Process to separate nitrogen from methane by permeation and cryogenic distillation
US11874057B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 16, 2021 |
| Grant date | Jan 16, 2024 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 13, 2042 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25J2280/50
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A process for the separation of nitrogen from a feed stream containing at least methane and nitrogen, with a methane content between 4 and 12% mol. consists of at least the following steps: separation of the feed stream by means of a rubbery-type membrane to produce a permeate enriched in methane at a pressure greater than 2 bara and a non-permeate which is a nitrogen-enriched residue gas at a pressure greater than 2 bara and processing of the high-pressure residue gas in a cryogenic separation unit to produce a methane rich liquid and a nitrogen-enriched gas wherein the pressure of the membrane permeate is controlled as a function of the nitrogen concentration in the nitrogen-enriched gas.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.