Abstract: A system for high acidic natural gas separation comprises a first membrane stage, configured to separate a feed of the high acidic natural gas into a first permeate stream and a first residue stream; a second membrane stage, connected to the first membrane stage in series, configured to separate the first permeate stream from the first membrane stage into a second residue stream, recycled back to the feed, and a second permeate stream, sent to a SRU to recover sulfur; and a compressor, configured to compress the second residue stream from the second membrane stage to a pressure slightly greater than a pressure of the natural gas feed to the first membrane stage, wherein the compressed second residue stream is recycled back and combined with the natural gas feed to form the feed of the first membrane stage.

Abstract: The technology includes a method for removing sulfur dioxide (SO2) from a gas stream, where SO2 gas is contacted by a diluted sulfuric acid (H2SO4) stream and absorption takes place in a quench tower. The dissolved SO2 reacts with the excess of oxygen in the gas stream, where the oxidation results in the formation of sulfurous acid (H2SO3) and dilute H2SO4. For the complete oxidation of the dissolved SO2, an electrolyzer and/or liquid injectants are used. This results in the formation of diluted H2SO4. The diluted H2SO4 is processed in an enrichment unit to produce concentrated H2SO4 and fresh water. A portion of the diluted H2SO4 and/or fresh water is recycled back to the quench tower for the continued acidic absorption of the incoming SO2 in the gas stream, thereby not relying on an external water source.

Abstract: Processes and systems are provided for treating the tail gas stream of a sulfur recovery plant. The process comprising the steps of treating the compressed tail gas stream in a pre-treatment unit to remove the impurities; separating the dry stream in a first stage membrane unit, the first stage membrane unit comprises a membrane selective to carbon dioxide and hydrogen; reducing a temperature of the cryogenic feed in a cryogenic cooler to produce a cryogenic stream; separating the cryogenic feed in a knock-drum to produce a liquid carbon dioxide and membrane feed; separating the membrane feed in a second stage membrane unit to produce a rubbery membrane permeate and a rubbery membrane retentate, where the second stage membrane unit comprises a membrane selective to carbon dioxide over hydrogen; and treating the rubbery membrane retentate in a hydrogen recovery process to produce a hydrogen product stream and a carbon dioxide lean stream.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems for treating a sulfur dioxide-containing gaseous stream. The method includes combusting a tail gas in an excess of oxygen gas to yield a thermal oxidizer effluent containing sulfur dioxide and oxygen. The thermal oxidizer effluent is introduced to an oxidative catalytic converter to convert sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide, thereby forming an oxidized gas stream. The oxidized gas stream is routed to a quench tower and contacted with a dilute aqueous acid quench stream to yield sulfurous acid, hydrated sulfur dioxide, or both. The sulfurous acid or hydrated sulfur dioxide is oxidized with the excess of oxygen from the thermal oxidizer effluent to yield sulfuric acid.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for removing radon from a natural gas stream. The system includes a radon permeable membrane. The radon permeable membrane is configured to separate a natural gas stream into a radon rich permeate stream and a radon reduced retentate stream. The radon rich stream can be stored for a period of time to yield a decayed permeate stream or reinjected into the source formation. The system can include a second radon permeable membrane configured to separate the radon reduced retentate stream into a second permeable stream and a second retentate stream. The decayed permeate stream and second retentate stream can be combined to form a sales gas.

Abstract: Natural gas processing plants that are capable of handling sour gas can be adapted to handle large amounts of sweet gas by maintaining a low CO2/H2S ratio in the natural gas. Solvent mediated acid gas removal and a CO2 permeable membrane are used to yield a concentrated, high pressure H2S stream. The H2S stream is added to the natural gas.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for removing radon from a natural gas stream. The system includes a radon permeable membrane. The radon permeable membrane is configured to separate a natural gas stream into a radon rich permeate stream and a radon reduced retentate stream. The radon rich stream can be stored for a period of time to yield a decayed permeate stream or reinjected into the source formation. The system can include a second radon permeable membrane configured to separate the radon reduced retentate stream into a second permeable stream and a second retentate stream. The decayed permeate stream and second retentate stream can be combined to form a sales gas.

Abstract: Methods and systems for recovering sulfur dioxide from a Claus unit process emissions stream are provided. The method comprises the steps of generating a process emissions stream from a thermal oxidizer or other combustion device, introducing the emissions stream to an SO2 removal system, introducing the SO2 rich stream from the SO2 removal system to a CO2 removal system, and introducing an enriched SO2 stream back to the Claus unit. The SO2 removal system can include one or more SO2 selective membranes. The CO2 removal system can include one or more CO2 selective membranes.

Abstract: Methods are provided for reducing the quantity of acid gas reinjected into a reservoir by partial CO2 removal processes. The methods include acid gas removal, acid gas enrichment, generation of a CO2 rich stream and an H2S rich stream, and reinjection of the H2S rich stream into the reservoir. The acid gas enrichment can be performed by a solvent-based acid gas enrichment unit, a membrane-based acid gas enrichment unit, or a combination of a solvent-based acid gas enrichment unit a and membrane-based acid gas enrichment unit. The system includes an acid gas removal unit, one or more acid gas enrichment units, and an acid gas reinjection compressor. The acid gas enrichment unit can be a solvent-based acid gas enrichment unit, a membrane-based acid gas enrichment unit, or a solvent-based acid gas enrichment unit and a membrane-based acid gas enrichment unit.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for improving sulfur recovery from a Claus unit. More specifically, this invention provides a sorption based SO2 selective crosslinked polyionic liquid system and method for treating acid gas streams and minimizing sulfur dioxide emissions therefrom.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for improving sulfur recovery from a Claus unit. More specifically, this invention provides a steam swept membrane tail gas treatment system and method for treating acid gas streams and minimizing sulfur dioxide emissions therefrom.

Abstract: A membrane module includes a housing. The housing includes a housing, comprising: a first plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes, and a second plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes different from the first plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes. The first plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes has a first length, and the second plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes has a second length that is at least 1.1 times greater than the first length. The membrane module can be used in separation methods, such as membrane distillation methods.

Abstract: Methods and systems for recovering sulfur dioxide from a Claus unit process emissions stream are provided. The method comprises the steps of generating a process emissions stream from a thermal oxidizer or other combustion device, introducing the emissions stream to an SO2 removal system, introducing the SO2 rich stream from the SO2 removal system to a CO2 removal system, and introducing an enriched SO2 stream back to the Claus unit. The SO2 removal system can include one or more SO2 selective membranes. The CO2 removal system can include one or more CO2 selective membranes.

Abstract: Methods are provided for reducing the quantity of acid gas reinjected into a reservoir by partial CO2 removal processes. The methods include acid gas removal, acid gas enrichment, generation of a CO2 rich stream and an H2S rich stream, and reinjection of the H2S rich stream into the reservoir. The acid gas enrichment can be performed by a solvent-based acid gas enrichment unit, a membrane-based acid gas enrichment unit, or a combination of a solvent-based acid gas enrichment unit a and membrane-based acid gas enrichment unit. The system includes an acid gas removal unit, one or more acid gas enrichment units, and an acid gas reinjection compressor. The acid gas enrichment unit can be a solvent-based acid gas enrichment unit, a membrane-based acid gas enrichment unit, or a solvent-based acid gas enrichment unit and a membrane-based acid gas enrichment unit.

Abstract: A process for recovering sulfur from a sour gas is provided. The process includes the steps of: providing the sour gas to a membrane separation unit having a carbon dioxide-selective membrane that comprises a perfluoropolymer, wherein the sour gas comprises carbon dioxide and at least 1 mol % hydrogen sulfide; separating the sour gas using the carbon dioxide-selective membrane in the membrane separation stage to obtain hydrogen sulfide-enriched gas and hydrogen sulfide-stripped gas, wherein the hydrogen sulfide-enriched gas has a hydrogen sulfide concentration of at least 20 mol %, and wherein the hydrogen sulfide-stripped gas comprises carbon dioxide; and processing the hydrogen sulfide-enriched gas in a sulfur recovery unit to obtain sulfur.

Abstract: A process for sweetening a syngas stream, the process comprising the steps of: providing a syngas stream to a nonselective amine absorption unit, the sour syngas stream comprising syngas, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide; separating the syngas stream in the nonselective amine absorption unit to obtain an overhead syngas stream and an acid gas stream; introducing the acid gas stream to a membrane separation unit, the acid gas stream comprising hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide; separating the acid gas stream in the membrane separation unit to produce a retentate stream and a permeate stream, wherein the retentate stream comprises hydrogen sulfide, wherein the permeate stream comprises carbon dioxide; introducing the retentate stream to a sulfur recovery unit; processing the retentate stream in the sulfur recovery unit to produce a sulfur stream and a tail gas stream, wherein the sulfur stream comprises liquid sulfur.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for treating the tail gas stream of a sulfur recovery plant. The methods including generating a tail gas stream from a sulfur recovery plant, treating the tail gas stream with a hydrogen sulfide removal unit and a hydrogen selective membrane unit, generating a stream low in hydrogen sulfide and a stream rich in hydrogen. The hydrogen sulfide rich stream is recycled to the sulfur recovery unit. The hydrogen selective membrane unit includes a glassy polymer membrane selective for hydrogen over hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A process for recovering a noncondensable gas from a gaseous mixture, the method comprising the steps of: supplying a gaseous mixture comprising a noncondensable component; supplying a sweep gas comprising a condensable component; introducing the gaseous mixture and the sweep gas to a swept membrane stage to obtain a retentate stream and a mixed permeate stream, the mixed permeate stream comprising at least a portion of the condensable component and at least a portion of the noncondensable component; introducing the mixed permeate stream to a vapor-liquid separator and subjecting the mixed permeate stream to thermodynamic conditions sufficient to condense most of the condensable component into a liquid, and obtain a raw noncondensable component stream, wherein the raw noncondensable component stream is enriched in the noncondensable component; and introducing the raw noncondensable component to a concentration unit to obtain a noncondensable component product stream enriched in the noncondensable component.

Abstract: Recovering helium from a gaseous stream includes contacting an acid gas removal membrane with a gaseous stream to yield a permeate stream and a residual stream, removing a majority of the acid gas from the residual stream to yield a first acid gas stream and a helium depleted clean gas stream, removing a majority of the acid gas from the permeate stream to yield a second acid gas stream and a helium rich stream, and removing helium from the helium rich stream to yield a helium product stream and a helium depleted stream. A helium removal system for removing helium from a gaseous stream including hydrocarbon gas, acid gas, and helium includes a first processing zone including a first acid gas removal unit, a second processing zone including a second acid gas removal unit, a third processing zone, and a helium purification unit.

Abstract: A process for recovering sulfur and carbon dioxide from a sour gas stream, the process comprising the steps of: providing a sour gas stream to a membrane separation unit, the sour gas stream comprising hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide; separating the hydrogen sulfide from the carbon dioxide in the membrane separation unit to obtain a retentate stream and a first permeate stream, wherein the retentate stream comprises hydrogen sulfide, wherein the permeate stream comprises carbon dioxide; introducing the retentate stream to a sulfur recovery unit; processing the retentate stream in the sulfur recovery unit to produce a sulfur stream and a tail gas stream, wherein the sulfur stream comprises liquid sulfur; introducing the permeate stream to an amine absorption unit; and processing the permeate stream in the amine absorption unit to produce an enriched carbon dioxide stream.