Low pressure acetylene storage
View Patent ↗Methods and apparatus for the storage of acetylene include providing an acetylene storage device which has an interior volume. A carbonaceous adsorbent is disposed in the interior volume of the storage device, and acetylene is introduced into the storage device to be reversibly adsorbed by the carbonaceous adsorbent. A pressure of less than 2 bar is maintained in the storage device.
1. A method of storing acetylene, comprising:
a) providing an acetylene storage device wherein the storage device comprises an interior volume;
b) disposing a carbonaceous adsorbent in the interior volume of the storage device;
c) pre-treating the carbonaceous adsorbent in the storage device by heating to a temperature of about 200° C.;
d) introducing acetylene into the interior volume of the storage device;
e) reversibly adsorbing at least part of the acetylene introduced into the interior volume of the storage device with the carbonaceous adsorbent;
wherein the final pressure in the storage device is a pressure less than about 2 bar.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the final pressure in the storage device is less than atmospheric pressure.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising desorbing at least part of the adsorbed acetylene, and withdrawing the desorbed acetylene from the acetylene storage device.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising withdrawing the desorbed acetylene from the acetylene storage device at a rate of less than about 5 slm.
5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising withdrawing the desorbed acetylene from the acetylene storage device at a pressure less than about 2 bar.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the withdrawn acetylene has a purity substantially the same as that of the initially introduced acetylene.
7. A method of storing acetylene, comprising:
a) providing an acetylene storage device wherein the storage device comprises an interior volume;
b) disposing a carbonaceous adsorbent in the interior volume of the storage device;
c) pre-treating the acetylene storage device and the carbonaceous adsorbent prior to the introduction of the acetylene by heating to a temperature of about 200° C.;
d) introducing acetylene into the interior volume of the storage device;
e) reversibly adsorbing at least part of the acetylene introduced into the interior volume of the storage device with the carbonaceous adsorbent; and
f) maintaining the pressure in the storage device at a pressure less than about 2 bar.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbonaceous adsorbent comprises carbon beads.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the carbonaceous adsorbent comprises these characteristics:
a) an average diameter of beads less than about 0.7 mm;
b) a bulk density of about 0.6 g/cm 3 ; and
c) a specific surface area between about 1,100 and about 1,300 m 2 /g.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the carbonaceous adsorbent comprises carbon beads.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the carbonaceous adsorbent comprises these characteristics:
a) an average diameter of beads less than about 0.7 mm;
b) a bulk density of about 0.6 g/cm 3 ; and
c) a specific surface area between about 1,100 and about 1,300 m 2 /g.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the final pressure in the storage device is less than atmospheric pressure.
13. The method of claim 7 , further comprising desorbing at least part of the adsorbed acetylene, and withdrawing the desorbed acetylene from the acetylene storage device.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising withdrawing the desorbed acetylene from the acetylene storage device at a rate of less than about 5 slm.
15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising withdrawing the desorbed acetylene from the acetylene storage device at a pressure less than about 2 bar.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the withdrawn acetylene has a purity substantially the same as that of the initially introduced acetylene.