System and method for separating a gas mixture

An apparatus for separating a gas mixture having at least two components,

• comprising:
• a first membrane separation stage adapted to receive and separate the gas mixture into a first permeate stream and a first retentate stream, the first membrane separation stage imparted with a first total membrane surface area and including a first membrane;
• a second membrane separation stage adapted to receive the first permeate stream from the first membrane separation stage, the second membrane separation stage imparted with a second total membrane surface area and including a second membrane, the first total membrane surface area and the second total membrane surface area defining a first membrane ratio;
• a first control device in communication with the first membrane separation stage or a second control device in communication with the second membrane separation stage, wherein the first control device is configured to alter a first operational membrane area of the first membrane separation stage and the second control device is configured to alter a second operational membrane area of the second membrane separation stage;
• at least one measurement device;
• and
• a controller in electrical communication with the first membrane separation stage and the second membrane separation stage, the controller designed to adjust the first control device or the second control device,
• wherein the controller is designed to alter an operational status of the first or second membranes via the first or second interior control devices to adjust the first or second operational membrane areas in response to a change in a measured value provided to the controller by the at least one measurement device.

An apparatus for separating a gas mixture having at least two components,

• comprising:
• a first membrane stage in fluid communication with a source of the gas mixture, wherein the first membrane stage separates the gas mixture into a first retentate stream and a first permeate stream;
• a second membrane stage in fluid communication with the first permeate stream, wherein the first membrane stage separates the first permeate stream into a second retentate stream and a second permeate stream;
• and
• a process control system including:
• a first process measuring device;
• a first process control device associated with the first membrane stage and a second process control device associated with the second membrane stage;
• and
• a controller adapted to determine a first operational status of the first membrane stage and a second operational status of the second membrane stage,
• wherein the controller is in communication with the first process measuring device, the first process control device, and the second process control device, and the first operational status and the second operational status are at least partially determined based on measured values obtained from the first process measuring device.