US4783201A — Gas dehydration membrane apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 103 words

A gas dehydration process, comprising; (a) contacting a feed gas containing water vapor with one side of uncoated, asymmetric membranes having controlled porosity, the membranes being formed of polymeric materials having transport selectivity for water vapor vs. the feed gas of at least about 1000% and sufficient porosity to provide adequate feed gas permeation sweep for the removal of permeated water vapor from a second side of the membrane ensuring conditions of continued dehydration; (b) permeating a majority of the water contained in the feed gas through the membrane; and (c) removing the resulting nonpermeate dehydrated gas from a chamber containing the membranes.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 103 words

A gas dehydration process, comprising; (a) contacting a feed gas containing water vapor with one side of uncoated, asymmetric membranes having controlled porosity, the membranes being formed of polymeric materials having transport selectivity for water vapor vs. the feed gas of at least about 1000% and sufficient porosity to provide adequate feed gas permeation sweep for the removal of permeated water vapor from a second side of the membrane ensuring conditions of continued dehydration; (b) permeating a majority of the water contained in the feed gas through the membrane; and (c) removing the resulting nonpermeate dehydrated gas from a chamber containing the membranes.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 21 words

The gas dehydration process according to claim 1, wherein the feed gas is at a pressure of at least one atmosphere.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 17 words

The gas dehydration process according to claim 1 wherein the feed gas is comprised of ambient air.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 18 words

The gas dehydration process according to claim 1 wherein the feed gas is comprised of gases containing hydrocarbons.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 27 words

The gas dehydration process according to claim 1 wherein the feed gas is comprised of at least one of ambient air, gases containing hydrocarbons, and acid gases.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 16 words

The dehydration process according to claim 5 wherein the feed gas is comprised of carbon dioxide.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 27 words

The gas dehydration process according to claim 5 wherein the feed gas is comprised of hydrocarbon gases having from one to about three carbon atoms per molecule.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 47 words

The gas dehydration process according to claim 5 wherein the membranes are comprised of hollow fibers and the feed gas is introduced to a first end of the hollow fiber bore and the dehydrated feed gas is removed from a second end of the hollow fiber bore.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 98 words

The gas dehydration process according to claim 1 wherein the uncoated, asymmetric membranes have controlled porosity as defined by the separation factor for oxygen/nitrogen from air of about 1.05 to about 2.0, the membranes being of polymeric materials which provide for water vapor permeability of about 300 to about 1500×10 -6 cm 3/ cm 2 -sec-cmHg and a separation factor for water vapor vs. slow gas components of the feed stream of about 10 to about 50, the slow gas components of the feed stream having a permeability of from about 10 to 100×10 -6 cms/cm 2 -sec-cmHg.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 32 words

The gas dehydration process according to claim 9 wherein the membranes are formed of polymeric materials which also have transport selectivity for ammonia vs. the feed gas of at least about 1000%.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 112 words

A gas dehydration process, comprising: (a) Contacting a feed gas containing water vapor with one side of uncoated, asymmetric gas separation membranes having graded-density skins, macrovoid-free morphology and having controlled porosity, the membranes being formed of polymeric materials having transport selectivity for water vapor vs. the feed gas of at least about 1000% and sufficient porosity to provide adequate feed gas permeation sweep for removal of the permeated water vapor from a second side of the membranes ensuring conditions of continued dehydration; (b) Permeating a majority of the water vapor contained in the feed gas through the membranes; and (c) removing the resulting nonpermeate dehydration gas from a chamber containing the membranes.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 112 words

A gas dehydration process, comprising: (a) Contacting a feed gas containing water vapor with one side of uncoated, asymmetric gas separation membranes having graded-density skins, macrovoid-free morphology and having controlled porosity, the membranes being formed of polymeric materials having transport selectivity for water vapor vs. the feed gas of at least about 1000% and sufficient porosity to provide adequate feed gas permeation sweep for removal of the permeated water vapor from a second side of the membranes ensuring conditions of continued dehydration; (b) Permeating a majority of the water vapor contained in the feed gas through the membranes; and (c) removing the resulting nonpermeate dehydration gas from a chamber containing the membranes.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 59 words

The gas dehydration process according to claim 11 wherein the asymmetric gas separation membranes having graded-density skins and macrovoid-free morphology are comprised of glassy, hydrophobic polymers wherein the membranes have increased free volume as evidence by the membrane first heat T g which is greater than the first heat T g of bulk samples of the glassy, hydrophobic polymers.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 108 words

The gas dehydration process according to claim 12 wherein the asymmetric gas separation membranes having graded-density skins, macrovoid-free morphology and controlled porosity as defined by the separation factor for oxygen/nitrogen from air of about 1.05 to about 2.0, the membranes being of a polymeric material which provide for water vapor permeability of about 300 to about 1500×10 -6 cm 3 /cm 2 -sec-cmHg and a separation factor for water vapor vs. slow gas components of the feed stream of about 10 to about 50, the slow gas components of the feed stream having a permeability of from about 10 to about 100×10 -6 cm 3 /cm 2 -sec-cmHg.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 21 words

The gas dehydration process according to claim 13 wherein the feed gas is at a pressure of at least one atmosphere.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 17 words

The gas dehydration process according to claim 13 wherein the feed gas is comprised of ambient air.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 18 words

The gas dehydration process according to claim 13 wherein the feed gas is comprised of gases containing hydrocarbons.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 27 words

The gas dehydration process according to claim 13 wherein the feed gas is comprised of at least one of ambient air, gases containing hydrocarbons, and acid gases.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 47 words

The gas dehydration process according to claim 13 wherein the membranes are comprised of hollow fibers and the feed gas is introduced to a first end of the hollow fiber bore and the dehydrated feed gas is removed from a second end of the hollow fiber bore.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 32 words

The gas dehydration process according to claim 13 wherein the membranes are formed of polymeric materials which also have transport selectivity for ammonia vs. the feed gas of at least about 1000%.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 96 words

A gas dehydration apparatus comprising; a chamber containing uncoated, asymmetric membranes having controlled porosity, the membranes being formed of polymeric materials having transport selectivity for water vapor vs. the feed gas of at least about 1000% and sufficient porosity to provide adequate feed gas permeation sweep for removal of the permeated water vapor, the membranes arranged within the chamber so that a feed gas may contact one side of the membranes through header means and only permeated gases from the feed gas can be removed from a second side of the membranes contained in the chamber.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 96 words

A gas dehydration apparatus comprising; a chamber containing uncoated, asymmetric membranes having controlled porosity, the membranes being formed of polymeric materials having transport selectivity for water vapor vs. the feed gas of at least about 1000% and sufficient porosity to provide adequate feed gas permeation sweep for removal of the permeated water vapor, the membranes arranged within the chamber so that a feed gas may contact one side of the membranes through header means and only permeated gases from the feed gas can be removed from a second side of the membranes contained in the chamber.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 97 words

The gas dehydration apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the uncoated, asymmetric membranes have controlled porosity as defined by the separation factor for oxygen/nitrogen from air of about 1.05 to about 2.0, the membranes being of polymeric materials which provide for water vapor permeability of about 300 to 1500×10 -6 cm 3 /cm 2 -sec-cmHg and a separation factor for water vapor vs. slow gas components of the feed stream of about 10 to about 50, the slow gas components of feed stream having a permeability of from about 10 to 100×10-6 cm 2 /cm 2 -sec-cmHg.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 57 words

A gas dehydration apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the membranes are comprised of hollow fiber membranes and the membranes are contained within the chamber at a packing factor, area fraction occupied by hollow fiber membranes cross sectional area of the chamber cross sectional area, of at least about 40% up to a maximum of about 75%.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 66 words

A gas dehydration apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the membranes are comprised of asymmetric gas separation membranes having graded-density skins and macrovoid-free morphology, the membranes being comprised of glassy hydrophobic polymers wherein the membranes have increased free volume as evidence by the membrane first heat T g which is greater than the first heat T g of the bulk sample of the glassy, hydrophobic polymers.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 132 words

