US5131930A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for mixing gas streams having different pressures
Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals Inc
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Filing: 1991-05-06
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Granted: 1992-07-21
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Expires: 2011-05-06
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a method for mixing a lower pressure gas stream into a higher pressure gas stream to achieve a product gas stream which is at the pressure of the higher pressure gas stream. The invention uses a membrane to accomplish what typically is accomplished with a compression step prior to mixing.
Inventors
- 👤 Harvey L. Vines, deceased
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:16
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01F; B01F23/00; B01F23/10; B01F23/19; C; C01; C01B; C01B3/00; C01B3/02; C01B3/32; C01B3/34; C01B3/48; C01B3/50; C01B3/501; C01B3/503; C01B2203/00; C01B2203/02; C01B2203/0205; C01B2203/0227; C01B2203/0233; C01B2203/0283; C01B2203/04; C01B2203/042; C01B2203/043; C01B2203/08; C01B2203/0805; C01B2203/0811; C01B2203/0827; C01B2203/12; C01B2203/1205; C01B2203/1211; C01B2203/1235; C01B2203/1241; C01B2203/1258
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for mixing a lower pressure gas stream at absolute pressure P 1 into a higher pressure gas stream at absolute pressure P 2 to achieve a product gas stream having (1) a pressure substantially equal to the higher absolute pressure P 2 and (2) a molar concentration of the lower pressure gas less than or equal to the ration P 1 / 2 comprising the steps of: a) selecting a semi-permeable membrane having a high pressure side and a lower pressure side, and which membrane is selectively permeable towards the lower pressure gas stream; b) feeding the higher pressure gas stream to the high pressure side of the membrane; c) concurrently feeding the lower pressure gas stream to the low pressure side of the membrane; d) collecting the product gas stream from the high pressure side of the membrane.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for mixing a lower pressure gas stream at absolute pressure P 1 into a higher pressure gas stream at absolute pressure P 2 to achieve a product gas stream having (1) a pressure substantially equal to the higher absolute pressure P 2 and (2) a molar concentration of the lower pressure gas less than or equal to the ration P 1 / 2 comprising the steps of: a) selecting a semi-permeable membrane having a high pressure side and a lower pressure side, and which membrane is selectively permeable towards the lower pressure gas stream; b) feeding the higher pressure gas stream to the high pressure side of the membrane; c) concurrently feeding the lower pressure gas stream to the low pressure side of the membrane; d) collecting the product gas stream from the high pressure side of the membrane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the lower pressure gas stream is hydrogen and wherein the higher pressure gas stream is natural gas.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for mixing a component of a lower pressure gas stream at absolute pressure P 1 into a higher pressure gas stream at absolute pressure P 2 to achieve a product gas stream having (1) a pressure substantially equal to the higher absolute pressure P 2 and (2) a molar concentration of the component less than or equal to the ration P 1 /P 2 multiplied by the molar concentration of the component in the lower pressure stream comprising the steps of: a) selecting a semi-permeable membrane having a high pressure side and a lower pressure side, and which membrane is selectively permeable towards the component of the lower pressure gas stream; b) feeding the higher pressure gas stream to the high pressure side of the membrane; c) concurrently feeding the lower pressure gas stream to the lower pressure side of the membrane; d) collecting the product gas stream from the high pressure side of the membrane.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for mixing a component of a lower pressure gas stream at absolute pressure P 1 into a higher pressure gas stream at absolute pressure P 2 to achieve a product gas stream having (1) a pressure substantially equal to the higher absolute pressure P 2 and (2) a molar concentration of the component less than or equal to the ration P 1 /P 2 multiplied by the molar concentration of the component in the lower pressure stream comprising the steps of: a) selecting a semi-permeable membrane having a high pressure side and a lower pressure side, and which membrane is selectively permeable towards the component of the lower pressure gas stream; b) feeding the higher pressure gas stream to the high pressure side of the membrane; c) concurrently feeding the lower pressure gas stream to the lower pressure side of the membrane; d) collecting the product gas stream from the high pressure side of the membrane.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
161 words
A method for mixing two or more components of a lower pressure gas stream at absolute pressure P 1 into a higher pressure gas stream at absolute pressure P 2 to achieve a product gas stream having (1) a pressure substantially equal to the higher absolute pressure P 2 and (2) a molar concentration of the components less than or equal to the ration P 1 /P 2 multiplied by the molar concentration of the components in the lower pressure gas stream comprising the steps of: a) selecting a semi-permeable membrane having a high pressure side and a lower pressure side, and which membrane is selectively permeable towards the components of the lower pressure gas stream; b) feeding the higher pressure gas stream to the high pressure side of the membrane; c) concurrently feeding the lower pressure gas stream to the lower pressure side of the membrane; d) collecting the product gas stream from the high pressure side of the membrane.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
161 words
A method for mixing two or more components of a lower pressure gas stream at absolute pressure P 1 into a higher pressure gas stream at absolute pressure P 2 to achieve a product gas stream having (1) a pressure substantially equal to the higher absolute pressure P 2 and (2) a molar concentration of the components less than or equal to the ration P 1 /P 2 multiplied by the molar concentration of the components in the lower pressure gas stream comprising the steps of: a) selecting a semi-permeable membrane having a high pressure side and a lower pressure side, and which membrane is selectively permeable towards the components of the lower pressure gas stream; b) feeding the higher pressure gas stream to the high pressure side of the membrane; c) concurrently feeding the lower pressure gas stream to the lower pressure side of the membrane; d) collecting the product gas stream from the high pressure side of the membrane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1995-07-21 | 1996-01-20 | 1996-07-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-07-21 | 2000-01-20 | 2000-07-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-07-21 | 2004-01-20 | 2004-07-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |