Oxygen separation process
AssigneeBP Corporation North America Inc.
InventorsTerry J. Mazanec, Thomas L. Cable
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Abstract
The invention relates to a process for the separation of oxygen from an oxygen-containing fluid using novel membranes, formed from perovskitic or multi-phase structures, with a chemically active coating. The process exhibits exceptionally high rates of oxygen flux. The process uses membranes that are conductors of oxygen ions and electrons, which are substantially stable in air over the temperature range of 25° C. to the operating temperature of the membrane.
Claims20
A process for the separation of oxygen from an oxygen containing fluid, comprising contacting said oxygen containing fluid with at least one solid state membrane, wherein said solid state membrane comprises
- A) a structure selected from the group consisting of:
- a) a fluid-impervious, electronically-conductive and ion-conductive, substantially perovskitic material;
- b) an intimate, gas-impervious, multi-phase mixture of an electronically-conductive phase and an oxygen ion-conductive phase;
- and
- c) combinations thereof;
- and
- B) a porous coating selected from the group consisting of metals, metal oxides and combinations thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.