Hybrid membrane--PSA system for separating oxygen from air

Patent · Tue Jan 25 04:00:00 EST 2011

OSTI ID:1013025

Staiger, Chad L ^[1]; Vaughn, Mark R ^[1]; Miller, A Keith ^[1]; Cornelius, Christopher J ^[2]

---

1. Albuquerque, NM
2. Blackburg, VA

A portable, non-cryogenic, oxygen generation system capable of delivering oxygen gas at purities greater than 98% and flow rates of 15 L/min or more is described. The system consists of two major components. The first component is a high efficiency membrane capable of separating argon and a portion of the nitrogen content from air, yielding an oxygen-enriched permeate flow. This is then fed to the second component, a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit utilizing a commercially available, but specifically formulated zeolite compound to remove the remainder of the nitrogen from the flow. The system is a unique gas separation system that can operate at ambient temperatures, for producing high purity oxygen for various applications (medical, refining, chemical production, enhanced combustion, fuel cells, etc . . . ) and represents a significant advance compared to current technologies.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• Assignee: Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
• Patent Number(s): 7,875,101
• Application Number: 12/269,540
• OSTI ID: 1013025
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION