Solid electrolyte ionic conductor with adjustable steam-to-oxygen production

A process for producing a gas stream containing oxygen and steam to feed a coal gasifier to produce a fuel gas stream, the process comprising:

• (a) compressing a feed gas stream containing elemental oxygen;
• (b) heating the feed gas stream;
• (c) separating the heated feed gas stream using at least two ion transport modules including ion transport membranes having a retentate side and a permeate side into an oxygen-depleted gas stream on the retentate side and an oxygen-containing gas stream on the permeate side;
• (d) purging the permeate side of one of the ion transport membranes using a purge gas stream containing steam to produce a gas stream containing oxygen and steam;
• (e) separating oxygen by at least the other of the ion transport membranes without purging the permeate side of the other ion transport membrane, and then cooling, compressing and reheating the resulting pure oxygen stream;
• (f) blending the pure oxygen stream with the gas stream containing steam and oxygen where the two streams are proportioned to produce the steam to oxygen ratio required by the coal gasification process;
• and
• (g) feeding the blended gas stream containing oxygen and steam to a coal gasifier for coal gasification to produce the fuel gas stream.

A process for producing a gas stream containing oxygen and steam to feed a coal gasifier to produce a fuel gas stream, the process comprising:

• (a) compressing a feed gas stream containing elemental oxygen;
• (b) heating the feed gas stream;
• (c) producing steam at a high pressure required for injection to a coal gasifier;
• (d) expanding a portion of the high pressure steam stream in a turbine to an intermediate pressure to produce power and an expanded stream containing steam;
• (e) separating the heated feed gas stream using an ion transport module including an ion transport membrane having a retentate side and a permeate side into an oxygen-depleted gas stream on the retentate side while purging the permeate side of the ion transport membrane using the expanded stream containing steam to produce a gas stream containing oxygen and steam;
• (f) cooling the gas stream containing oxygen and steam;
• (g) separating the oxygen contained in said gas stream by condensing out water;
• (h) blending the resulting oxygen stream with the remaining unexpanded, high pressure steam stream where the two streams are proportioned to produce the steam-to-oxygen ratio required by the coal gasification process;
• and
• (i) injecting the resulting blended stream containing steam and oxygen into the gasifier.

A process for producing a gas stream containing oxygen and steam at a desired ratio, the process comprising:

• (a) compressing a feed gas stream containing elemental oxygen;
• (b) heating the feed gas stream;
• (c) separating the heated feed gas stream using at least one ion transport module including an ion transport membrane having a retentate side and a permeate side into an oxygen-depleted gas stream on the retentate side and an oxygen-containing gas stream on the permeate side;
• (d) purging the permeate side of the ion transport membrane using a purge gas stream containing steam to produce a gas stream containing oxygen and steam;
• (e) feeding at least a first portion of the gas stream containing oxygen and steam to a downstream process;
• and
• (f) blending a separate oxygen stream with the first portion of the purge stream to produce a steam-to-oxygen ratio that is desirable for the downstream process.