Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system of separating carbon monoxide from syngas mixtures with high methane content by cryogenic means where a partial condensation cycle is generally employed, and more specifically towards combining the methane-rich liquid exiting the distillation column with a lower-boiling mixture so that the boiling point of the combined stream is lower than the boiling point of the methane-rich liquid.

Abstract: A separation method and apparatus that separates a component from a feed stream by use of a membrane in which separation is driven, at least in part, by a sweep stream. The sweep stream may be pumped to a supercritical pressure and then heated to at least near supercritical temperature, at least in part, through heat exchange with a component laden sweep stream being discharged from the membrane. A multi-component mixture can also be used that will produce the sweep stream as a vapor as a result of the heat exchange. The component laden sweep stream, due to cooling through the indirect heat exchange, will form a two-phase fluid that can be phase separated into a vapor phase enriched in the component that can be taken as a product and a residual liquid that can be recirculated in the formation of the sweep stream in the liquid state.

Abstract: Offgas containing carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide that is produced in the reduction of ores and other metal oxides in a reactor is treated to reduce its carbon dioxide content and is then contacted with metal oxide to reduce the oxidation state of the metal and oxidize carbon monoxide therein to carbon dioxide, following which the reduced metal is oxidized with steam to produce hydrogen that can be fed to the reactor.

Abstract: Offgas containing carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide that is produced in the reduction of ores and other metal oxides in a reactor is treated to reduce its carbon dioxide content and is then contacted with metal oxide to reduce the oxidation state of the metal and oxidize carbon monoxide therein to carbon dioxide, following which the reduced metal is oxidized with steam to produce hydrogen that can be fed to the reactor.

Abstract: Offgas containing carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide that is produced in the reduction of ores and other metal oxides in a reactor is treated to reduce its carbon dioxide content and is then contacted with metal oxide to reduce the oxidation state of the metal and oxidize carbon monoxide therein to carbon dioxide, following which the reduced metal is oxidized with steam to produce hydrogen that can be fed to the reactor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of liquefying a hydrogen feed stream and a liquefier for carrying out such a method in which ortho-species of hydrogen contained in a hydrogen feed stream is converted to the para-species in higher and lower temperature catalytic converters. An adsorption unit, located between the higher and lower temperature catalytic converters, adsorbs a portion of the ortho content of the feed stream. The adsorbed portion is desorbed during regeneration of an adsorbent bed of the adsorption unit and is recirculated back for treatment in the higher temperature catalytic converter to reduce the degree to which the ortho-species are converted to the para-species in the lower temperature catalytic converter and at lower temperatures.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of liquefying a hydrogen feed stream and a liquefier for carrying out such a method in which ortho-species of hydrogen contained in a hydrogen feed stream is converted to the para-species in higher and lower temperature catalytic converters. An adsorption unit, located between the higher and lower temperature catalytic converters, adsorbs a portion of the ortho content of the feed stream. The adsorbed portion is desorbed during regeneration of an adsorbent bed of the adsorption unit and is recirculated back for treatment in the higher temperature catalytic converter to reduce the degree to which the ortho-species are converted to the para-species in the lower temperature catalytic converter and at lower temperatures.

Abstract: Offgas containing carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide that is produced in the reduction of ores and other metal oxides in a reactor is treated to reduce its carbon dioxide content and is then contacted with metal oxide to reduce the oxidation state of the metal and oxidize carbon monoxide therein to carbon dioxide, following which the reduced metal is oxidized with steam to produce hydrogen that can be fed to the reactor.

Abstract: A hydrogen transport membrane in which a porous ceramic support supports a dense layer of palladium or an alloy of palladium serving as a hydrogen transport material. The ceramic support has a first porous layer and a second porous layer. The first porous layer has a first thickness of about 1 mm, a first set of pores have a first average pore size of between about 10 microns and about 50 microns and a first porosity of about 40 percent by volume. The second porous layer has a second thickness of about 3 microns, a second set of pores having a second average pore size of between about 10 nanometers and about 100 nanometers and a second porosity of about 50 percent by volume. The dense layer has a thickness of about 3 microns.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method and a system are provided to receive hydrogen at a first pressure at a first side of a membrane, receive hydrogen at a second pressure from a second side of the membrane, combine the hydrogen received from the second side of the membrane with a purge stream to produce a permeate stream at the second pressure, and separate hydrogen from the permeate stream at a third pressure. The purge stream is associated with a phase transition temperature range.

