Gas separation membrane module for reactive gas service

An acid gas-service gas separation membrane module, comprising:

• a hollow pressure vessel open at first and second ends made of carbon steel or a low alloy steel, the pressure vessel having a first end face at said first end and a second end face at said second end;
• a first end cap made of carbon steel or a low alloy steel sealing said first end of said pressure vessel at said first end face, said first end cap including a first port formed therein;
• a second end cap made of carbon steel or a low alloy steel sealing said second end of said pressure vessel at said second end face, said second end cap including a second port formed therein, said pressure vessel having a third port formed therein;
• a plurality of gas separation membranes disposed within the pressure vessel arranged as a bundle, the plurality of membranes being encased in a solid polymer tubesheet at at least one end of the bundle in sealing fashion, each of said membranes having a first side and a second side, each of said membranes being adapted and configured to separate an acid gas-containing feed gas fed to a first side thereof through permeation of gases through the membrane to a second side thereof so as to provide a lower pressure permeate gas on the second side and a higher pressure residue gas on the first side, the permeate gas being enriched in one or more gases compared to the residue gas;
• a first port tube made of a high alloy steel fluidly communicating between the first port and one of the membranes' first sides and the membranes' second sides;
• a second port tube made of a high alloy steel fluidly communicating between the second port and the other of the membranes' first sides and the membranes' second sides;
• and
• at least two compressible sealing elements comprising first and second compressible sealing elements, wherein:
• said first compressible sealing element is compressed between an outer surface of the first port tube and an inner surface of the first port, at least one of said first port tube outer surface and said first port inner surface being provided with a corrosion-resistant cladding;
• said second compressible sealing element being compressed between an outer surface of the second port tube and an inner surface of the second port, at least one of said second port tube outer surface and said second port inner surface being provided with a corrosion-resistant cladding.