Separation process using microchannel technology

US7507274B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Velocys, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Anna Lee Tonkovich · Dublin, US
• Steven T. Perry · Galloway, US
• Ravi Arora · Dublin, US
• Dongming Qiu · Dublin, US
• Michael Jay Lamont · Hilliard, US
• Deanna Burwell · Cleveland Heights, US
• Terence Andrew Dritz · Worthington, US
• Jeffrey S. McDaniel · Columbus, US
• William Allen Rogers · Union, US
• Laura J. Silva · Dublin, US
• Daniel J. Weidert · Lewis Center, US
• Wayne W. Simmons · Longmont, US
• G. Bradley Chadwell · Reynoldsburg, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 2, 2006
• Grant date: Mar 24, 2009
• Expiry date: Apr 22, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E50/30
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The disclosed invention relates to a process and apparatus for separating a first fluid from a fluid mixture comprising the first fluid. The process comprises: (A) flowing the fluid mixture into a microchannel separator in contact with a sorption medium, the fluid mixture being maintained in the microchannel separator until at least part of the first fluid is sorbed by the sorption medium, removing non-sorbed parts of the fluid mixture from the microchannel separator; and (B) desorbing first fluid from the sorption medium and removing desorbed first fluid from the microchannel separator. The process and apparatus are suitable for separating nitrogen or methane from a fluid mixture comprising nitrogen and methane. The process and apparatus may be used for rejecting nitrogen in the upgrading of sub-quality methane.