Patent · US Expired

Process for separating nitrogen from methane using microchannel process technology

US7250074B2 · kind B2 · utility

86Cited by
33References
57Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 26, 2004
Grant dateJul 31, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 30, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S95/903
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The disclosed invention relates to a process for separating methane or nitrogen from a fluid mixture comprising methane and nitrogen, 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, the fluid mixture being maintained in the microchannel separator until at least part of the methane or nitrogen is sorbed by the sorption medium, and removing non-sorbed parts of the fluid mixture from the microchannel separator; and (B) desorbing the methane or nitrogen from the sorption medium and removing the desorbed methane or nitrogen from the microchannel separator. The process is suitable for upgrading methane from coal mines, landfills, and other sub-quality sources.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.