Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090277327 | High Permeability Membrane Operated at Elevated Temperature for Upgrading Natural Gas - The present invention discloses a new process of treating natural gas using high gas permeability polybenzoxazole polymer membranes operated at high temperatures that can provide sufficient dew point margin for the product gas. The high gas permeability polybenzoxazole polymer membranes can be used for a single stage membrane system or for the first stage membrane in a two stage membrane system for natural gas upgrading. Simulation study has demonstrated that a costly membrane pretreatment system such as a MemGuard™ system will not be required in the present new process. The new process can achieve significant capital cost saving and reduce the existing membrane footprint greater than 50%. | 11-12-2009 |
20100133171 | Polybenzoxazole Polymer-Based Mixed Matrix Membranes - The present invention discloses new types of polybenzoxazole-based mixed matrix membranes and methods for making and using these membranes. The polybenzoxazole-based mixed matrix membranes are prepared by fabricating a polyimide-based mixed matrix membrane by dispersing molecular sieve particles in a continuous aromatic polyimide matrix with pendent hydroxyl groups ortho to the heterocyclic imide nitrogen; and then converting the polyimide-based mixed matrix membrane to a polybenzoxazole-based mixed matrix membrane by heating between 300° and 600° C. under inert atmosphere or vacuum. The polybenzoxazole-based mixed matrix membranes of the present invention can be fabricated into any convenient geometry such as flat sheet (or spiral wound), tube, hollow fiber, or thin film composite. These polybenzoxazole-based mixed matrix membranes exhibit high thermal stability, significantly higher selectivity than the neat polybenzoxazole polymer membranes, and much higher permeability than traditional mixed matrix membranes. | 06-03-2010 |
20100133186 | High Performance Cross-Linked Polybenzoxazole and Polybenzothiazole Polymer Membranes - In the present invention high performance cross-linked polybenzoxazole and polybenzothiazole polymer membranes and methods for making and using these membranes have been developed. The cross-linked polybenzoxazole and polybenzothiazole polymer membranes are prepared by: 1) first synthesizing polyimide polymers comprising pendent functional groups (e.g., —OH or —SH) ortho to the heterocyclic imide nitrogen and cross-linkable functional groups in the polymer backbone; 2) fabricating polyimide membranes from these polymers; 3) converting the polyimide membranes to polybenzoxazole or polybenzothiazole membranes by heating under inert atmosphere such as nitrogen or vacuum; and 4) finally converting the membranes to high performance cross-linked polybenzoxazole or polybenzothiazole membranes by a crosslinking treatment, preferably UV radiation. The membranes can be fabricated into any convenient geometry. The high performance cross-linked polybenzoxazole and polybenzothiazole polymer membranes of the present invention are suitable for a variety of liquid, gas, and vapor separations. | 06-03-2010 |
20100133187 | Polybenzoxazole Polymer-Based Mixed Matrix Membranes - The present invention discloses new types of polybenzoxazole-based mixed matrix membranes and methods for making and using these membranes. The polybenzoxazole-based mixed matrix membranes are prepared by fabricating a polyimide-based mixed matrix membrane by dispersing molecular sieve particles in a continuous aromatic polyimide matrix with pendent hydroxyl groups ortho to the heterocyclic imide nitrogen; and then converting the polyimide-based mixed matrix membrane to a polybenzoxazole-based mixed matrix membrane by heating between 200° and 600° C. under inert atmosphere or vacuum. The polybenzoxazole-based mixed matrix membranes of the present invention can be fabricated into any convenient geometry such as flat sheet (or spiral wound), tube, hollow fiber, or thin film composite. These polybenzoxazole-based mixed matrix membranes exhibit high thermal stability, significantly higher selectivity than the neat polybenzoxazole polymer membranes, and much higher permeability than traditional mixed matrix membranes. | 06-03-2010 |