A process for reducing porosity of preformed, uncoated asymmetric gas separation membranes comprising; contacting the preformed membrane with at least one chemical compound either in gas or liquid form, the compound having the ability of reducing pore size of the preformed membrane resulting in the asymmetric membranes having controlled porosity as defined by the separation factor for oxygen/nitrogen from air of about 1.05 to about 2.0, the membranes being of polymeric materials which provide for water vapor permeability of about 300 to 1500×10 -6 cm 3 /cm 2 -sec-cmHg and the separation factor for water vapor vs. slow gas component of the feed stream of about 10 to about 50, the slow gas components of the feed stream having a permeability of about 10 to 100×10 -6 cm 3 /cm 2 -sec-cmHg.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 132 words

A process for reducing porosity of preformed, uncoated asymmetric gas separation membranes comprising; contacting the preformed membrane with at least one chemical compound either in gas or liquid form, the compound having the ability of reducing pore size of the preformed membrane resulting in the asymmetric membranes having controlled porosity as defined by the separation factor for oxygen/nitrogen from air of about 1.05 to about 2.0, the membranes being of polymeric materials which provide for water vapor permeability of about 300 to 1500×10 -6 cm 3 /cm 2 -sec-cmHg and the separation factor for water vapor vs. slow gas component of the feed stream of about 10 to about 50, the slow gas components of the feed stream having a permeability of about 10 to 100×10 -6 cm 3 /cm 2 -sec-cmHg.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 73 words

The process for reducing porosity of preformed uncoated asymmetric gas separation membranes according to claim 24 wherein the membranes have graded-density skins, macrovoid-free morphology and are formed of polymeric materials having transport selectivity for water vapor vs. the feed gas of at least about 1000% and sufficient porosity to provide adequate feed gas permeation sweep for removal of permeated water vapor from a second side of a membrane ensuring conditions of continued dehydration.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 117 words

A process for reducing porosity of preformed, uncoated asymmetric gas separtaion membranes comprising; reducing pore size of the preformed membranes through drying and annealing means which result in the asymmetric membranes having controlled porosity as defined by the separation factor for oxygen/nitrogen from air of about 1.05 to about 2.0, the membranes being formed of polymeric materials which provide for water vapor permeability of about 300 to 1500×10 -6 cm 3 /cm 2 -sec-cmHg and the separation factor for water vapor vs. slow gas component of the feed stream of about 10 to about 50, the slow gas components of the feed stream having a permeability of about 10 to 100×10 -6 cm 3 /cm 2 -sec-cmHg.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 117 words

A process for reducing porosity of preformed, uncoated asymmetric gas separtaion membranes comprising; reducing pore size of the preformed membranes through drying and annealing means which result in the asymmetric membranes having controlled porosity as defined by the separation factor for oxygen/nitrogen from air of about 1.05 to about 2.0, the membranes being formed of polymeric materials which provide for water vapor permeability of about 300 to 1500×10 -6 cm 3 /cm 2 -sec-cmHg and the separation factor for water vapor vs. slow gas component of the feed stream of about 10 to about 50, the slow gas components of the feed stream having a permeability of about 10 to 100×10 -6 cm 3 /cm 2 -sec-cmHg.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 73 words

The process for reducing porosity of preformed uncoated asymmetric gas separation membranes according to claim 26 wherein the membranes have graded-density skins, macrovoid-free morphology and are formed of polymeric materials having transport selectivity for water vapor vs. the feed gas of at least about 1000% and sufficient porosity to provide adequate feed gas permeation sweep for removal of permeated water vapor from a second side of a membrane ensuring conditions of continued dehydration.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1991-11-08	1992-05-09	1992-11-08	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1995-11-08	1996-05-09	1996-11-08	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1999-11-08	2000-05-09	2000-11-08	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Gas dehydration membrane apparatus

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