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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Membrane nitrogen process and system

Patent ·
OSTI ID:7017683

This patent describes an improved process for the production of dry, high purity nitrogen. It comprises passing feed air to a membrane system; reacting the residual oxygen present in the nitrogen stream with hydrogen in a catalytic combustion system, drying the wet, high purity nitrogen stream in an adsorptive dryer bed at a drying temperature lower than the temperature in the catalytic combustion system; and regenerating the adsorptive dryer bed for the removal of moisture therefrom. This patent also describes an improved system for the production of dry, high purity nitrogen. It comprises a membrane system for the separation of feed air and the recovery of a partially purified nitrogen stream containing residual oxygen; a catalytic combustion system adapted for the reaction of residual oxygen present in the partially purified nitrogen stream with hydrogen, heat exchanger means adapted for the transfer of heat from the wet, high purity nitrogen stream; conduit means for passing a portion of the permeate gas to be used as purge gas to the heat exchanger means; an adsorptive dryer system adapted; conduit means for passing the purge gas from the heat exchanger means to the bed of the adsorptive dryer system being regenerating at the elevated bed regeneration temperature.

Assignee:
Union Carbide Industrial Gases Technology Corp., Danbury, CT (United States)
Patent Number(s):
US 5122355; A
Application Number:
PPN: US 7-533848
OSTI ID:
7017683
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English