20100133188 | Polybenzoxazole Membranes Prepared From Aromatic Polyamide Membranes - The present invention discloses high performance polybenzoxazole membranes prepared from aromatic poly(o-hydroxy amide) membranes by thermal cyclization and a method for using these membranes. The polybenzoxazole membranes were prepared by thermal treating aromatic poly(o-hydroxy amide) membranes in a temperature range of 200° to 550° C. under inert atmosphere. The aromatic poly(o-hydroxy amide) membranes used for making the polybenzoxazole membranes were prepared from aromatic poly(o-hydroxy amide) polymers comprising pendent phenolic hydroxyl groups ortho to the amide nitrogen in the polymer backbone. In some embodiments of the invention, the polybenzoxazole membranes may be subjected to an additional crosslinking step to increase the selectivity of the membranes. These polybenzoxazole membranes showed significantly improved permeability for gas separations compared to the precursor aromatic poly(o-hydroxy amide) membranes and are not only suitable for a variety of liquid, gas, and vapor separations, but also can be used in catalysis and fuel cells. | 06-03-2010 |
20100133190 | METHOD TO IMPROVE THE SELECTIVITY OF POLYBENZOXAZOLE MEMBRANES - The present invention discloses a novel method to improve the selectivities of polybenzoxazole (PBO) membranes prepared from aromatic polyimide membranes for gas, vapor, and liquid separations. The PBO membranes that were prepared by thermal treating aromatic polyimide membranes containing between 0.05 and 20 wt-% of a poly(styrene sulfonic acid) polymer. These polymers showed up to 95% improvement in selectivity for CO | 06-03-2010 |
20100133192 | Polymer Membranes Prepared from Aromatic Polyimide Membranes by Thermal Treating and UV Crosslinking - The present invention discloses a new type of high performance polymer membranes prepared from aromatic polyimide membranes by thermal treating and crosslinking and methods for making and using these membranes. The polymer membranes were prepared from aromatic polyimide membranes by thermal treating under inert atmosphere followed by crosslinking preferably by using a UV radiation source. The aromatic polyimide membranes were made from aromatic polyimide polymers comprising both pendent hydroxy functional groups ortho to the heterocyclic imide nitrogen and cross-linkable functional groups in the polymer backbone. The membranes showed significantly improved selectivity and permeability for gas separations compared to the aromatic polyimide membranes without any treatment. The membranes can be fabricated into any convenient geometry and are not only suitable for a variety of liquid, gas, and vapor separations, but also can be used for other applications such as for catalysis and fuel cell applications. | 06-03-2010 |
20100135881 | PROCESS FOR SIMULTANEOUS REMOVAL OF CARBON DIOXIDE AND SULFUR OXIDES FROM FLUE GAS - A process is provided for the simultaneous removal of carbon dioxide and sulfur oxides from a flue gas stream by a potassium carbonate solvent. As a part of the regeneration of the contaminated stream, a portion of that stream is removed and cooled to allow for filtration of potassium sulfate, the reaction product of the solvent and the sulfur oxides. | 06-03-2010 |
20100137124 | High Performance Cross-Linked Polybenzoxazole and Polybenzothiazole Polymer Membranes - In the present invention high performance cross-linked polybenzoxazole and polybenzothiazole polymer membranes and methods for making and using these membranes have been developed. The cross-linked polybenzoxazole and polybenzothiazole polymer membranes are prepared by: 1) first synthesizing polyimide polymers comprising pendent functional groups (e.g., —OH or —SH) ortho to the heterocyclic imide nitrogen and cross-linkable functional groups in the polymer backbone; 2) fabricating polyimide membranes from these polymers; 3) converting the polyimide membranes to polybenzoxazole or polybenzothiazole membranes by heating under inert atmosphere such as nitrogen or vacuum; and 4) finally converting the membranes to high performance cross-linked polybenzoxazole or polybenzothiazole membranes by a crosslinking treatment, preferably UV radiation. The membranes can be fabricated into any convenient geometry. The high performance cross-linked polybenzoxazole and polybenzothiazole polymer membranes of the present invention are suitable for a variety of liquid, gas, and vapor separations. | 06-03-2010 |
20100243567 | Polymer Membranes Derived from Aromatic Polyimide Membranes - The present invention discloses a new type of high performance polymer membranes derived from aromatic polyimide membranes and methods for making and using these membranes. The polymer membranes described in the present invention were derived from aromatic polyimide membranes by crosslinking followed by thermal treating. The aromatic polyimide membranes were made from aromatic polyimide polymers comprising both pendent hydroxy functional groups ortho to the heterocyclic imide nitrogen and cross-linkable functional groups in the polymer backbone. The high performance polymer membranes showed significantly improved permeability for gas separations compared to the aromatic polyimide membranes without any treatment. The high performance polymer membranes also showed significantly improved selectivity for gas separations compared to the thermal-treated but non-UV-crosslinked aromatic polyimide membranes. The high performance polymer membranes of the present invention are suitable for liquid, gas, and vapor separations, as well as for catalysis and fuel cell applications. | 09-30-2010 |
