Removal of oil from compressed gas with macroporous polymeric adsorbent
AssigneeMG Generon, Inc.
InventorsReid Henry Bowman, H. Robert Goltz
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Abstract
A macroporous polymeric adsorbent is used to remove oil mist and oil vapors from compressed air produced by an oil-lubricated air compressor prior to feeding the compressed air to an air separation membrane system. The macroporous polymeric adsorbent, previously known only for its ability to extract low molecular weight volatile organic compounds from liquids and gases, retains its ability to extract the oil for extended periods of time and outperforms the commonly used activated carbon of the prior art.
Claims27
A process for separating a gas mixture into components by permeation through a membrane, the process comprising:
- (a) compressing the gas mixture in oil-lubricated compression means to form an oil-mist-containing compressed gas stream, the compressed gas stream having a relative humidity of any value up to 100%, wherein the compressed gas stream contains oil havinq a molecular weight of at least about 300;
- (b) passing the oil-mist-containing compressed gas stream through a macroporous polymeric adsorbent, without previously reducing the relative humidity of the compressed gas stream, to form a substantially oil-free compressed gas stream;
- and
- (c) passing the substantially oil-free compressed gas stream through a gas separation membrane system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.