Enhanced membrane gas separations

Patent · Tue Jul 13 04:00:00 EDT 1993

OSTI ID:6357850

Prasad, R

An improved membrane gas separation process is described comprising: (a) passing a feed gas stream to the non-permeate side of a membrane system adapted for the passage of purge gas on the permeate side thereof, and for the passage of the feed gas stream in a counter current flow pattern relative to the flow of purge gas on the permeate side thereof, said membrane system being capable of selectively permeating a fast permeating component from said feed gas, at a feed gas pressure at or above atmospheric pressure; (b) passing purge gas to the permeate side of the membrane system in counter current flow to the flow of said feed gas stream in order to facilitate carrying away of said fast permeating component from the surface of the membrane and maintaining the driving force for removal of the fast permeating component through the membrane from the feed gas stream, said permeate side of the membrane being maintained at a subatmospheric pressure within the range of from about 0.1 to about 5 psia by vacuum pump means; (c) recovering a product gas stream from the non-permeate side of the membrane; and (d) discharging purge gas and the fast permeating component that has permeated the membrane from the permeate side of the membrane, whereby the vacuum conditions maintained on the permeate side of the membrane by said vacuum pump means enhance the efficiency of the gas separation operation, thereby reducing the overall energy requirements thereof.

• Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc., Danbury, CT (United States)
• Patent Number(s): A; US 5226932
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-772340
• OSTI ID: 6357850
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320303* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Equipment & Processes
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
COUNTERFLOW SYSTEMS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
FLUIDS
GASES
LOW PRESSURE
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS RECOVERY
MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
MEMBRANES
PERMEABILITY
PRESSURIZATION
PROCESSING
SEPARATION EQUIPMENT
SEPARATION PROCESSES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING