Abstract: Internally reheated sweep gas-aided membrane gas separation module in which the sweep gas is expanded retentate that is warmed through heat exchange with non-expanded retentate within the module.

Abstract: In a crude oil purification process including phase separators, a vapor recovery unit (VRU), and dew pointing/dehydration and CO2 removal membranes, instead of compressing the low boiling point (i.e., C1-5) hydrocarbon vapor stream from the VRU along with the main portion of gas from the separation train and feeding it to the membranes, it is compressed and dehydrated along with the H2O/C3+ hydrocarbon enriched permeate from the dew pointing and dehydration membranes.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane bundle useful for manufacturing a wide variety of hollow fiber membrane modules having different flow configurations includes hollow fiber membranes arranged around a porous support tube, a cured resin tubesheet formed at first end of the bundle, and either a cured resin nub or a cured resin tubesheet formed at a second end of the bundle. The bore(s) of the hollow fiber membranes are open at a face of the tubesheet adjacent the first end of the bundle. The tubesheet has an annular structure that encapsulates the hollow fiber membranes and the porous support tube at the first end of the bundle but which does not completely block a bore of the porous support tube, wherein the collection tube has a plurality of orifices formed therein at least at positions adjacent the nub.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane bundle useful for manufacturing a wide variety of hollow fiber membrane modules having different flow configurations includes hollow fiber membranes arranged around a porous support tube, a cured resin tubesheet formed at first end of the bundle, and either a cured resin nub or a cured resin tubesheet formed at a second end of the bundle. The bore(s) of the hollow fiber membranes are open at a face of the tubesheet adjacent the first end of the bundle. The tubesheet has an annular structure that encapsulates the hollow fiber membranes and the porous support tube at the first end of the bundle but which does not completely block a bore of the porous support tube, wherein the collection tube has a plurality of orifices formed therein at least at positions adjacent the nub.

Abstract: A stream of raw biogas is feed to an upstream-most compression stage of a multi-stage compression unit to produce a feed gas for separation by a gas separation membrane-based purification unit into a methane-enriched product gas stream, one or more recycle gas streams, and one or more waste gas streams. The methane-enriched product gas stream is compressed by a downstream or downstream-most compression stage of the multi-stage compression unit to produce a stream of product compressed natural gas.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane bundle useful for manufacturing a wide variety of hollow fiber membrane modules having different flow configurations includes hollow fiber membranes arranged around a porous support tube, a cured resin tubesheet formed at first end of the bundle, and either a cured resin nub or a cured resin tubesheet formed at a second end of the bundle. The bore(s) of the hollow fiber membranes are open at a face of the tubesheet adjacent the first end of the bundle. The tubesheet has an annular structure that encapsulates the hollow fiber membranes and the porous support tube at the first end of the bundle but which does not completely block a bore of the porous support tube, wherein the collection tube has a plurality of orifices formed therein at least at positions adjacent the nub.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane bundle useful for manufacturing a wide variety of hollow fiber membrane modules having different flow configurations includes hollow fiber membranes arranged around a porous support tube, a cured resin tubesheet formed at first end of the bundle, and either a cured resin nub or a cured resin tubesheet formed at a second end of the bundle. The bore(s) of the hollow fiber membranes are open at a face of the tubesheet adjacent the first end of the bundle. The tubesheet has an annular structure that encapsulates the hollow fiber membranes and the porous support tube at the first end of the bundle but which does not completely block a bore of the porous support tube, wherein the collection tube has a plurality of orifices formed therein at least at positions adjacent the nub.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for recovering methane from digester biogas or landfill gas. More specifically, the invention pertains to a method for producing biomethane that removes impurities from a compressed digester biogas with staged membrane modules of at least two different types, to produce a biomethane having at least 94% CH4, below 3% of CO2, and below 4 ppm of H2S.

Abstract: An adsorbent bed, including at least one elementary composite structure that includes adsorbent particles in a polymer matrix, wherein the adsorbent bed has a bed packing, ?bed, defined as a volume occupied by the at least one elementary composite structure Vecs divided by a volume of the adsorbent bed Vbed where ?bed is greater than 0.60.

Abstract: A single compressor is used to separately compress permeate from cascaded first and second gas separation membrane-based separation units and residue from a fourth gas separation membrane-based separation unit in order to avoid too high a CO2 partial pressure in the compressed permeate. After the permeates from the first and second stages are compressed, the compressed stream is fed to a third gas separation membrane-based separation unit.

Abstract: A single compressor is used to separately compress permeate from cascaded first and second gas separation membrane-based separation units and residue from a fourth gas separation membrane-based separation unit in order to avoid too high a CO2 partial pressure in the compressed permeate. After the permeates from the first and second stages are compressed, the compressed stream is fed to a third gas separation membrane-based separation unit.

Abstract: Method for cryogenic cooling of a first fluid by heat exchange with at least one second fluid in a heat exchanger, the first fluid and/or the second fluid being at a temperature between ?100° C. and ?273° C., wherein the heat exchanger is of the type with polymer microtubes, i.e. comprising a plurality of microtubes made of polymer and having a diameter of between 0.1 mm and 1 cm, one of the first and second fluids being circulated inside said microtubes while the other fluid is circulated around said microtubes.

Abstract: An energy efficient process for NGL recovery and production of compressed natural gas (CNG) in which natural gas is fed to a first gas separation membrane-based separation stage where it is separated into a permeate and a retentate. The high C3+ concentration first stage permeate is chilled and separated to provide liquid phase NGL and a gaseous phase. The first stage retentate is separated at a second gas membrane-based separation stage to produce a retentate meeting pipeline specifications for CNG (including hydrocarbon dewpoint) and a permeate that is recycled to the first stage. The gaseous phase, constituting a low BTU fuel, may be used in on-site power generation equipment and/or in internal combustion engines. The second stage permeate (and optionally the third stage retentate) is (are) recycled back to the first stage to enhance the production of NGL and CNG.

Abstract: A process for purifying a gaseous feed stream of natural gas including methane, CO2 and heavy hydrocarbons including step a): cooling the gaseous feed stream in a heat exchanger; step b): introducing the cooled stream into a phase-separating chamber to produce a liquid stream depleted in methane and enriched in heavy hydrocarbons and a gaseous stream; step c): separating the gaseous stream obtained from step b) in a first membrane producing at least one CO2-enriched permeate stream and a residual stream enriched in methane; step d): introducing the residual stream obtained from step c) into a phase-separator to produce a liquid stream and a gaseous stream; step e): heating the gaseous stream obtained from step d) by introducing it into the heat exchanger used in step a) counter-currentwise with the feed stream thereby producing a gaseous stream depleted in CO2 and enriched in methane.

Abstract: A feed containing methane and nitrogen gas is processed in a three-stage membrane system, each stage of which is selective for methane over nitrogen. The methane enriched permeate from the first stage is removed as product gas. The methane-depleted residue from the second stage is purified in second and third cascaded stages to provide second and third permeates and second and third residues. The third stage permeate is recycled to the feed.

Abstract: An adsorbent bed, including at least one elementary composite structure that includes adsorbent particles in a polymer matrix, wherein the adsorbent bed has a bed packing, ?bed, defined as a volume occupied by the at least one elementary composite structure Vecs divided by a volume of the adsorbent bed Vbed where ?bed is greater than 0.60.

Abstract: An approach for separating a gaseous mixture includes a multi-stage membrane system in which a rubbery membrane is operated at a low temperature. Various streams are cooled and heated in a multi-fluid heat exchanger. In specific configurations, the multi-fluid heat exchanger is cooled by using no fluids other than fluids derived from the permeate and/or residue generated in the first membrane stage.

Abstract: A plurality of membrane elements are arranged in series within a pressure vessel in which at least two of the elements exhibit different permeances or selectivities for a gas or gas pair respectively.

Abstract: An approach for separating a gaseous mixture includes a multi-stage membrane system in which a rubbery membrane is operated at a low temperature. Various streams are cooled and heated in a multi-fluid heat exchanger. In specific configurations, the multi-fluid heat exchanger is cooled by using no fluids other than fluids derived from the permeate and/or residue generated in the first membrane stage.

Abstract: A process for purifying a feed gas including methane and heavy hydrocarbons, including: step a): cooling the feed gas in a heat exchanger; step b): introducing the resulting into a first phase separator to produce a liquid stream depleted in methane and enriched in heavy hydrocarbons and a gas stream; step c): separating the gas stream in a membrane from which a methane-enriched permeate stream and a partially condensed residue stream exit; step d): introducing the residue stream from step c) into a second phase separator vessel in order to produce a liquid stream and a gas stream; step e): introducing at least one portion of the gas stream resulting from step d) into a JT expansion means; and step f): heating at least one portion of the expanded stream in the heat exchanger used in step a) counter-current to the feed stream in order to cool the latter.