| Abstract: | A process and apparatus for separating a gas mixture comprising providing
a slot in a gas separation channel (conceptualized as a laterally
elongated Clusius-Dickel column), having a length through which a net
cross-flow of the gas mixture may be established; applying a higher
temperature to one side of the channel and a lower temperature on an
opposite side of the channel thereby causing thermal-diffusion and
buoyant-convection flow to occur in the slot; and establishing a net
cross-flow of a gas mixture comprising at least one higher density gas
component and at least one lower density gas component along the length
of the slot, wherein the cross-flow causes, in combination with the
convection flow, a spiraling flow in the slot; and wherein the spiral
flow causes an increasing amount of separation of the higher density gas
from the lower density gas along the length of the channel. The process
may use one or more slots and/or channels. |