Patent US5030251A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5030251A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System and method for separating a portion of a gas from a mixture of gases
Assignee: Permea Inc
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Filing: 1990-10-24
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Granted: 1991-07-09
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Expires: 2010-10-24
Abstract
Abstract A system for separating a portion of a first gas from a gaseous feed comprising a mixture of gases that is intermittently supplied to the system. The system comprises a membrane gas separator having at least one membrane through which the first gas permeates preferentially in comparison to other gases contained in the mixture. The separator is adpated to produce a nonpermeate gaseous product which is discharged from a nonpermeate gas side of the separator and in which the concentration of the first gas is lower than in the feed mixture. The system also includes a mechanism for supplying a gaseous purge stream to the separator when the feed mixture is not being supplied to the system. The concentration of the first gas is lower in the gaseous purge stream than in the feed mixture to purge residual amounts of the first gas contained in the membrane of the separator. The method of separating gases from an intermittently supplied feed is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur W. Rice
- 👤 John G. Brown, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 15:21
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A method of separating a portion of a first gas from a gaseous feed comprising a mixture of gases, the method comprising the steps of: intermittently conducting the gaseous feed under pressure through a membrane gas separator having at least one membrane through which the first gas permeates preferentially in comparison to another gas contained in the mixture to produce a nonpermeate gaseous product which is discharged from a nonpermeate gas side of the separator and in which the concentration of the first gas is lower than in the feed mixture; supplying a gaseous purge stream comprised of nonpermeate gaseous product to the nonpermeate side of the separator when the feed mixture is not being conducted through the separator, the concentration of the first gas being lower in the gaseous purge stream than in the feed mixture, whereby to purge residual amounts of the first gas contained in the membrane of the separator.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
153 words
A method of separating a portion of a first gas from a gaseous feed comprising a mixture of gases, the method comprising the steps of: intermittently conducting the gaseous feed under pressure through a membrane gas separator having at least one membrane through which the first gas permeates preferentially in comparison to another gas contained in the mixture to produce a nonpermeate gaseous product which is discharged from a nonpermeate gas side of the separator and in which the concentration of the first gas is lower than in the feed mixture; supplying a gaseous purge stream comprised of nonpermeate gaseous product to the nonpermeate side of the separator when the feed mixture is not being conducted through the separator, the concentration of the first gas being lower in the gaseous purge stream than in the feed mixture, whereby to purge residual amounts of the first gas contained in the membrane of the separator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising an intermediate step of storing at least a portion of the nonpermeate gaseous product in a pressure vessel and wherein the step of supplying the gaseous purge stream to the nonpermeate gas side of the separator comprises supplying at least a portion of the nonpermeate gaseous product from the pressure vessel to the separator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising an intermediate step of storing at least a portion of the nonpermeate gaseous product in a pressure vessel and wherein the step of supplying the gaseous purge stream through the separator comprises the steps of expanding at least a portion of the nonpermeate gaseous product from the pressure vessel and supplying the expanded product to the nonpermeate gas side of the separator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the step of expanding the nonpermeate gaseous product comprises allowing a portion of the stored gaseous product to bleed back through a slow-bleed check valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising an intermediate step of storing a first portion of the nonpermeate gaseous product in a primary pressure vessel and storing a second portion of the nonpermeate gaseous product in a secondary pressure vessel and wherein the step of supplying the gaseous purge stream to the separator comprises the step of supplying the nonpermeate gaseous product stored in the secondary pressure vessel to the nonpermeate gas side of the separator.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of dehydrating a gaseous feed comprising a mixture of water vapor and at least another gas, the method comprising the steps of: intermittently conducting the gaseous feed under pressure through a membrane gas separator having at least one membrane through which water vapor permeates preferentially in comparison to the other gas to produce a nonpermeate gaseous product which is discharged from a nonpermeate gas side of the separator and in which the concentration of water vapor is lower than in the feed mixture; supplying at least a portion of the nonpermeate gaseous product to the nonpermeate gas side of the separator when the feed is not being conducted through the separator to purge residual amounts of water vapor contained in the membrane of the separator.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of dehydrating a gaseous feed comprising a mixture of water vapor and at least another gas, the method comprising the steps of: intermittently conducting the gaseous feed under pressure through a membrane gas separator having at least one membrane through which water vapor permeates preferentially in comparison to the other gas to produce a nonpermeate gaseous product which is discharged from a nonpermeate gas side of the separator and in which the concentration of water vapor is lower than in the feed mixture; supplying at least a portion of the nonpermeate gaseous product to the nonpermeate gas side of the separator when the feed is not being conducted through the separator to purge residual amounts of water vapor contained in the membrane of the separator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising an intermediate step of storing at least a portion of the nonpermeate gaseous product in a pressure vessel and wherein the step of supplying at least a portion of the nonpermeate gaseous product to the separator comprises supplying at least a portion of the gaseous product from the pressure vessel to the nonpermeate gas side of the separator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising an intermediate step of storing at least a portion of the nonpermeate gaseous product in a pressure vessel and wherein the step of supplying at least a portion of the nonpermeate gaseous product to the separator comprises the steps of expanding at least a portion of the nonpermeate gaseous product from the pressure vessel and supplying the expanded product to the nonpermeate gas side of the separator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the step of expanding the nonpermeate gaseous product comprises allowing a portion of the nonpermeate gaseous product to bleed back through a slow-bleed check valve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising an intermediate step of storing a first portion of the nonpermeate gaseous product in a primary pressure vessel and storing a second portion of the nonpermeate gaseous product in a secondary pressure vessel and wherein the step of supplying at least a portion of the nonpermeate gaseous product to the separator comprises the step of supplying the product stored in the secondary pressure vessel to the nonpermeate gas side of the separator.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
173 words
A system for separating a portion of a first gas from a gaseous feed comprising a mixture of gases that is intermittently supplied to the system, the system comprising a membrane gas separator having at least one membrane through which the first gas permeates preferentially in comparison to other gases contained in the mixture from a nonpermeate side to a permeate side of the separator, the separator being thereby adapted to produce a nonpermeate gaseous product which is discharged from the nonpermeate gas side of the separator and in which the concentration of the first gas is lower than in the feed mixture, and means for causing a portion of the nonpermeate gaseous product to flow back through the nonpermeate side of the separator as a purge stream when the feed mixture is not being supplied to the system, the concentration of the first gas being lower in the gaseous purge stream than in the feed mixture whereby to purge residual amounts of the first gas contained in the membrane of the separator.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
173 words
A system for separating a portion of a first gas from a gaseous feed comprising a mixture of gases that is intermittently supplied to the system, the system comprising a membrane gas separator having at least one membrane through which the first gas permeates preferentially in comparison to other gases contained in the mixture from a nonpermeate side to a permeate side of the separator, the separator being thereby adapted to produce a nonpermeate gaseous product which is discharged from the nonpermeate gas side of the separator and in which the concentration of the first gas is lower than in the feed mixture, and means for causing a portion of the nonpermeate gaseous product to flow back through the nonpermeate side of the separator as a purge stream when the feed mixture is not being supplied to the system, the concentration of the first gas being lower in the gaseous purge stream than in the feed mixture whereby to purge residual amounts of the first gas contained in the membrane of the separator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system of claim 11 further comprising a pressure vessel for storing the nonpermeate gaseous product and wherein the means for causing the gaseous purge stream to flow to the nonpermeate gas side of the separator comprises means for supplying a portion of the nonpermeate gaseous product from the pressure vessel to the nonpermeate gas side of the separator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 12 further comprising means between the pressure vessel and the nonpermeate gas side of the separator for expanding the purge stream prior to its being supplied to the separator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the means for expanding the purge stream comprises a slow-bleed check valve positioned to allow nonpermeate gaseous product to bleed back through the check valve to the nonpermeate gas side of the separator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
69 words
The system of claim 11 further comprising a primary pressure vessel for storing a first portion of the nonpermeate gaseous product and a secondary pressure vessel for storing a second portion of the nonpermeate gaseous product and wherein the means for supplying the gaseous purge stream to the separator comprises means for supplying nonpermeate gaseous product from the secondary pressure vessel to the nonpermeate gas side of the separator.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
158 words
A system for dehydrating a gaseous feed that is intermittently supplied to said system, the gaseous feed comprising a mixture of water vapor and at least another gas, the system comprising a membrane gas separator having at least one membrane through which said water vapor permeates preferentially in comparison to the other gas, the separator being thereby adapted to produce a nonpermeate gaseous product which is discharged from a nonpermeate gas side of the separator and in which the concentration of water vapor is lower than in the feed mixture, and means for causing a portion of the nonpermeate gaseous product to flow back through the nonpermeate side of the separator as a purge stream when the feed mixture is not being supplied to the system, the concentration of water vapor being lower in the gaseous purge stream than in the feed mixture whereby to purge residual amounts of water vapor contained in the membrane of the separator.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
158 words
A system for dehydrating a gaseous feed that is intermittently supplied to said system, the gaseous feed comprising a mixture of water vapor and at least another gas, the system comprising a membrane gas separator having at least one membrane through which said water vapor permeates preferentially in comparison to the other gas, the separator being thereby adapted to produce a nonpermeate gaseous product which is discharged from a nonpermeate gas side of the separator and in which the concentration of water vapor is lower than in the feed mixture, and means for causing a portion of the nonpermeate gaseous product to flow back through the nonpermeate side of the separator as a purge stream when the feed mixture is not being supplied to the system, the concentration of water vapor being lower in the gaseous purge stream than in the feed mixture whereby to purge residual amounts of water vapor contained in the membrane of the separator.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 16 further comprising a pressure vessel for storing the nonpermeate gaseous product and wherein the means for causing the gaseous purge stream to flow to the nonpermeate gas side of the separator comprises means for supplying a portion of the nonpermeate gaseous product from the pressure vessel to the nonpermeate side of the separator.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 17 further comprising means between the pressure vessel and the nonpermeate gas side of the separator for expanding the purge stream prior to its being supplied to the separator.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the means for expanding the purge stream comprises a slow-bleed check valve adapted to allow nonpermeate gaseous product to bleed back through the check valve and to the nonpermeate gas side of the separator.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
69 words
The system of claim 16 further comprising a primary pressure vessel for storing a first portion of the nonpermeate gaseous product and a secondary pressure vessel for storing a second portion of the nonpermeate gaseous product and wherein the means for supplying the gaseous purge stream to the separator comprises means for supplying nonpermeate gaseous product from the secondary pressure vessel to the nonpermeate gas side of the separator.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the nonpermeate gaseous product comprises air having a concentration of water vapor lower than the concentration of water vapor in the gaseous feed.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-07-08 | 1995-01-07 | 1995-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-07-08 | 1999-01-07 | 1999-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-07-08 | 2003-01-07 | 2003-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |