US5599383A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Tubular solid-state membrane module
Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals Inc
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Filing: 1995-03-13
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Granted: 1997-02-04
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Expires: 2015-03-13
Abstract
Abstract Tubular solid-state membrane modules for separating oxygen from an oxygen-containing gaseous mixture which provide improved pneumatic and structural integrity and ease of manifolding. The modules are formed from a plurality of tubular membrane units, each membrane unit which comprises a channel-free porous support having connected through porosity which is in contact with a contiguous dense mixed conducting oxide layer having no connected through porosity. The dense mixed conducting oxide layer is placed in flow communication with the oxygen-containing gaseous mixture to be separated and the channel-free porous support of each membrane unit is placed in flow communication with one or more manifolds or conduits for discharging oxygen which has been separated from the oxygen-containing gaseous mixture by permeation through the dense mixed conducting oxide layer of each membrane unit and passage into the manifolds or conduits via the channel-free porous support of each membrane unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul N. Dyer
- 👤 Jeffrey D. Bright
- 👤 Michael F. Carolan
- 👤 Eric Minford
- 👤 Robin E. Richards
- 👤 Steven L. Russek
- 👤 Dale M. Taylor
- 👤 Merrill A. Wilson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:24
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/22; B01D53/228; B01D63/00; B01D63/06; B28; B28B; B28B1/00; B28B1/008; B28B19/00; B28B19/0053; C; C01; C01B; C01B13/00; C01B13/02; C01B13/0229; C01B13/0248; C01B13/0251; C01B13/0255; C04; C04B; C04B35/00; C04B35/01; C04B35/26; C04B35/2608; C04B35/2633; C04B35/2641; C04B35/622; C04B35/626; C04B35/62605; C04B35/6261; C04B35/6262; C04B37/00; C04B37/02; C04B37/023; C04B37/025; C04B37/026; C04B38/00; C04B38/0003; B01D2313/00; B01D2313/42; B01D2319/00; B01D2319/02; B29; B29L; B29L2023/00; C01B2210/00; C01B2210/0043; C01B2210/0046; C04B2111/00; C04B2111/00474; C04B2111/00793; C04B2111/00801; C04B2235/00; C04B2235/02; C04B2235/30; C04B2235/32; C04B2235/3205; C04B2235/3215; C04B2235/3224; C04B2235/3227; C04B2235/327; C04B2235/3272; C04B2235/3275; C04B2235/3281; C04B2235/60; C04B2235/602; C04B2235/6021; C04B2235/6025; C04B2235/6027; C04B2235/70; C04B2235/74; C04B2235/76; C04B2235/768; C04B2235/96; C04B2237/00; C04B2237/02; C04B2237/10; C04B2237/12; C04B2237/30; C04B2237/32; C04B2237/34; C04B2237/40; C04B2237/405; C04B2237/50; C04B2237/76
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A module for separating oxygen from an oxygen-containing gaseous mixture comprising a plurality of tubular solid-state membrane units, each tubular solid-state membrane unit which comprises a channel-free tubular porous support having connected through porosity which is in contact with a contiguous tubular dense mixed conducting oxide layer having no connected through porosity and at least one channel which is contiguous to the tubular channel-free porous support on a side opposite the tubular dense mixed conducting oxide layer, wherein the tubular dense mixed conducting oxide layer is in flow communication with the oxygen-containing gaseous mixture to be separated and wherein the tubular channel-free porous support of each membrane unit is in flow communication with a removal means for discharging oxygen which has been separated from the oxygen-containing gaseous mixture by permeation through the tubular dense mixed conducting oxide layer of each membrane unit and passage into the removal means via the tubular channel-free porous support of each membrane unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A module for separating oxygen from an oxygen-containing gaseous mixture comprising a plurality of tubular solid-state membrane units, each tubular solid-state membrane unit which comprises a channel-free tubular porous support having connected through porosity which is in contact with a contiguous tubular dense mixed conducting oxide layer having no connected through porosity and at least one channel which is contiguous to the tubular channel-free porous support on a side opposite the tubular dense mixed conducting oxide layer, wherein the tubular dense mixed conducting oxide layer is in flow communication with the oxygen-containing gaseous mixture to be separated and wherein the tubular channel-free porous support of each membrane unit is in flow communication with a removal means for discharging oxygen which has been separated from the oxygen-containing gaseous mixture by permeation through the tubular dense mixed conducting oxide layer of each membrane unit and passage into the removal means via the tubular channel-free porous support of each membrane unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The module of claim 1 wherein each solid-state membrane unit further comprises a first tubular porous layer having a predetermined average pore radius which is situated between the tubular channel-free porous support and the at least one channel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
