Gas dehydration using membrane and potassium formate solution
AssigneeClearwater, Inc.
InventorJohn H. Hallman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Potassium or other alkali metal formate solution is used to absorb moisture from gas through a membrane. The membrane may be supported on permeable tubes, and the potassium or other alkali metal formate may be regenerated for reuse, preferably by a cavitation regenerator. The potassium or other alkali metal formate should be present as a 40-80% solution, most preferably 70-76%. The process is especially useful for the dehydration of natural gas.
Claims20
Method of drying natural gas comprising placing said natural gas in contact with a first side of a membrane capable of passing water from said gas through said membrane, and placing an aqueous solution comprising alkali metal formate in contact with a second side of said membrane, whereby moisture from said gas passes through said membrane and is absorbed by said alkali metal formate solution.
Method of drying natural gas comprising placing said natural gas in contact with a membrane capable of transmitting moisture from said gas through said membrane while substantially excluding methane from transmission, said membrane being on a permeable tube, placing an aqueous solution comprising potassium formate in contact with a second side of said membrane, whereby moisture from said gas is transmitted through said membrane and is absorbed by said potassium formate solution, and thereafter regenerating said potassium formate solution by removing water therefrom.
Method of dehydrating a gas containing moisture comprising substantially continuously passing said gas in contact with a surface of a membrane capable of transmitting moisture from said gas through said membrane, substantially continuously passing a potassium formate solution in contact with the obverse surface of said membrane, said gas being passed in a once-through mode and said potassium formate being passed in a circulating mode, whereby moisture is transmitted from said gas through said membrane and absorbed by said potassium formate solution, said circulating mode including regenerating said potassium formate solution by removing water therefrom and returning said potassium formate solution to the obverse surface of said membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.