Use of membrane separation to dry gas streams containing water vapor
US5259869A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 6, 1992 |
| Grant date | Nov 9, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 6, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB01D53/268
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Valuable process gas is dried to a low water content, for example a dew point of less than -20.degree. F., using membrane separation in which compression of the permeate gases and condensation and separation of liquid water from the permeate stream is combined with a total recycle of uncondensable permeate gases so that no process gas is lost as a result of the drying operation. Feed gas is combined with the recycled gas either prior to compressing, cooling and separating the liquid water from the process gas or subsequent to these steps, depending upon the pressure of the available feed stream to be dried. Membrane separation efficiency is improved by sweeping the downstream surfaces of the membrane with dried product gas. All of the sweep gas is recaptured with the permeate gases and returned to the separation unit, thereby enabling 100%, recovery of the fresh feed gas from the drying operation. Only liquid water and dissolved gases are purged from the system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.