The module of claim 2 wherein each solid-state membrane unit further comprises a second tubular layer having a predetermined average pore radius which is situated contiguous to the first tubular porous layer on a side opposite the tubular channel-free porous support wherein the average pore radius of the first tubular porous layer is smaller than the average pore radius of the second tubular porous layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The module of claim 2 or 3 wherein the removal means comprises at least one conduit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The module of claim 2 or 3 wherein the removal means comprises at least one manifold.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The module of claim 3 wherein the tubular dense mixed conducting oxide layer has a thickness ranging from 0.01 micrometer to about 500 micrometers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The module of claim 6 wherein the tubular channel-free porous support comprises pores having a diameter of less than 5 times the thickness of the tubular dense mixed conducting oxide layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The module of claim 6 wherein the tubular dense mixed conducting oxide layer comprises a mixed conducting oxide and the tubular channel-free porous support comprises a mixed conducting oxide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
90 words
The module of claim 8 wherein the mixed conducting oxide is represented by the formula A x A' x' A" x" B y B' y' B" y" O 3-z , where A,A',A" are chosen from the group comprising Groups 1, 2 and 3 and the F block lanthanides; and B,B',B" are chosen from the D block transition metals according to the Periodic Table of the Elements adopted by the IUPAC wherein 0<x≦1, 0≦x'≦1, 0≦x"≦1, 0<y≦1, 0≦y'≦1, 0≦y"≦1, 1.1>x+x'+x">0.9, 1.1>y+y'+y">0.9 and z is a number which renders the compound charge neutral.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The module of claim 9 wherein A, A' or A" of the enumerated formula is a Group 2 metal selected from the group consisting of calcium, strontium, barium and magnesium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
The module of claim 9 wherein the tubular dense mixed conducting oxide layer is formed from a mixed conducting oxide represented by the formula La x A' x' Co y Fe y' Cu y" O 3-z wherein 1.1>x+x'>0.9, 1.1>y+y'+y">0.9, 0<y'≦0.4 and 0<y"≦0.4, A' is selected from strontium, barium or calcium, and z is a number which renders the mixed conducting oxide charge neutral.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
141 words
The module of claim 9 wherein the tubular dense mixed conducting oxide layer is formed from a mixed conducting oxide is selected from the group consisting of La 0 .2 Ba 0 .8 Co 0 .8 Fe 0 .2 O 3-z , Pr 0 .2 Ba 0 .8 Co 0 .8 Fe 0 .2 O 3-z , La 0 .2 Ba 0 .8 Co 0 .6 Cu 0 .2 Fe 0 .2 O 3-z , La 0 .2 Sr 0 .8 Co 0 .4 Fe 0 .4 Cu 0 .2 O 3-z , La 0 .4 Sr 0 .6 Co 0 .4 Fe 0 .4 Cu 0 .2 O 3-z , La 0 .3 Sr 0 .7 Co 0 .8 Fe 0 .1 Cu 0 .1 O 3-z and SrCo 0 .4 Fe 0 .4 Cu 0 .2 O 3-z .
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The module of claim 9 wherein the tubular channel-free porous support is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of alumina, ceria, silica, magnesia, titania, a high temperature oxygen compatible metal alloy, a metal oxide stabilized zirconia and compounds and mixtures thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The module according to claim 9 wherein each solid-state membrane unit further comprises a catalyzed layer having through porosity which is contiguous to the tubular dense mixed conducting oxide layer on a side opposite the tubular channel-free porous support.
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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) | 2000-02-04 | 2000-08-05 | 2001-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-02-04 | 2004-08-05 | 2005-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-02-04 | 2008-08-05 | 2009-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |