Patent US5306331A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5306331A
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US
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Process for cooling the feed gas to gas separation systems
Assignee: Permea Inc
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Filing: 1993-03-18
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Granted: 1994-04-26
•
Expires: 2013-03-18
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a process for utilizing one stream from a gas separation unit in an evaporation cooler to provide cool water which is used to cool the feed gas mixture by direct or indirect contact prior to entering the gas separation unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven R. Auvil
- 👤 Rodney J. Allam
- 👤 Paul A. Webley
- 👤 Philip J. Young
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:23
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/02; B01D53/04; B01D53/047; B01D53/22; B01D53/225; B01D53/226; B01D53/229; B01D2253/00; B01D2253/10; B01D2253/102; B01D2253/106; B01D2253/108; B01D2259/00; B01D2259/40; B01D2259/40001; B01D53/0407; B01D53/0423
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 53
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
An improved process for the separation of at least one gas of a feed gas mixture from at least one other gas in the feed gas mixture by utilizing a gas separation unit to produce a high pressure stream and a low pressure stream, the improvement which comprises utilizing one stream from the gas separation unit to cool water by evaporation, cooling the feed gas mixture by direct or indirect contact with the cooled water, and recovering the other stream enriched in the at least one gas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
An improved process for the separation of at least one gas of a feed gas mixture from at least one other gas in the feed gas mixture by utilizing a gas separation unit to produce a high pressure stream and a low pressure stream, the improvement which comprises utilizing one stream from the gas separation unit to cool water by evaporation, cooling the feed gas mixture by direct or indirect contact with the cooled water, and recovering the other stream enriched in the at least one gas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the water is cooled by evaporation in a packed column.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the water is cooled in a spray tower.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the feed gas mixture is cooled by direct contact with the cooled water in a packed column.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the feed gas mixture is cooled by direct contact with the cooled water in a spray tower.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the feed gas mixture is cooled by indirect contact with the cooled water in a water-gas heat exchanger.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the cooled water is recycled between a water cooler and a feed gas cooler.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the cooled water is supplied from a cooling tower, chilled in the water cooler, used to cool the feed gas mixture, and returned to the cooling tower.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the feed gas mixture is air.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the gas separation unit is a membrane gas separation unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the gas separation unit is a pressure swing adsorption unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 11 wherein the pressure swing adsorption unit utilizes carbon molecular sieves.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 11 wherein the pressure swing adsorption unit utilizes zeolite.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
69 words
A process for the separation of at least one gas of a feed gas mixture from at least one other gas in the feed gas mixture by selective permeation utilizing two membrane gas separation units in series, wherein a non-permeate stream from the first membrane unit is fed to the second membrane unit, and a permeate stream from the first membrane unit is used to cool water by evaporation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
69 words
A process for the separation of at least one gas of a feed gas mixture from at least one other gas in the feed gas mixture by selective permeation utilizing two membrane gas separation units in series, wherein a non-permeate stream from the first membrane unit is fed to the second membrane unit, and a permeate stream from the first membrane unit is used to cool water by evaporation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 14 wherein the cooled water is used to cool the feed gas mixture by direct or indirect contact.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 14 wherein the cooled water is used to cool the nonpermeate stream by direct or indirect contact.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 14 wherein a permeate stream from the second membrane unit is recycled to the feed gas mixture to the first membrane unit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 14 wherein the water is cooled by evaporation in a packed column.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 14 wherein the water is cooled in a spray tower.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 14 wherein the feed gas mixture is cooled by direct contact with the cooled water in a packed column.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 14 wherein the feed gas mixture is cooled by direct contact with the cooled water in a spray tower.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 14 wherein the feed gas mixture is cooled by indirect contact with the cooled water in a water-gas heat exchanger.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 14 wherein the cooled water is recycled between a water cooler and a feed gas cooler.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 23 wherein the cooled water is supplied from a cooling tower, chilled in the water cooler used to cool the feed gas mixture and returned to the cooling tower.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 14 wherein the feed gas mixture is air.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
78 words
A process for the separation of at least one gas of a feed gas mixture from at least one other gas in the feed gas mixture by selective permeation utilizing a first membrane unit and a second membrane unit in series, wherein a non-permeate stream from the first membrane unit is fed to the second membrane unit, and a permeate stream from the second membrane unit is used to cool water by evaporation in a water evaporation unit.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
78 words
A process for the separation of at least one gas of a feed gas mixture from at least one other gas in the feed gas mixture by selective permeation utilizing a first membrane unit and a second membrane unit in series, wherein a non-permeate stream from the first membrane unit is fed to the second membrane unit, and a permeate stream from the second membrane unit is used to cool water by evaporation in a water evaporation unit.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 26 wherein the cooled water is used to cool the feed gas mixture by direct or indirect contact.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 26 wherein the cooled water is used to cool the non-permeate stream leaving the first membrane unit by direct or indirect contact.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 26 wherein the permeate stream leaving the water evaporation unit is recycled and mixed with the feed gas mixture to the first membrane unit.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 26 wherein the water evaporation unit is a packed column.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 26 wherein the water evaporation unit is a spray tower.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 26 wherein the feed gas mixture is cooled by direct contact with the cooled water in a packed column.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 26 wherein the feed gas mixture is cooled by direct contact with the cooled water in a spray tower.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 26 wherein the feed gas mixture is cooled by indirect contact with the cooled water in a water-gas heat exchanger.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 26 wherein the cooled water is recycled between the water evaporation unit and a feed gas cooler.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 35 wherein the water is supplied from a cooling tower, chilled in the water evaporation unit, used to cool the feed gas mixture, and returned to the cooling tower.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 26 wherein the feed gas mixture is air.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
77 words
A process for the separation of at least one gas of a feed gas mixture from at least one other gas in the feed gas mixture by selective permeation utilizing a first membrane separation unit and a second membrane unit, wherein a non-permeate stream from the first membrane unit is fed to the second membrane unit, and a non-permeate stream from the second membrane unit is used to cool water by evaporation in a water evaporation unit.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
77 words
A process for the separation of at least one gas of a feed gas mixture from at least one other gas in the feed gas mixture by selective permeation utilizing a first membrane separation unit and a second membrane unit, wherein a non-permeate stream from the first membrane unit is fed to the second membrane unit, and a non-permeate stream from the second membrane unit is used to cool water by evaporation in a water evaporation unit.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 38 wherein the cooled water is used to cool the feed gas mixture by direct or indirect contact.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 38 wherein the cooled water is used to cool the non-permeate stream leaving the first membrane unit by direct or indirect contact.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 38 wherein a permeate stream from the second membrane unit is recycled and mixed with the feed gas mixture to the first membrane unit.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 38 wherein the water is cooled by evaporation in a packed column.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 38 wherein the water is cooled in a spray tower.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 38 wherein the feed gas mixture is cooled by direct contact with the cooled water in a packed column.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 38 wherein the feed gas mixture is cooled by direct contact with the cooled water in a spray tower.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 38 wherein the feed gas mixture is cooled by indirect contact with the cooled water in a water-gas heat exchanger.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 38 wherein the water is recycled between the water evaporation unit and a feed gas cooler.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 38 wherein the water is supplied from a cooling tower, chilled in the water evaporation unit used to cool the feed gas mixture, and returned to the cooling tower.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 38 wherein the feed gas mixture is air.
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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) | 1997-04-25 | 1997-10-25 | 1998-04-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-04-25 | 2001-10-25 | 2002-04-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-04-25 | 2005-10-25 | 2006-04-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |