Hybrid membrane - cryogenic generation of argon concurrently with nitrogen
US5049174A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 18, 1990 |
| Grant date | Sep 17, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 18, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S62/924
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The present invention involves an efficient process for separating selected components of a gas stream by integrating a cryogenic separation unit and a membrane separation unit. Two embodiments provide for the concurrent generation of an argon-rich stream in the gas or liquid phase, along with a nitrogen-rich product stream, both being produced from a stream normally comprising oxygen, nitrogen, and argon, e.g., air. Broadly, the novel system uses a membrane means to preferentially reject the oxygen component from the recycle stream of the cryogenic unit, concurrently accumulating the argon component to allow its separation as an argon-enriched product stream.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.