Mixed gas separation apparatus, mixed gas separation method, and membrane reactor

A mixed gas separation method comprising:

• a) preparing a separation membrane complex including a separation membrane and a porous support;
• and
• b) supplying a mixed gas containing a plurality of types of gases to said separation membrane and allowing a high-permeability gas in said mixed gas to permeate said separation membrane to separate said high-permeability gas from said mixed gas,
• wherein said support has a column-like shape extending in a longitudinal direction,
• said support includes a plurality of cells arranged in a lengthwise direction and a lateral direction in a matrix,
• said plurality of cells includes:
• a plurality of membrane-formed cells each having both longitudinal ends open and having an inner surface on which said separation membrane is formed;
• and
• an exhaust cell having both longitudinal ends closed,
• said support has longitudinal end portions in both of which a side flow path is formed extending from an outer surface of said support to said exhaust cell,
• said operation b) includes supplying said mixed gas to one longitudinal end face of said separation membrane complex and supplying a sweep gas to said side flow path that is open into the outer surface of said support, and
• A/C is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 50, and B/C is greater than or equal to 0.5 and less than or equal to 20,
• where A is a sum of cross-sectional areas of every one of said plurality of membrane-formed cells perpendicular to the longitudinal direction;
• B is a sum of cross-sectional areas of every one of said exhaust cell perpendicular to the longitudinal direction;
• and
• C is a sum of opening areas of every one of said side flow path that is located in one of the longitudinal end portions on the outer surface of said support.

A membrane reactor comprising:

• a separation membrane complex including a separation membrane and a porous support;
• a catalyst that accelerates a chemical reaction of a starting material;
• and
• a housing that includes said separation membrane complex and said catalyst,
• wherein said support has a column-like shape extending in a longitudinal direction,
• said support includes a plurality of cells arranged in a lengthwise direction and a lateral direction in a matrix,
• said plurality of cells includes:
• a plurality of membrane-formed cells each having both longitudinal ends open and having an inner surface on which said separation membrane is formed;
• and
• an exhaust cell having both longitudinal ends closed,
• said support has longitudinal end portions in both of which a side flow path is formed extending from an outer surface of said support to said exhaust cell,
• said catalyst is arranged in said plurality of membrane-formed cells of said separation membrane complex,
• said housing is connected to:
• a source gas supplier that supplies a source gas containing a starting material to said separation membrane complex;
• a permeated gas collector that collects a permeated gas in a mixed gas, the permeated gas having permeated said separation membrane, the mixed gas being produced by a chemical reaction of said starting material occurring in the presence of said catalyst;
• a non-permeated gas collector that collects a non-permeated gas in said mixed gas, the non-permeated gas having not permeated said separation membrane;
• and
• a sweep gas supplier that supplies a sweep gas,
• said source gas is supplied to one longitudinal end face of said separation membrane complex,
• said sweep gas is supplied to said side flow path that is open into the outer surface of said support, and
• A/C is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 50, and B/C is greater than or equal to 0.5 and less than or equal to 20,
• where A is a sum of cross-sectional areas of every one of said plurality of membrane-formed cells perpendicular to the longitudinal direction;
• B is a sum of cross-sectional areas of every one of said exhaust cell perpendicular to the longitudinal direction;
• and
• C is a sum of opening areas of every one of said side flow path that is located in one of the longitudinal end portions on the outer surface of said support.