achieved theretn.
It Is a further object of this tnvention to provtde a fluid separator with a motor for providing a piston retafning a bed o~
adsorption partic1es ~Ith reclprocal motion to create an adsorption mode and a desorption mode therein for separat1ng a product ef~luent from a fluid mlxture.
It is another object of this inventton to provTde a fluid separa~or apparatus havlng a slngle bed of adsorpt70n partlcles with an outlet flow res~rictor to control the flu1d pressure rtse in the single bed and ~he flow of a product e~fluent tnto a header chamber during ~he pressurizatlon part of the operational cycle and ~he flow of the product effluent through the single bed during the purge part of the operational cycle.
It Ts a still ~urther object of this invention to provide an adsorptionJdesorption ~luid separator wIth a means to vary ~he ~ime ~0 periods that a sirgle bed of adsorption particles are operating in the adsorptton and desorption mode~

it Is a further object oF ~h7s tnventton to provlde a fluld separator apparatus having a slngle bed of adsorptton parttcles wlth a means to restrict ~nd delay ~he flow of product effluent through the bed untll an ac~lve adsorptlon pressure level ts reaehed before a pro-duc~ flow response device allows a product effluent to flow therefrom.
it Is a further obJect of this tnvention to provide a fluid separator apparatus having multlple beds of adsorptlon part1cles wtth a means to restrict and delay the ~low of a product effluent through each of the multlple beds untll an aotive adsorptlon pressure level is achleved before a product flow response device allows a con~rolled pro-duct effluent to flow therefrom.
1~ is a further ob3ect of ~hls invention to provide a ~luTd saparator apparatus having a slngle bed of adsorptlon particles wlth a means to restrTct the flow of product effluent through the bed to mtnl mtze the dislocatTon and dlscharge of heat gçnerated wTthin ths slngle bed durTng adsorpt70n of a component from a flutd mlxture.
It is a further objec~ of this invention to provide a fluid ; separator appara-tus havlng a stngle bed of adsorption particles with a ~eans to restrict and delay ~he flow of product e~luent through the bed until an acttve adsprotlon pressure level is reached to assure adequate exposure tlme for adsorption of a separable component from a fluld m1xture.
It Is a further object of th1s tnvention to provide a fluld separator apparatus having a sfngle bed of adsorptlon partic~es wtth a means to restrlct and delay the flow of product eff!uent through the bed resulting ln heat re~entlon during adsorption and faster adsorbate response time durlng low pressure desorption.
It Is a ~urther object of this inYentlon to provlds a fluid separator apparatus ha~ing a single bed of adsorptlon par~icles with a -30 means to restrict the ~low o~ product ef~luent through ~he bsd to establish an adsorbate/adsorbent volume ratTo for a glven adsorptlon to desorptlon delta prcssure and tempera~ure condtt10n assoclated wlth an 1nput flutd.
mlxture and output product effluent.
These and other objects wtll be apparent from readlng thls applIcatlon and viewlng the drawlngs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
F7gure 1 Is a sectional vlew of an adsorptlon/desorption separator apparatus made according to the prlnclples of the tnventlon dlsclosed hereln;
Flgure 2 is a secttonal vtew taken along llne 2-2 of Figure l;
Figure 3 Ts a sectional view of the separator apparatus Illus~rated in Ftgure 1 showlng the purge mode of operat70n;
Flgure 4 is a sectional view of the separator apparatus illustrated in Flgure 1 show1ng a pressurlzlng mode oF operation, Flgur~ 5 ts a sectional vtew of the separator apparatus Illustra~ed in Flgure 1 showTng a product effluent~mode of operatlon;
Flgure 6 Is a sectlonal v~e~J of the separa~or appara~us illustrated In Figure 1 showing a means for varyTng ~he adsorptTon tlme pertod o~ a single bed of adsorption partTcles wlth respect to the desorptton ttme period In an operational cycle;
Flgure 7 Is a sectiona1 vlew of ~he separator apparatus in Figure 1 shvwlng a secondary chamber for storing a portlon of the product from the slngle bed of adsorpt10n partlc~es;
Flgure 8 7s a sectTonal view of the separator apparatus in Flgure 1 show7ng a means for changlng the flow charac:terTstlcs of a fluld m7xture into the slngle bed of adsorptiQn par~icles by minlmiztng the volume of a central dlstribution control chamber;
Flgur~ 9 Is a secttona7 vtew of the separator apparatus in Flgure 1 showing a means for prov;ding a uniform flow cross section through the single bed of adsorptlon particles;

Flgure 10 is a sectlonal v1ew of a fluid separator apparatus lltustrattng a secondary motor means for raciprocably movlng a single bed of adsorptlon particles in a bore;
Ftgure 11 ts a sectional vlew of a separator appara~us tllustratlng a secondary means of controlling the co~municatlon be~ween a slngle bed of adsorption partlcles, the pressurizing, and evacuation chambers;
Ftyure 12 ts a sectTonal view of a fluld separator apparatus having a fixed bed of adsorptton part7cles located In a bore between a pressurtzlng and evaruatton plston;
Figure 1~ Ts a sectlonal vTew of a fluld separator Illustrating a stngle bed of adsorptlon particles conneot~d to a source of pressurized fluld and vacuum through a first port and to a product effluent discharge conduit through a ~econd port operating tn a manner taught by thls invention;
F1gure 14 Ts a graph illustrattng the flutd pressure characteristlcs In the pressurlztng ehamber and expansion chamber of the separator apparatus in Figure l;
Figure.15 ts a sect;onal vtew of a separa~or apparatus 111ustrattng a means for sequentlally operatlng a control valve prior to a change in 2~ direc~lon of a reciproeal movable plston ~o assure that adsorption of a bed of ~dsorptlon partTcles terminates prlor to desorptton; and Figure 16 is a sectional vte~J of a separator apparatus having two beds of adsorptton material opera~ing accordtng to ~he prlncipals of this 7nvention to produce a substantTally continuous ~lo~l of product effluent.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INY~NTION
._ The separator apparatus 10 illustrated in Figure 1 is adapted to separate either nltrogen or oxygen from air depending on the ultimate use of the resultant product e~fluen~. The separator apparatus 10 can be 3 used to separate a component from a fluid mtxture to produce a product _ g _ 3~ fl~
cffluent whenever a component in the fluld mixture ts attracted to an adsorp~ion particle tn a pressurizatTon increase cycle and extracted from the adsorptlon particle during a purge and pressure decrease cyc 1 ~ .
The separator apparatus 10 sho~m in Figure 1 includes a houslng 12 formed by attaching end plates 16 and ld ~o a cylindrical body 20 and a motor member 23~
The cyllndrlcal body 20 has a bore 14 located therein. The houslng has a fTrst port 24, a second port 26 and a third por~ 28 For connectlng the bore 14 with a source of fluld mixture through conduit 30, a product effluent responslve member through condult 32, and a discharge conduit 34.
A piston member 22 is located tn bore 14 to establish an expansTon chamber 36 adjacent port 28 and a pressurl2atlon chamber 38 ad3acent port 21I.
The ptston member has a first wall 40 separated ~rom a second wall 42 ! by a cyllndrical member 44 to establlsh a retention chamber 52 ~heretn.
The cylIndrlcal member ~1~ has a groove 46 ~see Flgure 2) located batween lands 4a and 50 and with the hous~ng 20 establlshes a header chamSer 54 In bore 14. The cyllndrical member 44 ~as a series of radial op~ntngs 56 10cated thereln for connecting tha retention chamber 52 with the header chamber 54. A restrlctlve sleeve 5~ having a radial openTng 59 of a different sT~e and at a dl~erent interval than radtal openings 56 is attached to the cylîndrical member 44 to ~urther limit th~ communi~
catlon from the reter.tton chamber 52 into the hsader chamber 54.
A tube 60 is located along the axial center GF the firs~ and second ~alls 40 and 4~ to establish a controt chamber 62. Tu~e 60 has a serles o~ opentngs 64 ~or connscting the re~ention chamber S~ with the control chamb2r ~2. The first wall 40 ha~ a series of openinys 66 surrounding an axial opentng 68 for connectTng the pressurizing chamher 38 ~ith the control chamber 62. The second wall 42 has a series of openings 70 10 ~
~, ~2~
surrounding an axial openlng 72 for connecting the expansion chamber 36 with the control chamber 62. Guides 74 and 76 are connected to the first and second walls 40 and 42 to provide a bearing surface for stem 78. Stem 78 connects a first Eace member S0 with a second face member 82 on a control valve 85.
The control valve 85 regulates the communication of fluid mixt~re and product effluent-componene fluid mixture through the control chamber 62. Second valve face member 82 of the control valve 85 is attached to push rod 84 wh:Lch extends through a bearing seal arrangement 86 in end plate 16.
A pivotal linkage 88 connects push rod 84 with a flywheel 90 located on shaft 92 of the motor member 23. The ~ ~ shaft 92 of the motor member 23 upon rotation provicles piston ; 22 with reciprocal motion~
Depending on the product efEluent desired, the reten-tion chamber 52 is filled with adsorption particles 94 such as a zeolite. It is well know in the separator arts such as described in U.S. Patent 3,880,616 that when oxygen is the desired product effluent, a zeolite having a pore size of approximately 4.8 ~ngstroms is selected for the adsorption material.
~n order to assure that the adsorption particles 94 remain in the retention chamber 52, filter syste~s 96 and 98 are located between the cylindrical member 44 and tube 60, respectively.
As best illustrated in Figure 2, f;lter systems 96 and 98 have fibrous mat or coarse felt filters 100 and 102 located adjacent the adsorption particles, and a paper, screen or foam filters 104 and 106 located adjacent the cylindrical members 44 and tube 60, respectively.
In addition, plastic fibers 99 may be ;nterspersed throughout the bed of adsorption particles to loosely hold the individual particles in a substantially fixed position~

