Gas separation process using membranes with permeate sweep to remove CO2 from gaseous fuel combustion exhaust

• Main Authors: MERKEL TIMOTHY C, WIJMANS JOHANNES G, BAKER RICHARD W
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 15.05.2012
• Subjects: BLASTING; CAPTURE, STORAGE, SEQUESTRATION OR DISPOSAL OF GREENHOUSEGASES [GHG]; CHEMISTRY; COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; FLUES; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HEATING; INORGANIC CHEMISTRY; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; METALLURGY; NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGYGENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION; REMOVAL OR TREATMENT OF COMBUSTION PRODUCTS OR COMBUSTIONRESIDUES; SEPARATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE; TRANSPORTING; WEAPONS

A gas separation process for treating exhaust gases from the combustion of gaseous fuels, and gaseous fuel combustion processes including such gas separation. The invention involves routing a first portion of the exhaust stream to a carbon dioxide capture step, while simultaneously flowing a second portion of the exhaust gas stream across the feed side of a membrane, flowing a sweep gas stream, usually air, across the permeate side, then passing the permeate/sweep gas back to the combustor.