# US 2019/0168155 A1 · System for separating gas > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0168155 A1 - Document ID: US20190168155A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/208,870 - Filed: 2018-12-04 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-04 - Assignees: Cri, Ehf - Applicants: CRI, ehf - Inventors: Emeric SARRON; Húni SIGHVATSSON; Ásgeir ÍVARSSON - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168155A1 ## CPC - B01D 5/0069: {with degasification or deaeration} - B01D 3/143: {by two or more of a fractionation, separation or rectification step} - B01D 19/0005: {with one or more auxiliary substances} - B01D 19/0015: {in contact columns containing plates, grids or other filling elements} - B01D 53/62: Carbon oxides - B01D 53/77: Liquid phase processes - B01D 53/002: {by condensation} - B01D 2256/10: Nitrogen - B01D 2256/12: Oxygen - B01D 2256/16: Hydrogen - B01D 2257/504: Carbon dioxide - C01B 2203/0475: the impurity being carbon dioxide - C07C 29/151: with hydrogen or hydrogen-containing gases - C07C 31/04: Methanol - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C} - C07C: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS ## Abstract An improved system for separating gas from a process stream by providing a stripping unit at the overhead stream of a fractionation column to selectively and effectively remove the gas using a stripping fluid without providing a dedicated light-ends separations unit. The stripper unit may be connected to the reflux drum at the overhead stream. The system for separating gas further achieves greater thermodynamic efficiency by means of a split column design using mechanical vapor recompression with the reboiler and condenser integrated in a falling-film evaporator- or thermosiphon-type vapo-condenser. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for separating a gas from a process stream, the system comprising: a reactor configured to carry out a chemical process yielding the process stream; a separation unit configured to receive the process stream from the chemical process, and configured to separate the process stream, the separation unit comprising at least one heat exchanger located at an overhead portion of the separation unit and receiving a portion of the process stream from the overhead portion of the separation unit, the at least one heat exchanger being configured for condensing the portion of the process stream; and at least one stripper unit located at the overhead portion of the separation unit and configured to receive the condensed portion of the process stream from the at least one heat exchanger and being configured for separating the gas from the condensed portion of the process stream by introducing at least one stripping fluid thereunto. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system for separating a gas from a process stream of claim 1, wherein the process stream comprises substantially only CO2, water, and methanol. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system for separating a gas from a process stream of claim 1, wherein the process stream is created from a chemical process, in particular a methanol synthesis reaction reacting only H2 and CO2 as fresh feedstock. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system for separating a gas from a process stream of claim 1, wherein the at least one stripping fluid is gaseous N2. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system for separating a gas from a process stream of claim 1, wherein the at least one stripping fluid is H2. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system for separating a gas from a process stream of claim 1, wherein the at least one stripping fluid and the separated gas are recycled to a front end of the reactor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system for separating a gas from a process stream of claim 1, wherein the at least one stripping fluid is a recycle stream of a separate chemical process. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system for separating a gas from a process stream of claim 1, wherein the separating unit is a fractionation unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The system for separating a gas from a process stream of claim 2, wherein the at least one stripper unit is a gas-sparger unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system for separating a gas from a process stream of claim 1, further comprising at least one drum configured for receiving the condensed portion of the process stream after the condensed portion of the process stream has been received by the at least one stripper unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system for separating a gas from a process stream of claim 10, wherein the at least one drum is a reflux drum connected to the separation unit and configured to accumulate the condensed portion of the process stream. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system for separating a gas from a process stream of claim 10, wherein the at least one stripper unit and the at least one drum are integrally connected. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system for separating a gas from a process stream of claim 10, wherein the at least one stripper unit introduces the at least one stripping fluid to the condensed portion of the process stream within the at least one drum. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system for separating a gas from a process stream of claim 1, wherein the separation unit is a split column comprising a relatively high-pressure column and a relatively low-pressure column, each of the relatively high- and low-pressure columns further comprising at least one heat exchanger located at an overhead portion of its respective column and configured to receive an overhead process stream thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system for separating a gas from a process stream of claim 14, wherein the at least one stripper unit is located only at the overhead portion of the relatively low-pressure column. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system for separating a gas from a process stream of claim 14, wherein the at least one stripper unit is located at the overhead portion of the relatively low-pressure column and a second stripper is located at an overhead portion of the relatively high-pressure column. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The system for separating a gas from a process stream of claim 1, wherein the process stream comprises deuterated methanol and is created from a methanol synthesis reaction reacting only CO2 and deuterium as fresh feedstock. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system for separating a gas from a process stream of claim 17, further comprising an electroylzer, wherein the process stream further comprises heavy water, and the heavy water is obtained from the separation unit and electrolyzed in the electrolyzer to form additional deuterium feedstock. ### Claim 19 A system for separating a gas from a process stream, the system comprising: a reactor configured to carry out a chemical process yielding the process stream, the process stream comprising substantially only methanol, CO2, and water; a fractionation unit configured to receive the process stream from the reactor, the fractionation unit comprising at least one heat exchanger located at an overhead portion of the fractionation unit and receiving a portion of the process stream from the overhead portion of the fractionation unit, the at least one heat exchanger being configured for condensing the portion of the process stream; and at least one stripper unit located at the overhead portion of the fractionation unit and configured to receive the condensed portion of the process stream after the at least one heat exchanger and being configured for removing the gas from the condensed portion of the process stream by introducing at least one stripping fluid thereunto; and a reflux drum connected to the fractionation unit and configured to accumulate the condensed portion of the process stream and to return a portion of the accumulated condensed portion of the process stream to the fractionation unit; the at least one stripper unit is a gas sparger unit; the gas sparger unit and the reflux drum are integrally formed, the gas sparger unit being configured to introduce the at least one stripping fluid into the accumulated process stream within the reflux drum. ### Claim 20 A system for separating a gas from a process stream, the system comprising: a reactor producing the process stream; a fractionation unit configured to receive and separate components of the process stream and comprising a heat exchanger at an overhead portion of the fractionation unit, the heat exchanger being configured to condense a portion of the process stream; and a stripper unit configured to introduce at least one stripping fluid to the condensed portion of the process stream.