20100288701 | Staged Membrane System for Gas, Vapor, and Liquid Separations - The present invention involves the use of a multi-stage membrane system for gas, vapor, and liquid separations. In this multi-stage membrane system, high selectivity and high permeance or at least high selectivity polybenzoxazole membranes or cross-linked polybenzoxazole membranes are applied for a pre-membrane or both the pre-membrane and the secondary membrane. A primary membrane can be from conventional glassy polymers. This multi-stage membrane system can reduce inter-stage compression cost, increase product recovery and product purity for gas, vapor, and liquid separations. It can also save the cost compared to the system using all the high cost polybenzoxazole membranes or cross-linked polybenzoxazole membranes. | 11-18-2010 |
20100326913 | POLYBENZOXAZOLE MEMBRANES PREPARED FROM AROMATIC POLYAMIDE MEMBRANES - The present invention discloses high performance polybenzoxazole membranes prepared from aromatic poly(o-hydroxy amide) membranes by thermal cyclization and a method for using these membranes. The polybenzoxazole membranes were prepared by thermal treating aromatic poly(o-hydroxy amide) membranes in a temperature range of 200° to 550° C. under inert atmosphere. The aromatic poly(o-hydroxy amide) membranes used for making the polybenzoxazole membranes were prepared from aromatic poly(o-hydroxy amide) polymers comprising pendent phenolic hydroxyl groups ortho to the amide nitrogen in the polymer backbone. In some embodiments of the invention, the polybenzoxazole membranes may be subjected to an additional crosslinking step to increase the selectivity of the membranes. These polybenzoxazole membranes showed significantly improved permeability for gas separations compared to the precursor aromatic poly(o-hydroxy amide) membranes and are not only suitable for a variety of liquid, gas, and vapor separations, but also can be used in catalysis and fuel cells. | 12-30-2010 |
20100331437 | POLYBENZOXAZOLE MEMBRANES PREPARED FROM AROMATIC POLYAMIDE MEMBRANES - The present invention discloses high performance polybenzoxazole membranes prepared from aromatic poly(o-hydroxy amide) membranes by thermal cyclization and a method for using these membranes. The polybenzoxazole membranes were prepared by thermal treating aromatic poly(o-hydroxy amide) membranes in a temperature range of 200° to 550° C. under inert atmosphere. The aromatic poly(o-hydroxy amide) membranes used for making the polybenzoxazole membranes were prepared from aromatic poly(o-hydroxy amide) polymers comprising pendent phenolic hydroxyl groups ortho to the amide nitrogen in the polymer backbone. In some embodiments of the invention, the polybenzoxazole membranes may be subjected to an additional crosslinking step to increase the selectivity of the membranes. These polybenzoxazole membranes showed significantly improved permeability for gas separations compared to the precursor aromatic poly(o-hydroxy amide) membranes and are not only suitable for a variety of liquid, gas, and vapor separations, but also can be used in catalysis and fuel cells. | 12-30-2010 |
20110072973 | POLYBENZOXAZOLE MEMBRANES - The present invention discloses a blends of an aromatic polyimide polymer and a polymer containing aromatic sulfonic acid groups that can be converted into polybenzoxazole (PBO) membranes for gas, vapor, and liquid separations. The PBO membranes that were prepared by thermal treating aromatic polyimide membranes containing between 0.05 and 20 wt-% of a poly(styrene sulfonic acid) polymer. These polymers showed up to 95% improvement in selectivity for CO | 03-31-2011 |
20110077312 | METHOD TO IMPROVE THE SELECTIVITY OF POLYBENZOXAZOLE MEMBRANES - The present invention discloses a novel method to improve the selectivities of polybenzoxazole (PBO) membranes prepared from aromatic polyimide membranes for gas, vapor, and liquid separations. The PBO membranes that were prepared by thermal treating aromatic polyimide membranes containing between 0.05 and 20 wt-% of a poly(styrene sulfonic acid) polymer. These polymers showed up to 95% improvement in selectivity for CO | 03-31-2011 |
20110278227 | POLYMER MEMBRANES PREPARED FROM AROMATIC POLYIMIDE MEMBRANES BY THERMAL TREATING AND UV CROSSLINKING - The present invention discloses a new type of high performance polymer membranes prepared from aromatic polyimide membranes by thermal treating and crosslinking and methods for making and using these membranes. The polymer membranes were prepared from aromatic polyimide membranes by thermal treating under inert atmosphere followed by crosslinking preferably by using a UV radiation source. The aromatic polyimide membranes were made from aromatic polyimide polymers comprising both pendent hydroxy functional groups ortho to the heterocyclic imide nitrogen and cross-linkable functional groups in the polymer backbone. The membranes showed significantly improved selectivity and permeability for gas separations compared to the aromatic polyimide membranes without any treatment. The membranes can be fabricated into any convenient geometry and are not only suitable for a variety of liquid, gas, and vapor separations, but also can be used for other applications such as for catalysis and fuel cell applications. | 11-17-2011 |
20110290110 | INTEGRATED PROCESS FOR FLOATING LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS PRETREATMENT - The present invention provides a membrane/amine column system and process for removing acid gases from natural gas on a floating liquefied natural gas vessel. Several process configurations are provided to deal with a reduction in the effectiveness of the amine column by increasing the amount of acid gases being removed by the membrane system prior to the natural gas being sent to the amine column. | 12-01-2011 |
20110290111 | TREATMENT OF NATURAL GAS FEEDS - The present invention provides a process for treating a natural gas stream comprising sending a natural gas stream to at least one membrane unit to produce a permeate stream containing a higher concentration of carbon dioxide and a retentate stream containing a lower concentration of carbon dioxide. Then the retentate stream is sent to an adsorbent bed to remove carbon dioxide and other impurities to produce a natural gas product stream. The regeneration gas stream is sent through the molecular sieve adsorbent bed to desorb the carbon dioxide. In one process flow scheme, the regeneration stream is combined with the permeate stream from the membrane unit. Then the combined stream is sent to an absorbent column to remove carbon dioxide from the permeate stream to produce a second natural gas product stream. In the alternative flow scheme, a second membrane unit is used to improve efficiency. | 12-01-2011 |
20110315010 | INTEGRATED MEMBRANE AND ADSORPTION SYSTEM FOR CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVAL FROM NATURAL GAS - The present invention relates to an integrated membrane/adsorbent process and system for removal of carbon dioxide from natural gas on a ship that houses natural gas purification equipment. Additional membrane units or adsorbent beds are used to reduce the amount of product gas that is lost in gas streams that are used to regenerate the adsorbent beds. These systems produce a product stream that meets the specifications of less than 50 parts per million carbon dioxide in natural gas for liquefaction. | 12-29-2011 |
20120085238 | STAGED MEMBRANE SYSTEM FOR GAS, VAPOR, AND LIQUID SEPARATIONS - The present invention involves the use of a multi-stage membrane system for gas, vapor, and liquid separations. In this multi-stage membrane system, high selectivity and high permeance or at least high selectivity polybenzoxazole membranes or cross-linked polybenzoxazole membranes are applied for a pre-membrane or both the pre-membrane and the secondary membrane. A primary membrane can be from conventional glassy polymers. This multi-stage membrane system can reduce inter-stage compression cost, increase product recovery and product purity for gas, vapor, and liquid separations. It can also save the cost compared to the system using all the high cost polybenzoxazole membranes or cross-linked polybenzoxazole membranes. | 04-12-2012 |
20120125012 | PROCESSES AND SYSTEMS FOR DISCHARGING AMINE BYPRODUCTS FORMED IN AN AMINE-BASED SOLVENT - Embodiments of a process for discharging amine byproducts formed in an amine-based solvent are provided. The process comprises the steps of contacting the amine-based solvent with flue gas comprising carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, NO | 05-24-2012 |
20120276300 | POLYMER MEMBRANES PREPARED FROM AROMATIC POLYIMIDE MEMBRANES BY THERMAL TREATING AND UV CROSSLINKING - The present invention discloses a new type of high performance polymer membranes prepared from aromatic polyimide membranes by thermal treating and crosslinking and methods for making and using these membranes. The polymer membranes were prepared from aromatic polyimide membranes by thermal treating under inert atmosphere followed by crosslinking preferably by using a UV radiation source. The aromatic polyimide membranes were made from aromatic polyimide polymers comprising both pendent hydroxy functional groups ortho to the heterocyclic imide nitrogen and cross-linkable functional groups in the polymer backbone. The membranes showed significantly improved selectivity and permeability for gas separations compared to the aromatic polyimide membranes without any treatment. The membranes can be fabricated into any convenient geometry and are not only suitable for a variety of liquid, gas, and vapor separations, but also can be used for other applications such as for catalysis and fuel cell applications. | 11-01-2012 |
20130062792 | CO-CURRENT VAPOR-LIQUID CONTACTING APPARATUSES FOR OFFSHORE PROCESSES - An offshore co-current vapor-liquid contacting apparatus includes stages having contacting modules. Each contacting module includes a downcomer extending in a direction and has downcomer baffles distanced from each other in the direction to define downcomer cells within the downcomer. Each downcomer includes an outlet proximate to a co-current flow channel. A receiving pan extends substantially parallel to the downcomer and has receiving pan baffles distanced from each other in the direction to define receiving pan sections within the receiving pan. A vapor-liquid separation device has an inlet surface proximate to the co-current flow channel and an outlet surface above the receiving pan. Ducts are provided, with each duct having an upper end in fluid communication with a respective receiving pan section and a lower end in fluid communication with a selected downcomer cell in an immediately inferior stage. | 03-14-2013 |
20130291723 | PROCESSES AND APPARATUSES FOR PREPARING LIQUIFIED NATURAL GAS - Processes and apparatuses are provided for preparing liquified natural gas from a natural gas feed that comprises C5 to C7 hydrocarbons and C8 or greater hydrocarbons. An exemplary process includes effecting the preferential adsorption of the C8 or greater hydrocarbons from the natural gas feed over adsorption of hydrocarbons having less than 8 carbon atoms to provide a C8-depleted natural gas stream. The process continues with effecting the preferential adsorption of the C5 to C7 hydrocarbons from the C8-depleted natural gas stream over adsorption of hydrocarbons having less than 5 carbon atoms to form a C5 to C8-depleted natural gas stream. The C5 to C7 hydrocarbons are preferentially adsorbed with higher selectivity and capacity than adsorption of the C5 to C7 hydrocarbons during preferentially adsorbing the C8 or greater hydrocarbons. The C5 to C8-depleted natural gas stream is then liquified. | 11-07-2013 |
20140020557 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR GENERATING NITROGEN - Embodiments of methods and apparatuses for generating nitrogen are provided. In one example, a method comprises the steps of contacting at least a portion of a flue gas stream with a CO | 01-23-2014 |
20140357926 | REMOVAL OF SULFUR COMPOUNDS FROM NATURAL GAS STREAMS - A process for treatment of a natural gas stream, or other methane containing stream that passes through a guard bed for removal of mercury and hydrolysis of COS, followed by treatment with an absorbent unit containing an amine solvent for removal of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. The gas is then dried by a molecular sieve bed. The regeneration gas for the molecular sieve adsorbent bed is chilled to remove liquid hydrocarbons and sulfur compounds. The process is accomplished without the use of an absorbent unit to remove the sulfur compounds. | 12-04-2014 |
20150038759 | REMOVAL OF SULFUR COMPOUNDS IN AN ACID GAS STREAM GENERATED FROM SOLVENT-BASED GAS TREATING PROCESS - The invention involves a process for treating a natural gas stream comprising sending the natural gas stream first to an adsorbent unit for removal of mercury. Then the gas stream is sent to an absorbent unit containing a chemical solvent and a physical solvent for removal of carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide and organic sulfur compounds to produce a partially purified natural gas stream. This stream is dehydrated and becomes the product stream. The partially purified natural gas stream to a dehydration unit to remove water to produce a natural gas product stream. The impurities absorbed by the absorption unit are removed and a liquid stream is separated that contains the sulfur impurities. This liquid stream may be purified and stabilized before being shipped for further treatment. | 02-05-2015 |