ws/;~,,, The plastic fibers 99 absorb the shock forces caused by the pressure fluid mixture and product eEfluent acting on the particles to reduce rubbing and thereby minimize powderi.ng of particles oE the bed.

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The communication of fluid mixture Into the separator 10 is con~
trolled by a ftrst valve 108 which Is attaehed to end plate 18~ The first valve 108 which surrounds port 24 has a spring 110 whlch ac~s on and urges face 112 toward a seat 114 to only p~rmtt ~he fluid m;xture to flow In one directlon from conduT~ 30 Into tha pressur1zing chamber 38.
A second va9Ye 116 attached to the cyllndrlcal member 20 and surroundtng port 26 has a spring 118 whtch acts on and urges ~ace 1~0 toward seat 122 to preven~ the f10w of the product efPluent through the ~cond port 2~ whenever the f1uld pressure ~n the bore ts below a predetermined-actlve adsorp~Ion or saturatlon level.
A third ~alv~ IZ4 attaehed to end plate 1~ and surroundtng ; port 28 ha~ a spr7ng 126 which urges face 128 against a seat 1~0 to prevent the communlcat;on from thP condult 34 into the expanslon chamber whenever the fluid pressure In the expanslon charnber ls below that tn the discharge conduit.
The end plate 16 has~l3n orlfice 132 thereln wlth a size and~or adjustment such that a resultlng low pressure can be produced in the expanslon chamber 36 to establish a pressure dlf~erential for fl~wing a product efftuent from the header chamber,54. The flowing produc~ 'effluent 2~ purges a component into the expansion chamber 36 durlng the desorption par~
of the operatIonal cycte ~o leanse the bed Of,adsorbed gased therefrom ~ODE OF OPERATION OF THE INVENTION
The separa~or apparatus 10 shown tn Figure 1 is shown In a cond1t;on whereby an oxyqen enrTched product efFluent is produced from ~he surrounding environment.
The motor member 23 supplles shaft 92 wlth a rotational torque whtch rotates flywheal 90. As flywheel 90 rotates end 8~ o~ linkage member 88 pivots on pin 87 and moves in an arcuate path, ho~ever, end gl pivots on pln 93 and provides push rod 84 wtth a linear input force which 3 moves piston member 22 back and forth in bore 14.

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As shc~ in Figure 1, ltnkage 88 acting through push rod 84 has moved end face 80 against the wall 40 to prevent ccmmunicatTon through openlngs 66 from the pressur~zing chambcr 38 tnto the control chamber 62.
With opentngs 66 closed communicatlon of pressur7zed fluid mTxture to the bed oF adsorptton parttcles 52 is Tnterrupted and the distrlbution of the product effluen~ from condul~ 32 is ter~lnated. The ~'luid pressure in the bed of adsorption particles at this time is in an operational cycle as lllustrated by potnt 140 on line 142 in Flgure 11~. Valve 108 remaTns closed until ~he ~luid pressure In ~he pressurizing chamber 38 is less than the fluid pressure in the ~luid mixture in condutt 30. Thereafter~
further movement o~ the plston member 22 draws a ftxed volume of the : fluid mlx~ure into the pressurizlng chamber 38 by overcoming spring 110 to unseat face 112 from seat 114.
PrTor to the clostng of communicatlon ~rom ~he pressur king chamber 38 to the control chamber 62, the fluid pressure in the expansion chamber 36 reaches a level tndTcated by poln~ 144 on ltne t460 Immediately foltowlng ~he closure o~ the communicatTQn into ~he control chamber 6~ through passages ~r openlngs 669 push rod ~4 moves the second face member ~2 away from op~nings 70 as shown In Figure 1 to initiate commun~;c~t~on ~r~m the control cham~or 62 into the expan-sion chamber 36.
The ~luid mixture in t~e control chamber 62 ini~ial1y flo~5 into the evacuated space in the expanston chamber.
Thereafter, the product effluent tn the header chamber 54 reverses its flow dTrection and flows through openings 59 in the restrictor plate 58 and apentngs 56 tn ~he cylindric:al ~all or memher 44 into the bed of adsorptian particles. The fluid pressure in the bed of adsorptTon particles by this tTme is below the saturation or actlve pressure level and the component part o~ ~he fluld mtxture (nltrogen 3 where air îs the ~luid mlxture~ ls released from ~he surface adsorption 13 ~

bond and transmitted by free flow and the product effluent to the control chamber 62 ~or dTstribution to expanslon chamber 36.
The product effluent continues to flow and transmit the component Into the expansion rhamber ~ unttl an equilibrium pressure Illustrated by polnt 1~8 on llne 146 in Ftgure 14 occurs. Thereafter, the fluld pressure In ~he expanslon chamber Increases and at a point 150 shown in F7gure 14 Ts equal to the flutd pressure ln the discharge conduit 3~, at thls tlme plston 22 assumes a locatlon shown in Figure 3.
~Iston 22 contlnues to move In bore 1lI toward the expans70n chamber and creates a pressurTzing force suffic;ent to over~ome spring 126 and expel the product effluent and component ~rom the expansion chamber 36 into the dlscharge condult 34.
At ehe top of the stroke of the piston member 22, Itlustrated In Ftgure ~, push rod 84 moves the sec~nd valve face 82 agaTnst wall 42 to in~errupt com~unicatlon from the control chamber 62 to the expansTon chamber 36. At this time the fluid pressure in the bed of adsorption -~partTcles 52, control chamber 62, and header chamber ~4 1s equal to polnt 152 In Figure 140 Push rod 84 acts on wall 42 to ~ove the pis~on member 22 toward the pressurizing chamber 38 to pressurize the fixed volume of fluid mixture (alr3 ~herein~ The fluid pressure built up in the pres~
surizlng chambPr 38 and bed of adsorption partic1es follows ltne 14~ in Fig. 14.
When wall 40 of the header chamber 54 moves past port ~6, the header chamber 54 15 then brou~ht into communicatlon with the second port 26.
During this fluld pressure butld up, the fluid ~txf:ure is communicated through openinqs 66 into the control chamber 62 for dlstribution to the bed of adsorption partîc1es in retention cha~ber 52.
The spring 118 in the second valve 116 is se1ected to allow communication of the product efFluent in the header chamber 54 to flo~
past seat 122 when the satuaration or active adsorptton pressure le~el, - 14 ~

, ~

~ strated by point 154 in Figure 14 is achieved in the bed of adsorption particles 52.
Thereafter, the piston member 22 continues to move toward the pressuri~.ation chamber 38. ~owever, the fluid pres-sure level therein remains constant. The thermal energy gener~
ated in compressing the fluid mixture in the pressuri21ng chamber continues and is transmitted with the pressurized fluid mixture to the bed OL adsorption particles in retentlon chamber 52 to subsequently aid in the desorption of the ; 10 component ~herein.
Upon closure of the communication between the control chamber 62 and the expansion chamber 36, valve 124 interrupts flow through port 28. As piston member 22 moves toward the pressuriæing chamber, the residual product eEfluent and component therein is expanded and a pressure level illustrated in Figure 14 by line 146' created.
At the bottom r)f the stroke of the piston member 22, push rod 84 again moves the first Eace member 80 against wall 40 and upon control valve 85 to allow the product effluent in the header chamber 54 to purge the component from the single bed of adsorption particulars to control chamber 62 for distribution to the expansion chamber 36.
This cyclic operation continues as long as the motor member 23 provides the piston member 22 with reciprocating motion. Under some conditions it may be desirable to connect a plurality of piston members 22 to the flywheel 90 since the motor 23, as il]ustrated in Figure 1, is only operating at approximately 50% of its effective power producing efficiency.
Such a scheme could be used to provide a continuous product effluent flow from conduit 32.
In the embodiments of the separator apparatus d:is-closed in the remaining figures in the sheets of drawings, ws/ ~

like elements are identified by the same numerals as in Figure 1.
In Figure 6 the housing 22 of separator apparatus 210 has ineluded therein an operational limiter valve 150 and a relief valve. 152.

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It has been found through experlmentatton that the tTme involved for an adsorbent parti~le In the bed of adsorptlon p3rttcles to adsorb a component onto tts surface takes less tlme than to desorb the component therefrom. ThereFore, under some condttions 1~ ts necessary to vary the adsorptlon mode of operation with r0spect to the desorption mode of operation. To achTeve thls variance In ~he operational cycle In tha separator ~pparatus 10, an operatlonal llmiter valve 1~0 is d~igned to reducP the t1me pariod that the pressurized fluld mlxture Is com~unl-cated to the control chamber 62 from the pressurizlng chamber 38.
The operational limlter valve 150 includes a sleeve 154 with an annular Face 156 and a beartng surface 156. The bearing surface 158 is located In bore 160 extendiny from port 24. A spring 162 acts on the bearing surface and ~oves the same into engagement wlth a stop or snap ring 164.
When piston member 22 mov~s toward the pressuriz7ng chamber 38, face 156 engages the wall 40 and tnhtbits the communicatlan from the majorlty of the pressuri~ing chamber 3B into the contro1 cha~ber 62 through opentng 66. The ptston member ~2 contlnues to move to the top of the stroke without any further substantial amount of the fixed volume being communic3ted to the single bed of adsorptlon parttcles in the retentlon chamber 52.
After the engagement of face 156 and wall 40, the fluld pressure Tn ~he pressurizlng chamber 38 contlnues to IncreasP requtrlng a relle~ valve 15~ to assure that the houslng 20 and assoclated end plate 18 are not damaged. The relief valve 152 Includes a disc 166 reslllently held agalnst a seat 168 by a sprlng 170~ The face o~ thz sprlng 170 is such that a force greater ~han polnt 154, shown in Fi~ure 14 - is required to move the face 165 away frcm the seat 168 to provlde a flow path to the atmosphere.
3~ The purge cycle of this separator apparatus is identical to t:h~lt in ~igure ~ arl~ thereEore clo~s not need any further exp]anat:ion.
The separ.ltor apparatus 310 disc:losed in F:igure 7 is :identi.cal to that :in l~'igure 1 ~:ith tlle except-ion of a secondary ch<llllber 172 connected to tlle housing 20 for providing the header chamber 54 with an aux:il-Lary volume of product efflllent to purge the component :Erom thc Z~ed of adsorption particles and to as~ure that the flow o.E the product effluent through the hed oE adsorption particles does not fol:Low a path . lO directly toward port 26 but is equally distributed to the header chamber 54.
The secondary chamber 172 includes a housing 174 with a neck 176 thereon which is attached to port 178 by threads .
; During pressuri~ing of the fluid mixture :I.n chamber 38, the resultant product effluent flows through the bed of adsorption particles, through the restri.ctor plate 58 :into the chamber 54. The product effluent flows from the header chamber 54 into the secondary chamber 172. When the second valve 116 opens the product effluent flows through conduit .
32 for distribution to the product effluent responsive second valve 116.
When push rod 84 moves the first control face 80 against the wall 405 the second control face 82 moves away from wall 42, as shown in Figure 7, to allow the product effluent in the secondary chamber 172 ancl header chamber 54 to flow through opening 59 in restrictor plate 58 and purge the bed of adsorption particles of the component retained thereon. This purge portion of the cycle continues until the pressure in the secondary chamber 172, header chamber 54, retainer chamber 52, control chamber 62 and expansion chamber 36 are equal. The extra volume of product effluent present ~ ~) w g / .l".

in secondary chamber 172 provldes an additional fluid volume required to remove so~e components from the surface of the adsorption particles~
In addition, a flapper valve 180 attached to the wall 42 is designed to close whenever a positive pressure di~feren-- tial occurs between the expansion chamber 36 and the control chamber 62. Thus 9 the wall 42 can move to expel the product-effluent and component through port 28 without any being returned to the control chamber 62~
The separator apparatus 410 disclosed in Pigure 8 has a sleeve member 182 attached to the walls 40 and 42 to control the flow path of the fluid mi~ture and the product effluent and component through the control chamber 62. The sleeve 182, as shown, has a curved surface 184 that may be needed to minimize the volume of the control chamber 62 when the flow path through the absorbent bed is short as compared to its length to thereby minimize the discharge of comprcssed gas.
The separator apparatus 510 disclosed in Figure 9 has a conical or venturi shaped retention chamber 188 for providing a uniform cross sectional area for the bed of adsorption particles 186.
- ` The conical shaped retention chamber 188 has a first wall 190 attached to wall 40 and a second wall 192 attached to wall 42. The resulting throat 194 is located adjacent the cylindrical member 44. Passages 196 and 198 connect the header chamber 54 with a purge chamber 200 located between the walls 40 and 42.
In operation, the pressurized fluid ~ixture flows into the bed of adsorption particles and uniformly raised ; the pressure level therein. The product effluent resulting therefrom flows into the header chamber 54 and through passages 196 and 198 for distribution to the purge chamber 200.

