GENERON IGS, INC. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140291887 | METHOD FOR MAKING GAS-SEPARATION MEMBRANES HAVING IMPROVED FLUX AND SELECTIVITY - A polymeric fiber for use in gas separation is formed from a spin dope which includes solvent and non-solvent materials. The fiber is passed through a quench bath, and then a leach bath, in which the solvent and non-solvent are removed. The quench bath and the leach bath include sets of rollers which transport the fiber through the system. Each set of rollers in the leach bath operates at a speed which is greater than or equal to the speed of the rollers which are immediately upstream. Thus, the fiber is stretched, in different amounts, at the same time that the solvent and non-solvent are being removed, and while the fiber is still wet. The resulting fiber has been found to exhibit superior flux and selectivity properties. | 10-02-2014 |
20140243572 | HYBRID MEMBRANE SYSTEM FOR GAS STREAMS WITH CONDENSABLE HYDROCARBONS - A gaseous component is extracted non-cryogenically from a feed gas containing condensable hydrocarbons. The feed gas is passed first through a module containing polymeric fibers useful for removing water vapor from the gas. The gas is then passed through a module containing polymeric fibers selected such that they remove some, but not all, of the carbon dioxide in the stream. The gas is then passed through a module containing polymeric fibers selected to remove at least some of the remaining carbon dioxide as well as heavy hydrocarbons, defined as C5 and heavier, from the stream. The invention is especially useful in processing raw methane taken from a well, and in producing methane which is relatively free of water vapor, carbon dioxide, and heavy hydrocarbons. | 08-28-2014 |
20140187683 | HIGH-FLOW HOLLOW-FIBER MEMBRANES CONTAINING POLYMER BLENDS - A composition for making polymeric fiber membranes, for use in non-cryogenic separation of gases, substantially improves product flow, with only a small decrease in the recovery ratio. The composition is a spin dope including tetrabromo bis-phenol A polycarbonate (TBBA-PC) and tetrabromo bishydroxyphenylfluorene polycarbonate (TBBHPF-PC), in proportions, by weight, ranging (in percent) from about 60/40 to 40/60, and n-methyl pyrrolidinone (NMP) and triethylene glycol (TEG), wherein the ratio of the amounts of NMP to TEG, by weight, is in the range of about 1.6-2.5. The spin dope is used to make hollow fibers for use in gas-separation membrane modules. | 07-03-2014 |
20130220118 | SEPARATION OF GAS MIXTURES CONTAINING CONDENSABLE HYDROCARBONS - A non-cryogenic system for gas separation includes an absorbent system for removing condensable hydrocarbons from a feed gas. The feed gas is then directed into a gas-separation membrane. The absorbent system includes a liquid absorbent having an affinity for hydrocarbons. The liquid absorbent can be, for example, compressor oil or mineral oil. A chiller and a carbon bed may optionally be positioned between the absorbent system and the membrane. The absorbent is periodically regenerated by reducing the pressure or increasing the temperature of the liquid. | 08-29-2013 |
20130074688 | SWEEP GAS FOR MEMBRANE-BASED DEHYDRATION MODULES - An air dehydration membrane module is provided with a sweep gas which is taken from the waste gas of a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit. No additional compressor is required, other than the compressor forming part of the PSA unit. In another embodiment, the sweep gas includes the combination of dried product gas, taken from the dehydration membrane module, and a supplemental gas, which may be ambient air, or permeate gas from an air separation membrane, or waste gas from a PSA unit. An air ejector combines the streams, without the use of an additional compression step, and the combined gas is used as a sweep stream for the dehydration module. The invention also includes the method of selecting an optimum point at which the sweep gas is injected into the module. | 03-28-2013 |
20120205126 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING WATER FROM A NATURAL GAS WELL - Water is removed from a natural gas well by the use of nitrogen, which is produced by a non-cryogenic unit at the site of the well. A cylindrical casing is positioned over the well. A tubing, disposed within the casing, is aligned over the well bore. Nitrogen is selectively introduced into either the space between the tubing and the casing, or into the tubing, so as to displace water from within the tubing or the casing, respectively. The water is directed to a storage tank at the site of the well. Nitrogen is purged from the lines, and the well is ready to resume production. | 08-16-2012 |
20110239866 | INTEGRATED MEMBRANE MODULE FOR GAS DEHYDRATION AND GAS SEPARATION - An integrated fiber membrane module for air dehydration and air separation includes dehydration and separation units disposed concentrically in a generally cylindrical module. Air flows through the outer dehydration unit, becomes dried, and is then directed, in an opposite direction, through the separation unit. The permeate gas from the separation unit serves as a sweep gas for the dehydration unit. A portion of dried gas produced by the dehydration unit may be used as a sweep gas for the separation unit, and also for the dehydration unit. The module makes it feasible to dry and separate air using a device which occupies relatively little space, and which is therefore especially suited for use in aircraft and in other cramped environments. | 10-06-2011 |
20110185891 | SWEEP GAS FOR MEMBRANE-BASED DEHYDRATION MODULES - An air dehydration membrane module is provided with a sweep gas which is taken from the waste gas of a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit. No additional compressor is required, other than the compressor forming part of the PSA unit. In another embodiment, the sweep gas includes the combination of dried product gas, taken from the dehydration membrane module, and a supplemental gas, which may be ambient air, or permeate gas from an air separation membrane, or waste gas from a PSA unit. An air ejector combines the streams, without the use of an additional compression step, and the combined gas is used as a sweep stream for the dehydration module. The invention also includes the method of selecting an optimum point at which the sweep gas is injected into the module. | 08-04-2011 |
20110107792 | SHIPBOARD HYBRID SYSTEM FOR MAKING DRY, OIL-FREE, UTILITY AIR AND INERT GAS - A shipboard system provides dry, oil-free utility air and inert gas for use on a marine vessel. A compressor converts ambient air into a pressurized air stream. The air stream is cooled by heat exchange with sea water in the vicinity of the vessel. The air stream is then dried in a dehydration membrane module, and some of the product of the dehydration module is taken for use as utility air. The remainder of the dried air is passed through an air separation module which includes a polymeric membrane. The product of the air separation module includes a nitrogen-enriched gas which is used as an inert gas on the vessel. The compressor is the only mechanically moving component of the system. | 05-12-2011 |
20100232985 | FUEL GAS CONDITIONING WITH MEMBRANE SEPARATION - Compressed natural gas is produced by a compressor, located near a natural gas well. The compressor being driven by a gas engine. A portion of the compressed natural gas is diverted, and passed through a dehydration membrane, and also through a gas-separation membrane which selects for carbon dioxide. The result is a natural gas stream which is relatively dry, and relatively free of carbon dioxide. This stream is used as fuel for the gas engine which drives the compressor. The permeate gases from the membrane may be recycled. The system enables the natural gas to be compressed efficiently, by providing a conditioned fuel gas for driving the compressor. | 09-16-2010 |
20100132537 | AUTOMATIC LACER FOR BUNDLES OF POLYMERIC FIBER - An automatic lacer wraps bundles of polymeric fibers with thread, before the bundles are woven into a fabric mat and placed in a housing to form a gas-separation membrane module. A fiber bundle passes through a spool which is previously wound with thread on its outer surface. The thread is attached to the fiber bundle, so that when the bundle is moved through the spool, the thread is pulled from the spool, and automatically becomes wound around the bundle. Threads from two or more spools may be wrapped around the fiber bundle simultaneously. Lacing of the fiber bundles reduces the amount of tangling in the loom feeder, and improves the quality of modules made from the fiber bundles. | 06-03-2010 |
20090249948 | AIR-SEPARATION APPARATUS FOR USE IN HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURE ENVIRONMENTS - An air-separation system, useful in high-temperature environments, produces a superheated compressed air stream which is sufficiently cool to be applied to an air-separation membrane. Ambient air is compressed, and then cooled by a fan. The cooled compressed air, after being filtered, is passed through a heat exchanger where it is heated by thermal contact with incoming compressed air. The cooled compressed air thus becomes superheated, and can then be conveyed into a polymeric membrane module without damaging the polymer. A valve enables some of the compressed air to bypass the heat exchanger, thus controlling the degree to which the cooled compressed air stream is heated. | 10-08-2009 |
20080196841 | WATER-BASED PRECIPITATION OF POLYMER SOLUTIONS - A solid polymer is recovered from a solution by the addition of a water-based solution containing a surfactant. The solutions are mixed and heated, so that the organic solvent containing the polymer is driven off, and the solid polymer can be recovered. The solid polymer is generally recovered in the form of small particles, which can be easily moved, as part of a slurry, and then dried. The process produces no hazardous waste. The by-products of the process can be re-used or discarded through ordinary channels. | 08-21-2008 |