Process for separating a fluid component from a fluid mixture using microchannel process technology

US6652627B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Velocys, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Anna Lee Tonkovich · Dublin, US
• Bruce F. Monzyk · Maryland Heights, US
• Dongming Qiu · Dublin, US
• Matthew B. Schmidt · Columbus, US
• G. Bradley Chadwell · Reynoldsburg, US
• Wesley Bruno · Dublin, US
• Eric C. Burckle · Columbus, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 30, 2002
• Grant date: Nov 25, 2003
• Expiry date: Oct 30, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B01J2219/00921
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

This invention relates to a process for separating a fluid component from a fluid mixture comprising the fluid component, the process comprising: (A) flowing the fluid mixture into a microchannel separator; the microchannel separator comprising a plurality of process microchannels containing a sorption medium, a header and a footer, the combined internal volume of the header and the footer being up to about 40% of the internal volume of the process microchannels; the fluid mixture being maintained in the microchannel separator until at least part of the fluid component is sorbed by the sorption medium; purging the microchannel separator to displace non-sorbed parts of the fluid mixture from the microchannel separator; and (B) desorbing the fluid component from the sorption medium and flowing a flush fluid through the microchannel separator to displace the desorbed fluid component from the microchannel separator. The process is suitable for purifying oxygen as well as effecting other fluid separations.