-~b '`~:
'7S /`~

~!L2(~
~ s shown :in F.igure 9, when the push rod 84 moves the face member 80 agalnst wall 40, communication through paclsages is interrupted and the product eEfluent in the purge chamber 200 flows into header chamber 54 for distribution through the bed of adsorption partlcles to purge or desorb any component adsorbed thereon in the adsorption part o~ the operatlonal cycle. This added volume of product effluent assures that the bed of adsorption partlcles is relatively free of the component at the beginning of the pressurizing part of the operational cycle.

~ 18a-WS~Q

The separator apparatus 610 dlsolosed in Flgure 10 has a ro~ary tnput shaft 92 to develop the reclprocatTng mot70n o~ the plston 22 in bore 14. End plate 16 has first and second pro3ections 22 and 222 extending therefrom. FTrst and second axles 224 and 226 ar attached to the and plate 16 which are located adjacent projectton 220 and 222 In a plane perpendlcular to the cyltndrlcal body 20. Hubs 234 and 236 are located on axles 224 and 226 to align gears 230 and 232 tn a plane parallel ~o bore 14. A r7ng gear 234 attached to wall 42 Is brought into engagem~n~ wlth gears 230 and 232 by a spr7ng 240 on spltned 1tnkage 246. The spl7ned llnkage 246 has a f7rst shaft 242 and a secord shaft 244. The first shaf~ 242 has a flrst spl7ned end 248 and a seoord splined end 250. Splined end ~50 is located 7n a spl7ned section 258 on gulde 76. Splined end 248 telescopes 7nto a correspondlng s~lined end 252 on ths second shaft 244. A gear 254 connects shaFt 244 with worm gear 256 on sha~t 9~.
In operation9 a rotatlve torque supplied to shaf~ ~2 causes a corresponding rotative torque to be applled to shaft 244. The splined llnkage 246 transm7ts torqwe ~rom shaft 244`dtrectly into shaft 242 which rotates the ptstorl member 22. As piston rnember 22 rota~es, ring gear 238 engages eccen~ric gears 230 and 232. Since sprTng 240 holds the ring gears 238 tn conta~t wtth eccen~ric gears 230 and 232, the pis~on member rec7procates 1n bore 14 from ~he bottom of a stroke tn the expanston chamber 36 to thc top of a stroke in the pressurizing chamber 38. The desorptlon and adsorptlon modes of an operattonal cycle of the slngle bed of adsorptlon particles when brought into communtcation with a pressurized fluid mlxture to produce a product e~fluent and a lower pressure chamher to purge the bed is the sa~e as that described wtth respect to Figure 1.
The separator apparatus 710 shown in Figure 11 ts tdentical to the separator apparatus disclosed in figure 1 with tha exception of ~he firs~ and second control valves 260 and 262.

The FTrst control valve 260 has a housin~ 264 attached to wall 40 with a bore 266 located therein connected to pressurlzing chamber 38 through opening or passage ~8. A plston 270 located 1n bore 266 has a ball poppet, or plate 272 on the end thareo~ whtch ts urged toward a seat 274 by a spring 27f~i. A cross bore 278 connect~ bore 266 to the control chamber 62.
The second control valve 262 has a houslng 280 a~tached to wall 42 wlth a bore 282 loca~ed theretn connected to the control chamber 6 through open7ng or passage 284~ A piston ~86 located in bore 282 has a ball poppet or plate 28S on the end thereof whlch Is urg~d toward a seat 290 by a sprlng 292. A cross bore 294 conencts bore 2~2 with the expanslon chamber 3~.
; In operation, wh~n ths fluld pressure tn the bed of adsorptton ~- partlcl~s reaches a peak predetermined pressure level and acts on ~all 2~8~ the piston ls moved away from seat 290. When the ball 2~ moves away from ~he seat 290, th~ fl^I~d pressure ac~s on the plston 286 and rapidly moves and holds the p1s~on ~86 agaTnst stop 296 to allo~ ~he product effluent eo purge the bed of adsorption partic1es in retalner chamber 52 of the component absorbed on the surface thereof.
~ When ball ~88 of piston 286 ts moYed away fro~ seat 29~, a pressure drap occurs in the control 6~ such that. spring 276 moves ball 272 agains~ seat 274 to interrupt communtcat70n from pr~ssurizing chamber 38 7nto the c~ntrol chamber 62.
As ptston ~ember 22 approaches the bottom of its stroke, a posltlve pressure Ts created in expanslon chamber 3G. Thls positive pressure allo~ls sprtng :292 to seat ball 288 on seat 290 to interrup-t commun7cation to the expanslon chamber 36 from the control ch~mber 6?, Thereafter the positive pressure acts to open ~a1ve 124 and expel the product ef~luent and component through the dtscharge port without any back flow into the control ch3mber 62.

.
- 2~ -~J~ a~

When piston member 22 r~aches ~he bottom of Its stroke, the dtrectior, is reversed and face 40 begins to pressurize the ftxed volume of the fluid mixture In the pressurtzing chamber 38. When a predetermTned fluld pressure ts developed In the pressur1zing chamber 38, ball 272 moves away from seat 274 and thereafter acts on ptston 270 which Is urged agatnst stop 265. Thereafter, the pressur1zed flutd mlxture flows tnto the control chamber 62 for distributlon through the bed of adsorp-tton partic1es tn retentlon bed 52.
The second valve 116 prevents any product ef~luent communt-cated to header chamber 54 until an ac~ive adsorption fluid pressure level Is achiaved tn the bed o~ adsorption parttc1es. Thereafter the -. product ef~luent flows past seat 122 through condutt 32 for distrtbu-~- tion to the product effluent responslve devtce.
: When a negattve fluld pressure level ts achieved tn expansion chamber 36 through the expanslon of the product effluent and component thereln, the fluid mixture flutd pressure acts on ball 288 to move the pTs~on away from seat 2~0 and opens communicatton between the control chamber 62 and the expanslon chamber and begin a new cycle of operation as the plston ~2 returns ~rom the top of the stroke.
The separator apparatus clisclosed in Ftgure 12 has a stngle bed of adsorp~ion partieles located between walls 40 and 42 1n ~ ftxed position adjacent the port 26. A first piston 300 separates the bore 14 b~tween wall 40 and end plate 18 into a supply chamber 302 and a pressurizing chamber 304. A second piston 306 separates the bore 14 between wall 42 and end plate 16 into an expansTon ohamber 308 and an atmospheric chamber 312.
A first valve 314 attached ~o the ftrst piston 300 controls the flow of the fluid mixture ~rom the supply chamber 3~2 into the pressurizing chamber 304. Valve 3i4 has a disc 316 urged to~arcl a seat 318 by a spring 320.

