Methane/nitrogen separation process

Patent · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:871151

Baker, Richard W ^[1]; Lokhandwala, Kaaeid A ^[2]; Pinnau, Ingo ^[1]; Segelke, Scott ^[3]

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1. Palo Alto, CA
2. Menlo Park, CA
3. Mountain View, CA

A membrane separation process for treating a gas stream containing methane and nitrogen, for example, natural gas. The separation process works by preferentially permeating methane and rejecting nitrogen. We have found that the process is able to meet natural gas pipeline specifications for nitrogen, with acceptably small methane loss, so long as the membrane can exhibit a methane/nitrogen selectivity of about 4, 5 or more. This selectivity can be achieved with some rubbery and super-glassy membranes at low temperatures. The process can also be used for separating ethylene from nitrogen.

• Research Organization: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc. (Menlo Park, CA)
• DOE Contract Number: FG03-94ER81809
• Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc. (Menlo Park, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5669958
• OSTI ID: 871151
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

methane
nitrogen
separation
process
membrane
treating
gas
stream
containing
example
natural
preferentially
permeating
rejecting
found
meet
pipeline
specifications
acceptably
loss
exhibit
selectivity
achieved
rubbery
super-glassy
membranes
temperatures
separating
ethylene
natural gas
separation process
gas stream
stream containing
membrane separation
nitrogen separation
containing methane
gas pipe
rejecting nitrogen
permeating methane
nitrogen selectivity
preferentially permeating
/95/62/