Enchanced gas separation process

Patent · Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:6068240

Doshi, K J

A process for the enhanced separation of gases is described comprising: (a) contacting a feed gas stream at an elevated pressure with a permeable membrane capable of selectively permeating a first component thereof, thereby obtaining a first component enriched, second component depleted permeate portion of the feed stream at a reduced pressure, and a second component enriched, first component depleted non-permeate portion of the feed stream essentially at the elevated pressure; (b) withdrawing the non-permeate gas from the permeable membrane; (c) passing the permeate gas to a feed end of an adsorbent bed in a pressure swing adsorption system capable of selectively adsorbing additional amounts of the second component therefrom at an upper adsorption pressure, with unadsorbed, purified first component gas being withdrawn as a high purity gas from a produce end of the bed; (d) countercurrently depressurzing the bed to a lower desorption pressure and/or purging the bed to desorb and release a first and second component-containing regeneration stream from the feed end of the bed; and (e) recycling at least a first portion of the regeneration stream for combination with additional quantities of the feed gas stream, whereby the separation of the first component is achieved at a high purity and desirable recovery levels, with the second component being available at a desirably high pressure level.

• Assignee: Union Carbide Corp., Danbury, CT
• Patent Number(s): US 4690695
• OSTI ID: 6068240
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030300* -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
ADSORBENTS
ADSORPTION
DEPRESSURIZATION
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FLOW
GAS FUELS
GASES
IMPURITIES
MEMBRANES
NATURAL GAS
PERMEABILITY
PRESSURE EFFECTS
RECYCLING
REGENERATION
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SORPTION