US 10,369,513 B2 · Methods for methane purification

Abstract

Ancillary embodiments and modifications to a homogenizer unit (“PPH”), and methods of use directed to purification of biogas or other raw methane streams. The apparatus includes a homogenizer body, one or more stream inlets (for the raw methane), one or more chilled water inlets, a mixing zone where the water stream is commingled with the raw methane stream, and a venturi immediately downstream from the mixing zone such that the commingled streams are pulled into the venturi resulting in homogenization. The PPH components are insulated to maintain the chilled water of the various streams at a cooled, below ambient temperature, increasing dissolution of the contaminant gases into the chilled water, and producing a purified methane stream including little or no H2S and CO2.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for purifying a methane containing stream, the method comprising:

introducing a raw methane stream into a mixing zone through an inlet, the raw methane stream including methane and one or more contaminants selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and combinations thereof;
introducing a water stream into the mixing zone through a separate water inlet such that the water stream is commingled with the raw methane stream upon both streams entering the mixing zone;
passing the commingled streams through a venturi so as to homogenize the streams such that one or more contaminants within the raw methane stream are dispersed within the water stream, forming a contaminant isolation stream including the one or more contaminants and a purified methane stream;
wherein the water stream is chilled to below ambient temperature to increase dissolution of the one or more contaminants therein.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

15/696,946Filed 6 Sep 2017 · division

Priority

17 Oct 2008

Published

US 2018/0078895 A122 Mar 2018

Granted

6 Aug 2019

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification30 codes

B01D 53/18
By absorption: absorbing units; Liquid distributors therefor
B01D 53/1462
Removing acid components: removing mixtures of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide
B01F 23/10
Mixing according to the phases to be mixed, e.g. dispersing or emulsifying: mixing gases with gases
B01F 23/21322
Using nozzles: internal mixer atomization, i.e. liquid and gas are mixed and atomized in a jet nozzle before spraying

Family

Application61/106,256Us provisional application · filed 17 Oct 2008

Application12/573,327Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 5 Oct 2009

Application13/584,580Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 13 Aug 2012

US 8,241,410 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 14 Aug 2012

Application14/867,524Parent of this division · filed 28 Sep 2015

US 9,144,205 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 29 Sep 2015

US 2018/0078895 A1Pre-grant publication · published 22 Mar 2018

US 9,757,683 B1Parent of this division

Application14/867,524Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 2012/0324789 A1Published application

US 10,369,513 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Methods for methane purification

Life of this patent

Methods for methane purification

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18