Membrane based de-oxygenator for process streams
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorMichael Sloan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An example system for processing a material stream includes a deoxygenator for removing dissolved oxygen. Removal of dissolved oxygen provides for the reduction of reactions and processes that can result in the generation of undesirable insoluble materials that can clog or otherwise foul the system. The deoxygenator includes an oxygen permeable membrane to remove dissolved oxygen from the flowing material stream. Because dissolved oxygen can be removed from the material stream essentially without disrupting flow, there is little affect on the overall process. The removal of dissolved oxygen provides significant increases in process efficiencies by reducing or eliminating the formation of undesirable by products within a material stream.
Claims19
A method of removing oxygen from a material stream utilized in producing a final product comprising the steps of:
- a) flowing the material stream adjacent an oxygen permeable membrane;
- b) drawing oxygen from said material stream through the oxygen permeable membrane with a partial oxygen pressure differential across the permeable membrane, wherein the permeable membrane comprises a polytetrafluorothylene coating disposed on a porous substrate;
- and
- c) processing the material stream after removal of dissolved oxygen, wherein the processing step includes altering a composition of the material stream for use in a subsequent processing step.
(canceled)
A system for processing a material stream utilized in producing a final product comprising:
- a conduit within which the material stream flows in a substantially continuous manner during processing;
- a deoxygenator for removing dissolved oxygen from the material stream in a continuous manner, wherein the deoxygenator comprises a polytetrafluorothylene coating disposed on a porous substrate;
- and
- a process station disposed downstream of said deoxygenator for altering a characteristic said material stream for further processing by subsequent process stations.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.