A second valve 322 located Tn the c~ntrol chamber 62 has a spltt spoo1 324 frictlona11y carrled on push rod 84 to con~rol the communica-tton between the contro1 chamber 62, the pressur1z7ng chamber 304, and the expansion chamber 308.
A discharge valve 3~6 has a face 328 which ts reslliently posttloned away from the second piston 306 by sprtng 330.
The separator apparatus 810 in F1gure 12 is Illustrated tn the adsorptton part of ehe cyclc. Push rod 84 pu11s ~he first and second ptstons 300 and 306 toward the pressuriztng chamber 304 and the atmos-10 pheric chamber 312. As the piston moves In ~he adsorption mode, valve 108opens and allows a fTxed volume of ~lutd mixture to flow into the supply chamber 302. At the same tlme, the fluid pressure of the fluid mixl:ure tn the pressurizing chamber 304, the control chamber h2, the reeention chamber 52 and header chamber 54 increases whtl~ the ~luld pressure in the expanslon chamber 308 decreases ~o create a pressure diFferenttal across spool 324. Thls pressure differentTal acts on and moves the spool against wall 42 to prevent communtca~ion from the control chamber 62 ~ to the expansion chamber~
: The ~luid pressure in the pressurlztng chamber 30~ Increases 2~ untll an actlv~ adsorption pressure level develops In the bed of adsorp~
tlon partlcles. Thereafter, sprlng 118 is overcome and face 120 moves away ~rom seat 122 to allow the product ef~luent in header chamber ~4 to flcw Into condui~ 32 for distrlbut70n to the product ~ffluent responsTve devlce.
At the top o~ th~ stroke o~ the push rod 84, push rod 84 mov~s plstons 300 and 306 toward the supply chamber 302 and expansion chamber 3a8.
Spool valve 324 is frlctionally carried on push rod 84 and at the top o~
the stroke moves away from openlngs 72 into engagement with openlngs 66 to termlna~ communicatlon with the pressurizlng rhamber 304 tnto the 30 control chamber 62 and tni~Tate commurtc3tion from the control chamber 62 to the ~xpansion chamber 308. The product affluent in the header chamber 54 flows through ~he bed of adsorptlon parttcles 1n re~a1nar chamber 52 and purges any component absorbed on the surface th%reby flow7ng toward the expansion chamber 308 because or the nagatlve or 10wer flutd pressure contalned thereln.
The product e-ffluent and component flow into the expanslon chamber 308 untll the fluTd pressure tn ~he haader chamber 54, retentton chamber 52, control chamber 62, and expans10n chamber 308 are equal.
At thls potnt 1n ttme, ~ace 328 engages houstng 42 and inter-10 rupts the communTcatlon between the control chamber 62 and the expansionchamber 308. Further movement of piston 306 toward wall 42 creates a posltive pressure which expels the product effluent and component through port 28 to the atmosphere through discharge condutt 34.
: As p7ston 300 moves ~oward the supply chamb0r 302, sprlng 320 Is overcome and a flxed voluma of fluid mtxeure presented In the supply chamber flows Into the pressurtzlng chamber 304.
At the bottom of the s~roke~ push rod 84 moves spool valve 324 against wall 42 to again intttate the adsorptton mode In the operational : cyçle~
The separa~or apparatus 910 dlsclosed In Ftgure 13 has a housing 340 wlth a first port 342 connected to a condui$ 344 and a second port 350 connected ~o a product e~flwent dtstrlbutor condul~ 352.
Conduit 344 is connected to a conduit 34~ through whtch a source of pressurlzed fluld is commun~cated to so1enoid valve 348 and ~o a dls~
charge conduit 354 through solenoid valve 356.
A bed of absorption particles is located in housing 342 by ~ retalner plate 358 ~o establ1sh a header chamber 360 ad3acent port 350 and by a retatner pla~e 361 to establish a control chamber 362 adJacent port 342. Firs~ and second f~l~ and screen ftlt2rs 364 and 366 30 are located adjacent the retainer plates 361 and 358, respectively, ~o assure that all the absorptton partlcles are retained Tn the s1ngle bed durlng the cyclIng between the absorptton and desorpt10n modes o~ operatlon.
In addttlon, restrlctor plate 357 7s located in the bed o~ adsorptton partlcles to delay the communieatlon therethrough untll an actlve adsorptton pressure level Is achiaved durtng adsorptton and to meter the flow of product effluent wh7ch purges the component from the bed o~ adsorptlon parttcles durlng the desorption part of the operational cycle.
In the absorpt~on part of the operattonal cycle, solenotd valve 348 Is provided wlth an electrical activatlon signal whlch allows pressurtzed fluid mixture ~o flow from condutt 346 ~hrough port 342 Into the control chamber 362. The Flutd pressure in the housing builds up untll a saturation or actiYe adsorption fluid pressure level is achieved In the bed of absorptlon partlcles. Thereaf~er, the pressur7zed fluid mlxturP ~lows ~hrough the bed of absorptiol1 parttcles In retentton cha~ber 352 into the header chamber 360 and past seat 122 by overcoming sprlng 118 In valve 116 for dlstributlon through conduit 352. The Flow of the pressurlzed ftuid mixture from conduit 346 contlnues until a preteter~ined flxed fluid volume Ts presented to the bed of absorption particles.
Thereaf~er~ the electrlcal actlvatton s1gna1 to solenold valve 248 Ts terminated and actlvatlon signal ts transmit~ed ~o solenold valve 356.
Wtth solenold valv~ 356 actlvated, the control chamber 36~
: . .
is connected to the dlscharye condult 354.
To achieve rapld desorption o~ the component retained ln the bed o~ absorp~1on partTcles9 dlscharge condu T t 3 54 i s connected to a negatlve pressure or vacuum source. Thus, ~he product e~fluent in header chamber 360 flows through the bed of ahsorptlon particle~ to purge the component absorb~d ~hereon and cleanse the bed. After a pre~
determined ~tm~ perlod, the activatton stgnal to ~olenold valve 356 is 3 terminated and solenoid valve 348 agatn activated to Inltlate another operatlonal cycle In the separator apparatus ~10.

The separator apparatus 1010 dtsclosed In Flgure 15 Is tdentlcal to ~hat In Flgure 1 with the exception that the ~trst port 24 is o~set from the center line of the hous1ng~ a bumper member 370 fs located tn an axial ltne wtth push rod 84, and a plunger memb~r 372 extends from push rod 84 to control communication between control chamber 62 and the pressurlz1ng chamber 38 and expans70n chamb~r 36.
The plunger member 372 has a tubular member 374 which extends through bearTng surface 380 Into he control chamber 62. A stem 386 attached to a first face member 388 has an end 390 which telescoplngly extends Into the tubular member 374. The stem 386 has a slot 3g2 therein through whlch pTn 394 extends for attachfng the stem 386 to the ~ubular member 374~ A sprtng 396 located In the tubular member 374 urg~s the flrst face member 388 away ~rom the flrst wall 40.
A second face member 378 located on the push rod 84 Is urged aga1nst a stop 384 by a sprlng 382 to provtde Independent movement between the second face member 378, the second wall 42 and push rod 8~.
A drlving plate 396 attached to the second wall 42 provide~ a guide for push rod 84 to assure a seal develops across sea~s 397 and 398 upon engagement of the first and scond face members 3~8 and 378 ~ith walls 40 and 42, r~specttvely.
A drlvlng coTlar 400 having a f;rst face 404 and 3 second face 402 is fixed to the push rod 84 on opposite sides o~ the drtving plate 39~.
The dfstance between the flrst and second faces 402 and 404 is equal to the length of slot 3~2 and as such, controls the sequential engagement of ths first and second ~ace memb2rs 388 and 378 with the first and second walls 40 and 42.
Th~ bumper me~ber 370 includes an ad3ustable bolt 406 whtch extends through housfng 16 wlth a head 408 attached thereto In the pres~
sur ktng chamber 38~ A spring 410 holds ~he head 408 against a stop 417 on the end ~f bolt 406~

In operation, on the down stroke of the push rod 84, the f~rst face 404 on the collar 400 engages drlving plate 396 and at the same ttme the second face 402 engages ~he second ~ace member 378 to move face 376 on to seat 397 to Interrupt c~mmuntcation fro~ expanslon chamber 36 Into control chamber 62.
At the ~ame tlme, spring 396 moves the flrst face 388 away from ~` th~ flrst wall 40 to allow communtcati~n from pressurlzing chamber 38 Tnto the control chamber 62.
As ptston 22 moves tn bore 14 the fluld pressure In the pres-surizlng chamber 38 tncreases and ts communicated into the control chamber 62 for distrlbution to the bed of adsorpt7On partlcles. The bed of adsorp-tion partTcles adsorbs a component from the pressurlzed fluid mixl:ure and a produc~ effluent flows tnto the h~ader chambcr 54. The header chamber ~4 retalns the product e~luent unttl w~ll 40 moves past th& second port 26 and an adsorptton fluld pressure level Is achieved therein sufflctent to overcome sprtng 118. Thereafter the pressurtzed ~lutd mtxture pushes a correspondtn~ volume o~ product effluent through th~ second port 26 ~or dts~rlbution through condutt 32.
As piston 22 approaches the end of the do~n stroke, surface 38 engages bumper face 408 to move face 388 toward seat 398. Tubular mem-ber 374 contlnues to moYe as ptn 394 moYes Tn slot 392.
At the bot~om o~ the down stroka, push rod 84 reverses direction m3vlng ~ace 402 on collar 4no agatnst drlvtng plate 396 and pin 394 agalnst the bottom of slot 392. Durlng this movement, piston 22 remains stationary;
howeverI sprlng 382 moves the second face member 378 away from seat 397 to inTtlate communication be~ween control chamber 6~ and the evacuated expanston chamber 36. At the same ttme, spring 410 holds the ~Irst f~ce 33 against w~ll 40 to prevent communlcatton ~ro~ the pressurl~in~ chamber 38 into the control ~hamber 62~ There~fter, the push rod 8~ mo~es the plston 22.
in the up stroke t~ dra~ a flxed volu~e of fluld mtxture Int~ ~he .

pressuri~lng chamber 3~. As ~he plston 22 approaches the top of the up strQke, a posttlve pressure d~velops in the ~xpanslon chamber 36. Thls posltlve pressure acts on the second face membPr 376 and in oppos;tTon to spring 382 moves ~he second face member 376 agalnst seat 397 to seyregate the expansTon chamber 36 from the control chamber 62. For the rematnder of the upstroke, product eff1uent anJ the component purged fr~m the bed of adsorptlon particles Is pushed through port 28 to be disposed of through the dlscharge condut~ 34.
Upon passlng the top of the up stroke, plston 22 remalns stationary for a moment as push rod 84 agaTn moves face 404 Tnto engage-ment wtth driving plate 396 and face 402 lnto engagement with the second face 378 whtle spring 396 moYes the first face 388 away from seat 398 to Initlate another cycle of operatton.
Each of the separator apparatus tn ~hls Inventton dlsclosed In Figures 1-15 involve a sTngle bed of absorptlon partlcles capabl~
of separatTng a component from a fluld mlxture to produce a product effluent. However, the pr7nctpals equally apply to a two-bed system wheretn It is desTred to conserve energy in the productlon of a product effluent.
Z0 The fluid separator 1110 in Figure 16 wh1ch illustrates a two-bed system t5 s7mllar in operation to the ftutd separator 910 d~scribed in Ftgure 13. The two-bed sys~em or~ tf deslred, any plurali~y of beds o~ adsorption material ean be connected to a produc~ e~fluent condult to provlde for a substantially con~inuous productTon of ~he product effluen~.
The sol~nold valve member 420 is connected to a source of pres-surized fluld mixture ~hrough supply condult 422 and a discharge conduit 424.
A condult 432 connects solenold valve 420 with a ftrst housing 426 and a condutt 434 connects solenold valve 420 with a second housTng 436.
A first bed of adsorption mater1al 428 separates a cavity in 3C houstng 426 ;nto a header or plenum chamber 430 and a distribu~ton - ~7 ~

~ 2~
chamber 438. The dlstrTbutlon chamber 43~ is connected to conduit 1~32 through a port 41~o whlle the header chamber- 430 is connected to a product ~FIuent distrlbution condult 442 throu~h port 441~ by a eonduit ~78.
A control valve 446 lacated ~d~acent port 444 has a face ~i50 resilien~y urged towards seat 448 to regulate ~nd delay the communication - of produc.t e~fluent from the header chamber 430 until an a~tive - adsorption pre~ure level is achievëd~in the bed of adcorption p~rticles 428 However, a by pass condult ~52 conn~cts the produc~ eff1uent dtstrtbutlon c~ndult 44~ wlth tha headar chamber ~30. One-~ay check valve 454 i5 located tn by pass condult ~5~ to allow a quantlty of product e~Fluent to be commun;catet therethrough to aid Tn the purgTn~
of the compon~nt from the bed o~ adsorpt~on partieles 1~28.
Simllarlyl a secon~-bed o~ adsorption materla7 ~56 separates the second houstng 43~ tnto a header chamber 1~58 and a distr7button - chamber 460~ The dlstrlbution chamSer 460 Is connecte~ to condutt 334 .
~ . throu~h port 462 and the h~ader chamber 45~ Is connected tv product ~ .. . . .
eff1uent distrlbut10n condult l~2 throu~h port 464 by a condult ~80.
~ .
A control valve 466 located adjacent port 464 has a face 468 reslllently urged agalnst a seat 470 to r~gulate and de1ay the co~munlca tton o~ product effluent ~rom header chamber ~58 untTl an active adsorp-tlon pressure level ts achieved ln the ~ed of adsorpt;on particle~ ~56, - How~ver, a by pass condult 472 conneet5 the product ef~luent dlstrlbutlon conduit ~2 with header ohamber 458~ A one-way che~k ~ralve b74 iis located in the by pass conduit 472 to allow a quantity oi product effluent to be communtcated therethrou~h tc~ aid in the pur~Tn~
of any component adsorbed in the bed of adsorption par~îcles 456.
A so1enoid valve 1~2 located in conduit 484 has ftxed flow rate orlfice therefn whtch allows for continuous communicat10n betweerl condult 478 and 480 an~ an opened position which allows for free communtcatlon bet~een condults 478 and 480.

~ - 2~ ~
r In operat~on9 solenotd ~alve 420 dlrects a supply of press~rlzed fluld mixture ~alr) through condutt 432 to the distribution chamber 438 tn the first houslng 426. The pressurtzed fluld mlxture flows From the dtstributton chamber 438 tnto ~he bed of adsorptton partlcles 428 where ~ a componen~ ts retatned as a pr~duct eff1uent flows to the header chamber 430 Control valve 446 retatns the producg e~F~luent tn ~he he~der chamber unttl an act7ve a~sorptio~ flutd pressure level Is achleved suffT-ctent to move face 448 away from seat 450~ Thereafter, the product ef~luent flows past one-way check valve 488 in conduTt 478 to the dTstrtbutlon conduit 442. A portion o~ the product ef~luent In condult 478 flows past the fenced flow orifîce ~n solenoid valve 482 t~ ~onduit ~0 and t~roug~ ~y pass conduit 472 for distrtbutTon to header chamber 458 to atd Tn purglng any component prevlously adsorbed In the bed of adsorptton par~lcles 456.
` A~ter a pertod of time, solenoid val~ ~20 interrupts the corn-municatton of the pressurt2ed flu;d mtxture throu~h conduit 432 and solenold valv~ 482 opens and al10ws the pressure in bed 456 to equalize wlth that 1n conduit 478. Thefeafter~ solenoid vatYe 420 atlows the pressurtzed flutd mixture ~o flow to bed ~56 while opening port 440 to dlstribution condutt 424. At thts tlme~ the pressurlzed produçt effluent in the header chamber reverses Its ftow dlrectton by flowlng back through the f1rst bed 426 where the component prevTously adsorbed is picked up and - carrted ~o the dischar~e condult. At this potnt In tTme, the restrictionof flow of the product efflusnt shoutd be overcome by the active adsorptlon prP-ssure level movTng face 468 away from seat 470 and product effluent co~muntcated through one-way check Yalve 49n to the dis~ribwtion conduTt 442. At the same tlme~ a portion of this product e~fluent pass s through the fixed oriflce tn sotenoid YalYe 482 for distribution through by pass condui~ 452 to atd in the purgin~ of comp~nent from the ~ed of adsorp~Ton parttcles 42~, 3 After a set time period~ solenoid YalYe 420 interrupts the ~ 29 -P~
communlcat10n of the pressurTzed flutd mtxture to the bed of adsorptton partlctes 456 and the mode of adsorptton shlfts to the bed o~ adsorpt10n partioles 4?8.

~ 30 -

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. An apparatus for separating a product effluent from a fluid mixture comprising:
a housing having a bore therein with a first port, a second port and a third port, said first port being connected to a source of fluid mixture, said second port being connected to a product effluent responsive device, said third port being connected to a discharge conduit;
piston means located in said housing for separating said bore into a pressurizing chamber and an expansion chamber, said piston means having a separating chamber therein for retaining a bed of adsorption particles; and motor means for reciporcating said piston means in said bore to pressurize a fixed volume of the fluid mixture in the pressurizing chamber while expanding any fluid in said expansion chamber during the down stroke of the piston means, said pressurized fluid mixture from the pressurizing chamber being communicated to the separation chamber where a component in the fluid mixture is adsorbed in said bed of adsorption particles and the product effluent communicated to said second port during said down stroke, and said component being purged from said bed of adsorption particles by the product effluent flowing into the expansion chamber on the up stroke of the piston means while the fixed volume of the fluid mixture is drawn into said pressurizing chamber to complete a cycle of operation.

2. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said piston means further includes: .

a first wall separated from a second wall by a cylindrical member to establish a header chamber with said housing in said bore for storing a portion of said product effluent on said down stroke; and a sleeve connected to the first and second walls for establishing a control chamber in said piston means through which the pressurized fluid mixture is presented to the bed of adsorption particles on the down stroke of the piston means and the product effluent and desorbed component is communicated to the expansion chamber on the up stroke of the piston means.

3. The apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein said motor means includes:
linkage means extending through said piston means having a first face adjacent said first wall and a second face adjacent said second wall, said first face engaging said first wall to prevent communication between the pressurizing chamber and the control chamber on the up stroke of the piston means and between the expansion chamber and the control chamber on the down stroke of the piston means.

4. The apparatus, as recited in claim 3, further including:
valve means for delaying the communication of any product effluent from the header chamber on the down stroke until an active adsorption fluid pressure level is created in said bed of adsorption particles by the pressurized fluid mixture to produce a product effluent substantially free of the component adsorbable by said bed of adsorption particles.

5. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, further includes:
a ring gear attached to said piston means; and an eccentric gear means attached to said housing and engageable with said ring gear, said motor means providing said piston means with rotative torque causing the ring gear to engage the eccentric gear and thereby move the piston means along a linear path in said chamber.

6. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, further including:
a quantity of plastic fibers randomly located in said separation chamber to prevent structural degradation of the individual particles in the bed of adsorption particles through frictional rubbing caused by the flow of the fluid mixture and product effluent therethrough.

7. An apparatus for separating a product effluent from a fluid mixture comprising:
a housing having a bore therein with a first port, a second port and a third port, said first port being connected to a source of fluid mixture, said second port being connected to a product effluent storage device, said third port being connected to a discharge conduit;
piston means located in said housing for separating said bore into a pressurizing chamber and an expansion chamber, said piston means having a separating chamber therein for retaining a bed of adsorption particles; and motor means for reciporcating said piston means in said bore by rotating said piston in said bore to pressurize a fixed volume of the fluid mixture in the pressurizing chamber while expanding any fluid in said expansion chamber during the down stroke of the piston means, said pressurized fluid mixture from the pressurizing chamber being communicated to the separation chamber where a component in the fluid mixture is adsorbed in said bed of adsorption particles and the product effluent communicated to said second port during said down stroke, and said component being purged from said bed of adsorption particles by the product effluent flowing into the expansion chamber on the up stroke of the piston means while the fixed volume of the fluid mixture is drawn into said pressurizing chamber to complete a cycle of operation.

8. A single bed separator for extracting a component from a fluid mixture to produce a product effluent comprising:
a housing having a bore therein, said housing having a first port connected to a source of fluid mixture, a second port connected to a product effluent responsive device and a third port connected to a discharge conduit;
a piston located in said bore having a cavity therein for retaining a bed of adsorption particles, said piston separating the bore into an expansion chamber and a pressurizing chamber, said piston having a groove adjacent the bore connected to said cavity through a passageway in said piston, a first opening for connecting said cavity with said pressurizing chamber, and a second opening for connecting said cavity with said expansion chamber; and means for providing said piston with reciprocal motion in said bore to establish an up stroke and a down stroke in a cycle of operation, said piston on the down stroke lowering the fluid pressure in the expansion chamber while pressurizing a fixed volume of fluid mixture in the pressurizing chamber which is communicated through said first opening where a component is adsorbed in said bed of adsorption particles as said product effluent flows through said passageway into said groove to develop an active adsorption fluid pressure level in said bed of adsorption particles, said groove retaining said product effluent until said groove is communicated with said second port through the movement of said piston, said piston on the up stroke drawing the fixed volume of fluid mixture into said pressurizing chamber while allowing said product effluent to flow from the groove through the second opening into the expansion chamber to purge said component from said bed of adsorption particles.

9. An apparatus for separating a product effluent from a fluid mixture comprising:
a housing having a chamber therein with a first port, a second port and a third port, said first port being in com-munication with said fluid mixture, said second port being con-nected to a product effluent responsive device, and said third port being connected to a discharge conduit;
wall means for retaining a bed of adsorption part-icles in said chamber, said wall means forming a header chamber between said bed of adsorption particles and said second port in said housing, said wall means dividing said chamber into an expansion chamber and a pressurizing chamber, said expansion chamber being connected to said third port and said pressur-izing chamber being connected to said first port;
first valve means for allowing a fixed volume of said fluid mixture to flow through said first port during a first part of an operational cycle and for preventing fluid flow from the chamber during a second part of the operational cycle when said fluid mixture is presented to the bed of adsorption particles where a component is adsorbed and the product effluent communicated to said header chamber;
second valve means for preventing communication of any product effluent from said header chamber whenever the fluid pressure level in said chamber is below a predetermined value;
third valve means for allowing said product effluent to flow from the header chamber and purge said bed of adsorption particles of said component by flowing through said third port during said first part of the operational cycle and for preventing fluid flow through said third port during said second part of the operational cycle; and motor means for reciprocating the wall means in the chamber to compress the fluid mixture in the pressurizing chamber and expanding the product effluent and component in the expansion chamber during the second part of the operational cycle, and to expand the fluid mixture in the pressurizing chamber and thereby draw said fluid mixture past said first port to establish said fixed volume of fluid mixture in the pressurizing chamber and to compress the product effluent and component in said expansion chamber when an equilibrium fluid pressure is achieved with the product effluent in the header chamber and thereby discharge the product effluent and compon-ent form the expansion chamber through said third port.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 further including:
a relief chamber connected to said header chamber for storing a product effluent during said second part of the operational cycle to provide a uniform flow distribution plenum for the product effluent through said bed of adsorption particles and to provide additional product effluent to purge the component from the bed of adsorption particles during said first part of the operational cycle.

11. The apparatus, as recited in claim 9 wherein said wall means further includes:
a control chamber for connecting the bed of adsorption particles with said pressurizing and expansion chambers.

12. The apparatus, as recited in claim 11 wherein said motor means further includes:
a plunger which extends through said control chamber, said plunger having a first face located in said pressurizing chamber and a second face located in said expansion chamber, said first face engaging said wall means to seal said pres-surizing chamber from said control chamber in said first part of the operational cycle and second face engaging said wall means to seal said expansion chamber from said control chamber in said second part of the operational cycle.

13. The apparatus, as recited in claim 12 further including:
a sleeve located in said pressurizing chamber; and a spring connected to said housing for urging said sleeve toward said wall means, said wall means engaging said sleeve during said second part of the operational cycle to limit the flow of the pressurized fluid mixture into said control chamber.

14. The apparatus, as recited in claim 12 further including:
a relief chamber connected to said header chamber for storing a product effluent during said second part of the operational cycle to provide a uniform flow distribution plenum for the product effluent through said bed of adsorption particles and to provide additional product effluent to purge the component from the bed of adsorption particles during said first part of the operational cycle.

15. The apparatus, as recited in claim 12 further including:
a flapper valve connected to said wall means and responsive to a positive pressure in said expansion chamber for preventing the communication of product effluent and the purged component from flowing into the control chamber.

16. The apparatus, as recited in claim 12 further including:
a cylinder located in said control chamber for controlling the radial size of the bed of adsorption particles to balance the fluid dynamics of the flow of the fluid mixture through the bed of adsorption particles during the second part of the operational cycle with the flow of the product effluent and component through the bed of adsorption particles during the first part of the operational cycle.

17. The apparatus, as recited in claim 12 further including:
a conical housing having a base connected to the control chamber and a head connected to the header chamber, said conical housing retaining said bed of adsorption particles, said conical housing providing a controlled incremental change in fluid pressure in said bed of adsorption particles during said first part of the operational cycle.

18. The apparatus, as recited in claim 17 further including:
a purge chamber created between said conical housing and the wall means, said purge chamber being connected to said header chamber for storing product effluent during said second part of the operational cycle which flows through and desorbs the component from the bed of adsorption particles during the first part of the operational cycle.

19. The apparatus, as recited in claim 11 further including:
a first control valve connected to said wall means and responsive to a fluid pressure in said pressurizing chamber for allowing the fluid mixture to flow into the control chamber during said second part of the cycle; and a second control valve attached to said wall means, said second control valve being responsive to a fluid pressure differential between the control chamber and the expansion chamber for allowing the product effluent and component to flow into the expansion chamber during said first part of the operational cycle.

20. The apparatus, as recited in claim 19 further includes:
linkage means extending through the housing and connected to said second control valve for directly moving wall means in said chamber in response to an input from said motor means.

21. The apparatus, as recited in claim 12 wherein said housing further includes:
a bleed port connected to the expansion chamber to limit the expansion fluid pressure during the second part of the operational cycle.

22. The apparatus, as recited in claim 12 wherein said plunger includes:
a tubular member attached to one of said first and second faces on the plunger;
a stem member attached to the other of said first and second faces on the plunger and telescoping into said tubular member;
a spring located in said tubular member for urging said first face away from said wall means to allow said first face to seat on said wall means prior to termination of the second part of the operational cycle.

23. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, further including:
an adjustable bumper which engages said first face upon termination of communication of the pressurized fluid to the control chamber and allows the plunger to move the second face away from the wall means to initiate communica-tion between the control chamber and the expansion chamber and allow the product effluent to purge the component from the bed of adsorption particles.

24. The apparatus, as recited in claim 11 further including.
a flapper valve connected to said wall means and responsive to a positive pressure in said expansion chamber for preventing the communication of product effluent and the purged component from flowing into the control chamber.

25. The apparatus, as recited in claim 24 further including:
plastic fibers mixed with the bed of adsorption particles to loosely hold the individual adsorption particles in a substantially fixed position adjacent said wall means, said plastic fibers adsorbing impact forces transmitted to said individual particles of adsorption particles by the pressurized fluid mixture and product effluent and thereby prevent structural degradation thereof by frictional rubbing between the individual particles which consistute the bed.

26. An apparatus for separating a product effluent from a fluid mixture comprising:
a housing having a chamber therein with a first port, a second port and a third port, said first port being in communication with said fluid mixture, said second port being connected to a product effluent responsive device, and said third port being connected to a discharge conduit;
wall means for retaining a bed of adsorption particles in said chamber, said wall means forming a header chamber between said bed of adsorption particles and said second port in said housing, said wall means dividing said chamber into an expansion chamber and a pressurizing chamber, said expansion chamber being connected to said third port and said pressurizing chamber being connected to said first port;
first valve means for allowing a fixed volume of said fluid mixture to flow through said first port during a first part of an operational cycle and for preventing fluid flow from the chamber during a second part of the operational cycle when said fluid mixture is presented to the bed of adsorption particles where a component is adsorbed and the product effluent communicated to said header chamber;
second valve means for preventing communication of any product effluent from said header chamber whenever the fluid pressure level in said chamber is below a predetermined value;
third valve means for allowing said product effluent to flow from the header chamber and purge said bed of adsorption particles of said component by flowing through said third port during said first part of the operational cycle and for preventing fluid flow through said third port during said second part of the operational cycle;
control valve means having a plunger extending through said housing and said wall means with a first face located in said pressurizing chamber and a second face located in said expansion chamber, said first face engaging said wall means during said second part of the operational cycle to prevent the flow of fluid mixture to the bed of adsorption particles, said second face engaging said wall means during said first part of the operational cycle to prevent communication from the bed of adsorption particles to the expansion chamber; and a motor for providing said plunger with an operational input to reciprocate the wall means in said chamber and establish the first and second parts of the operational cycle.

27. The apparatus, as recited in claim 26 further including:
plastic fibers mixed with the bed of adsorption particles to loosely hold the individual adsorption particles in a substantially fixed position adjacent said wall means, said plastic fibers absorbing impact forces transmitted to said individual particles of adsorption particles by the pressurized fluid mixture and product effluent and thereby prevent structural degradation thereof by frictional rubbing between the individual particles which consistute the bed.

28. The apparatus, as recited in claim 26 further including:
a ring gear attached to said wall means; and an eccentric gear means attached to said housing and engageable with said ring gear, said motor providing said plunger with rotative torque causing the ring gear to engage the eccentric gear and thereby move the wall means along a linear path in said chamber.

29. The apparatus, as recited in claim 12 further including:
a plate for restricting the flow of the product effluent into the header chamber during the second part of the operational cycle to reduce the time required to generate the active adsorption pressure of the fluid mixture in the bed of adsorption particles and to meter the purge flow into the expansion chamber during the first part of the operational cycle.

30. The apparatus, as recited in claim 9 further including:
plastic fibers for forming a matrix for holding the bed of adsorption particles in substantially fixed position adjacent said wall means, said plastic fibers absorbing impact forces transmitted to said individual particles of adsorption particles by the pressurized fluid mixture and product effluent and thereby prevent structural degradation thereof by frictional rubbing between the individual particles which constitute the bed.