Membrane-Based Gas Separation Process Using Ejector-Driven Gas Recycle
AssigneeMembrane Technology and Research, Inc.
InventorsNicholas P. Wynn, Haiqing Lin, Meijuan Zhou, Jennifer Ly, Adrian Serbanescu-Martin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas separation process that utilizes ejector recycle with a membrane separation step in combination with a second separation step. The second separation step may be a second membrane separation, or may involve a different type of separation process. At least a portion of the non-product (i.e. residue) stream withdrawn from the second separation step is directed back to the ejector to form a processing loop. The ejector drives the gas flow in the loop and recycles the non-product stream to the first separation step.
Claims16
A gas separation process, comprising:
- (a) providing an ejector including a motive gas inlet, a suction gas inlet, and a mixed gas outlet;
- (b) passing to the motive gas inlet a motive gas comprising a gas mixture that includes at least a first gas component and a second gas component that is different from the first gas component;
- (c) passing a suction gas to the suction gas inlet;
- (d) withdrawing from the mixed gas outlet a mixed gas comprising the motive gas and the suction gas;
- (e) providing a membrane having a feed side and a permeate side, wherein the membrane is selective to the first gas component relative to the second gas component;
- (f) passing the mixed gas across the feed side;
- (g) withdrawing from the permeate side a permeate stream that is enriched in the first gas component relative to the mixed gas;
- (h) withdrawing from the feed side a residue stream that is depleted in the first gas component relative to the mixed gas;
- (i) passing the residue stream to a second separation unit to perform a second separation step;
- (j) withdrawing from the second separation unit a non-product stream that is depleted in the second gas component relative to the residue stream;
- and
- (k) passing at least a portion of the non-product stream back to the ejector as the suction gas.
A gas separation process, comprising:
- (a) providing an ejector including a motive gas inlet, a suction gas inlet, and a mixed gas outlet;
- (b) passing to the motive gas inlet a motive gas comprising a gas mixture that includes at least a first gas component and a second gas component that is different from the first gas component;
- (c) passing a suction gas to the suction gas inlet;
- (d) withdrawing from the mixed gas outlet a mixed gas comprising the motive gas and the suction gas;
- (e) passing the mixed gas to a first separation step;
- (f) withdrawing from the first separation step a product stream that is enriched in the first gas component relative to the mixed gas;
- (g) withdrawing from the first separation step a non-product stream that is depleted in the first gas component relative to the mixed gas;
- (h) providing a membrane having a feed side and a permeate side, wherein the membrane is selective to the second gas component relative to the first gas component;
- (i) passing the non-product stream across the feed side;
- (j) withdrawing from the permeate side a permeate stream that is enriched in the second gas component relative to the non-product stream;
- (k) withdrawing from the feed side a residue stream that is depleted in the second gas component relative to the non-product stream;
- and
- (l) passing at least a portion of the residue stream back to the ejector as the suction gas.
An apparatus for separating a gas mixture into two or more gas components, comprising:
- (a) an ejector including a motive gas inlet, a suction gas inlet, and a mixed gas outlet;
- (b) a first separation unit in gas communication with the mixed gas outlet, wherein the first separation unit has a first product outlet and a first non-product outlet;
- and
- (c) a second separation unit in gas communication with the first non-product outlet, wherein the second separation unit has a second product outlet and a second non-product outlet, and wherein the second non-product outlet is in gas communication with the suction gas inlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.