Method and apparatus for producing oxygen and nitrogen and membrane therefor
Abstract
Process and apparatus for the separation and purification of oxygen and nitrogen as well as a novel membrane useful therein are disclosed. The process utilizes novel facilitated transport membranes to selectively transport oxygen from one gaseous stream to another, leaving nitrogen as a byproduct. In the method, an oxygen carrier capable of reversibly binding molecular oxygen is dissolved in a polar organic membrane which separates a gaseous feed stream such as atmospheric air and a gaseous product stream. The feed stream is maintained at a sufficiently high oxygen pressure to keep the oxygen carrier in its oxygenated form at the interface of the feed stream with the membrane, while the product stream is maintained at a sufficiently low oxygen pressure to keep the carrier in its deoxygenated form at the interface of the product stream with the membrane. In an alternate mode of operation, the feed stream is maintained at a sufficiently low temperature and high oxygen pressure to keep the oxygen carrier in its oxygenated form at the interface of the feed stream with the membrane and the product stream is maintained at a sufficiently high temperature to keep the carrier in its deoxygenated form at the interface ofmore »
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Bend Research Inc
- OSTI Identifier:
- 7152152
- Patent Number(s):
- 4542010 A
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 6-393712
- Assignee:
- Bend Research, Inc., OR (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-79ER10337
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 30 Jun 1982
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; OXYGEN; MEMBRANE TRANSPORT; SUPPORTED LIQUID MEMBRANES; DESIGN; AIR; OPERATION; SEPARATION PROCESSES; SERVICE LIFE; ELEMENTS; FLUIDS; GASES; LIFETIME; MEMBRANES; NONMETALS; 320303* - Energy Conservation, Consumption, & Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Equipment & Processes; 400105 - Separation Procedures
Citation Formats
Roman, I C, and Baker, R W. Method and apparatus for producing oxygen and nitrogen and membrane therefor. United States: N. p., 1985.
Web.
Roman, I C, & Baker, R W. Method and apparatus for producing oxygen and nitrogen and membrane therefor. United States.
Roman, I C, and Baker, R W. Tue .
"Method and apparatus for producing oxygen and nitrogen and membrane therefor". United States.
@article{osti_7152152,
title = {Method and apparatus for producing oxygen and nitrogen and membrane therefor},
author = {Roman, I C and Baker, R W},
abstractNote = {Process and apparatus for the separation and purification of oxygen and nitrogen as well as a novel membrane useful therein are disclosed. The process utilizes novel facilitated transport membranes to selectively transport oxygen from one gaseous stream to another, leaving nitrogen as a byproduct. In the method, an oxygen carrier capable of reversibly binding molecular oxygen is dissolved in a polar organic membrane which separates a gaseous feed stream such as atmospheric air and a gaseous product stream. The feed stream is maintained at a sufficiently high oxygen pressure to keep the oxygen carrier in its oxygenated form at the interface of the feed stream with the membrane, while the product stream is maintained at a sufficiently low oxygen pressure to keep the carrier in its deoxygenated form at the interface of the product stream with the membrane. In an alternate mode of operation, the feed stream is maintained at a sufficiently low temperature and high oxygen pressure to keep the oxygen carrier in its oxygenated form at the interface of the feed stream with the membrane and the product stream is maintained at a sufficiently high temperature to keep the carrier in its deoxygenated form at the interface of the product stream with the membrane. Under such conditions, the carrier acts as a shuttle, picking up oxygen at the feed side of the membrane, diffusing across the membrane as the oxygenated complex, releasing oxygen to the product stream, and then diffusing back to the feed side to repeat the process. Exceptionally and unexpectedly high O[sub 2]/N[sub 2] selectivity, on the order of 10 to 30, is obtained, as well as exceptionally high oxygen permeability, on the order of 6 to 15 [times] 10[sup [minus]8] cm[sup 3]-cm/cm[sup 2]-sec-cmHg, as well as a long membrane life of in excess of 3 months, making the process commercially feasible. 2 figs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1985},
month = {9}
}