Counter-Flow Gas Separation Modules and Methods
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorTuan Q. Cao
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gas separation method includes flowing a gas feed along a feed flow path within a housing directionally from a product end to a feed end of a gas separation membrane. After the feed flow path, the gas feed flows along a membrane flow path defined by the membrane from the feed end to the product end. The feed flow path is counter to the membrane flow path. Heat may be exchanged between the feed flow path and the membrane flow path and increase separation efficiency. Also, heat exchanged may compensate for some temperature drop in the membrane due to enthalpy of gas separation. A gas separation module includes a feed flow path within a housing extending directionally from a product end to a feed end of a membrane. The feed flow path is counter to a membrane flow path defined by the membrane.
Claims20
A gas separation module comprising:
- a housing having a feed port enabling inlet of gas feed, a permeate port enabling outlet of permeate, and a retentate port enabling outlet of retentate;
- a gas separation membrane within the housing, the gas separation membrane having a feed end and a product end with a retentate interior side and a permeate exterior side between the feed end and the product end;
- and
- a feed flow path within the housing and extending directionally from the product end to the feed end of the gas separation membrane and being segregated from contact with the permeate exterior side, the feed flow path being counter to a membrane flow path defined by the gas separation membrane and extending from the feed end to the product end of the gas separation membrane enabling contact with the retentate interior side.
A gas separation method comprising:
- using a gas separation module including a housing and a gas separation membrane within the housing, the gas separation membrane having a feed end and a product end with a retentate interior side and a permeate exterior side between the feed end and the product end;
- supplying a gas feed into the housing, the gas feed containing a first gas and a different second gas;
- flowing the gas feed along a feed flow path within the housing directionally from the product end to the feed end of the gas separation membrane, the gas feed being segregated from contact with the permeate exterior side;
- after the feed flow path, flowing the gas feed along a membrane flow path defined by the gas separation membrane from the feed end to the product end of the gas separation membrane, the feed flow path being counter to the membrane flow path;
- and
- contacting the retentate interior side with the gas feed in the membrane flow path, permeating at least some of the first gas from the gas feed through the gas separation membrane to the permeate exterior side, and producing retentate that is enriched in the second gas as a result of removing at least some of the first gas from the gas feed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.