Membranes suitable for gas separation, and related articles and processes
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsGeoffrey Mark Eadon, Anthony Yu-Chung Ku, Vidya Ramaswamy
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Abstract
A porous membrane structure is disclosed, which includes a porous substrate, a mesoporous, aluminum oxide layer disposed on the substrate; and a relatively thin, continuous, microporous barrier layer disposed on the mesoporous aluminum oxide layer, also formed from aluminum oxide. The membrane is capable of improving hydrogen selectivity within a gas stream, e.g., a synthesis gas composition. Membrane supports containing these structures are also described, as well as gas separation modules, and related processes. Power plants which incorporate the gas separation modules are also disclosed herein.
Claims22
A porous membrane structure, comprising
- a) a porous substrate;
- b) a mesoporous, aluminum oxide layer disposed on the substrate, comprising a plurality of unconnected pores;
- and
- c) a relatively thin, continuous, microporous barrier layer disposed on the mesoporous aluminum oxide layer, comprising aluminum oxide, and capable of improving hydrogen selectivity within a gas stream contacting the membrane structure.
A porous, tubular membrane structure, comprising:
- (I) a tubular, porous substrate having an inner surface and an outer surface;
- (II) a tubular, mesoporous, aluminum oxide layer which comprises a plurality of unconnected pores, having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface of the mesoporous aluminum oxide layer is in contact with the inner surface of the porous substrate;
- and
- (III) a thin, continuous, microporous barrier layer which comprises aluminum oxide, having an outer surface which contacts the inner surface of the mesoporous aluminum oxide layer;
- and an inner surface which defines a cavity;
- wherein
- fluid communication between the outer surface of the substrate and the cavity is capable of occurring through the substrate and layers II and III.
A power plant, comprising
- I) a gasification unit which converts carbonaceous fuel into synthesis gas;
- II) a water-gas-shift reactor in flow-communication with the gasification unit, and configured to receive the synthesis gas, and to produce a gaseous product mixture comprising hydrogen and carbon dioxide;
- III) a membrane unit in flow-communication with the water-gas-shift reactor;
- and capable of separating hydrogen from the gaseous product mixture;
- wherein the membrane unit includes at least one porous membrane structure which comprises:
- a) a porous substrate;
- b) a mesoporous, aluminum oxide layer disposed on the substrate, comprising a plurality of unconnected pores;
- and
- c) a thin, continuous, microporous barrier layer disposed on the mesoporous aluminum oxide layer, comprising aluminum oxide;
- and
- IV) a power generation unit in communication with the membrane unit, so as to accept the hydrogen separated in the membrane unit as a fuel source, wherein the power generation unit is configured to produce electricity.
A method for separating hydrogen from a fluid stream, comprising the step of contacting the fluid stream with a porous membrane structure, to preferentially transport hydrogen across the structure, wherein the membrane structure comprises:
- a) a porous substrate;
- b) a mesoporous, aluminum oxide layer disposed on the substrate, comprising a plurality of unconnected pores;
- and
- c) a thin, continuous, microporous barrier layer disposed on the mesoporous aluminum oxide layer, comprising aluminum oxide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.