Solid electrolyte system for use with furnaces

Claim 2

A process for oxygen-enriching a first feed gas stream containing elemental oxygen and at least one other gas to be fed into a furnace by utilizing a pure oxygen gas stream or an oxygen-enriched gas stream obtained from a second feed gas stream containing elemental oxygen and at least one other gas, the process comprising: compressing the first feed gas stream to produce a compressed first feed gas stream; separating the second feed gas stream using an ion transport module containing an ion transport membrane having a retentate side and a permeate side to produce an oxygen-depleted gas stream on the retentate side and the pure oxygen gas stream or the oxygen-enriched gas stream on the permeate side; heating at least the compressed first feed gas stream prior to injection into the furnace; and adding the pure oxygen gas stream or the oxygen-enriched gas stream to the first feed gas stream at any location before the first feed gas stream enters the furnace.

Claim 3

The process according to claim 1 wherein the furnace is a blast furnace.

Claim 4

The process according to claim 1 wherein the second feed gas stream comprises at least a portion of the compressed first feed gas stream or a compressed oxygen-enriched feed gas stream.

Claim 5

The process according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the oxygen-depleted gas stream is used as a purge stream to purge the permeate side of the ion transport membrane.

Claim 6

The process according to claim 1 wherein a portion of the first gas stream, after being heated, is directed to the retentate side of the ion transport membrane to comprise the second gas feed stream.

Claim 7

The process according to claim 5 wherein said portion of the heated first gas stream is added to an additional gas stream to comprise the second feed gas stream.

Claim 8

The process according to claim 1 including heating the second feed gas stream by transferring heat from at least one of the pure oxygen gas stream or oxygen-enriched gas stream and the oxygen-depleted gas stream to the second feed gas stream.

Claim 9

The process according to claim 7 wherein the pure oxygen gas stream or oxygen-enriched gas stream is cooled and further compressed by a booster compressor after the pure oxygen gas stream or oxygen-enriched gas stream undergoes heat exchange with the second feed gas stream.

Claim 10

The process according to claim 7 wherein a fuel gas stream is added to the oxygen-depleted gas stream for combustion before the oxygen-depleted gas stream undergoes heat exchange with the second feed gas stream.

Claim 11

The process according to claim 1 wherein a power expander is used to recover energy from the oxygen-depleted gas stream.

Claim 12

The process according to claim 1 wherein a fuel gas stream is added to the permeate side of the ion transport membrane for purging.

Claim 13

The process according to claim 1 wherein the first feed gas stream and the second feed gas stream are each air.

Claim 14

The process according to claim 1 wherein a portion of the second feed gas stream is used to purge the permeate side of the ion transport membrane.

Claim 15

A process for oxygen-enriching a first air stream containing elemental oxygen and at least one other gas to be fed into a blast furnace by utilizing a pure oxygen gas stream or an oxygen-enriched gas stream from a second air stream containing elemental oxygen and at least one other gas, said process comprising: compressing the first air stream; adding a fuel gas stream to an oxygen-depleted gas stream and then combusting the resultant gas stream; heating the second air stream, which includes at least a portion of the compressed first air stream or a compressed oxygen-enriched air stream, by transferring heat to the second air stream from the pure oxygen gas stream or oxygen-enriched gas stream and the hot oxygen-depleted gas stream from which energy is also recovered using a power expander; further compressing the cooled pure oxygen gas stream or oxygen-enriched gas stream using a booster compressor; separating the heated second air stream using an ion transport module containing an ion transport membrane having a retentate side and a permeate side to produce the oxygen-depleted gas stream on the retentate side and the pure oxygen gas stream or the oxygen-enriched gas stream on the permeate side; and heating at least the compressed first air stream prior to injection into the blast furnace.

Claim 16

A process for oxygen-enriching a first air stream containing elemental oxygen and at least one other gas to be fed into a blast furnace by utilizing a pure oxygen gas stream or an oxygen-enriched gas stream from a second air stream containing elemental oxygen and at least one other gas, said process comprising: compressing the first air stream; adding a fuel gas stream to an oxygen-depleted gas stream and then combusting the resultant gas stream; heating the second air stream, which includes at least a portion of the compressed first air stream or a compressed oxygen-enriched air stream, by transferring heat to the second air stream from the pure oxygen gas stream or oxygen-enriched gas stream and the hot oxygen-depleted gas stream from which energy is also recovered using a power expander; further compressing the cooled pure oxygen gas stream or oxygen-enriched gas stream using a booster compressor; separating the heated second air stream using an ion transport module containing an ion transport membrane having a retentate side and a permeate side to produce the oxygen-depleted gas stream on the retentate side and the pure oxygen gas stream or the oxygen-enriched gas stream on the permeate side; and heating at least the compressed first air stream prior to injection into the blast furnace.

Claim 17

The process according to claim 14 wherein the pure oxygen gas stream or the oxygen-enriched gas stream is added to the first air stream at any location before the first air stream enters the blast furnace.

Claim 18

The process of claim 15 wherein at least a portion of the oxygen-depleted air stream is used as a purge stream to purge the permeate side of the ion transport membrane.