NITROGEN-ENRICHED GAS MANUFACTURING METHOD, GAS SEPARATION METHOD AND NITROGEN-ENRICHED GAS MANUFACTURING APPARATUS

摘要

A nitrogen-enriched gas manufacturing method and a nitrogen-enriched gas manufacturing apparatus which minimize variations in the compressor load in order to ensure satisfactory utilization of the performance of the compressor. Specifically, a nitrogen-enriched gas manufacturing method for separating a nitrogen-enriched gas from a raw material air containing nitrogen gas using a plurality of adsorption tanks packed with an adsorbent the method including a pressurization and adsorption step, a depressurization and equalization step, a depressurization and regeneration step, and a pressurization and equalization step, wherein in the pressurization or depressurization and equalization step, the raw material air which has been compressed by the compressor is stored in a compressed raw material air tank provided on a branch line between the compressor and the adsorption tanks, and in the pressurization and adsorption step, the raw material air stored in the compressed raw material air tank is introduced into the adsorption tank and used as a portion of the gas that pressurizes the inside of the adsorption tank.

主权项

1. A nitrogen-enriched gas manufacturing method for separating a nitrogen-enriched gas from a raw material air containing nitrogen gas using a plurality of adsorption tanks packed with an adsorbent the method comprising:
a pressurization and adsorption step of pressurizing an inside of a first adsorption tank by introducing the raw material air, which has been compressed by a compressor, into the first adsorption tank, and preferentially adsorbing unwanted components within the raw material air to an adsorbent inside the first adsorption tank, thus obtaining a gas containing concentrated nitrogen, a depressurization and equalization step of introducing a gas remaining inside the first adsorption tank into a second adsorption tank, a depressurization and regeneration step of introducing the raw material air which has been compressed by the compressor into the second adsorption tank, lowering a pressure inside the first adsorption tank by opening the first adsorption tank to an open atmosphere, and desorbing the unwanted components from the adsorbent inside the first adsorption tank, thereby regenerating the adsorbent inside the first adsorption tank, and a pressurization and equalization step of introducing a gas remaining inside the second adsorption tank into the first adsorption tank, wherein in the pressurization and equalization step, the raw material air which has been compressed by the compressor is stored in a compressed raw material air tank provided on a branch from a line between the compressor and the first adsorption tank, and in the pressurization and adsorption step, the raw material air stored in the compressed raw material air tank is introduced into the first adsorption tank, and used as a portion of a gas that pressurizes the inside of the first adsorption tank.