Abstract: A separation method and apparatus that separates a component from a feed stream by use of a membrane in which separation is driven, at least in part, by a sweep stream. The sweep stream may be pumped to a supercritical pressure and then heated to at least near supercritical temperature, at least in part, through heat exchange with a component laden sweep stream being discharged from the membrane. A multi-component mixture can also be used that will produce the sweep stream as a vapor as a result of the heat exchange. The component laden sweep stream, due to cooling through the indirect heat exchange, will form a two-phase fluid that can be phase separated into a vapor phase enriched in the component that can be taken as a product and a residual liquid that can be recirculated in the formation of the sweep stream in the liquid state.

Abstract: A purification system and method for purifying a hydrogen stream supplied from a storage tank mounted in a vehicle to produce a purified hydrogen stream for use in a PEM fuel cell system that is utilized within the vehicle. The hydrogen is purified within a membrane separator having hydrogen transport membrane elements having a dense metallic layer such as palladium to separate the hydrogen from the impurities. The separated hydrogen is supplied to the PEM fuel cell. In order to heat the membrane to its operational temperature, heat is recovered from the hydrogen permeate stream of the membrane system in a first heat exchanger and heat is generated by combusting the retentate stream containing residual hydrogen and impurities.

Abstract: A hydrogen transport membrane in which a porous ceramic support supports a dense layer of palladium or an alloy of palladium serving as a hydrogen transport material. The ceramic support has a first porous layer and a second porous layer. The first porous layer has a first thickness of about 1 mm, a first set of pores have a first average pore size of between about 10 microns and about 50 microns and a first porosity of about 40 percent by volume. The second porous layer has a second thickness of about 3 microns, a second set of pores having a second average pore size of between about 10 nanometers and about 100 nanometers and a second porosity of about 50 percent by volume. The dense layer has a thickness of about 3 microns.

Abstract: A method of forming a hydrogen transport membrane to separate hydrogen from a hydrogen containing feed in which a porous ceramic support is formed to support a dense layer of palladium or an alloy of palladium serving as a hydrogen transport material. Isolated deposits of palladium, a palladium alloy or a component of such alloy are produced on a surface of the porous ceramic support that bridge pores within the porous ceramic support without penetrating the pores and without bridging regions of the surface defined between the pores. The isolated deposits of the metal are produced by an electroless plating process.

Abstract: A purification system and method for purifying a hydrogen stream supplied from a storage tank mounted in a vehicle to produce a purified hydrogen stream for use in a PEM fuel cell system that is utilized within the vehicle. The hydrogen is purified within a membrane separator having hydrogen transport membrane elements having a dense metallic layer such as palladium to separate the hydrogen from the impurities. The separated hydrogen is supplied to the PEM fuel cell. In order to heat the membrane to its operational temperature, heat is recovered from the hydrogen permeate stream of the membrane system in a first heat exchanger and heat is generated by combusting the retentate stream containing residual hydrogen and impurities.

Abstract: A method of producing a crude syngas product stream or a syngas product stream by further processing of the crude syngas product stream. Both the crude and syngas product stream comprise carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The crude syngas product stream additionally comprises carbon dioxide and moisture. In accordance with the method, methane in a feed stream is converted into the hydrogen and carbon monoxide in at least two stages, thereby to form a crude syngas stream. An initial stage has an oxygen transport membrane reactor having a catalyst to promote carbon dioxide or steam methane reforming. Since, the conversion is shared between two stages, the oxygen transport membrane reactor can be operated at a sufficiently low temperature to avoid ceramic membrane deterioration due to creep effect. The subsequent stage can be operated at a higher temperature with more favorable equilibrium conditions to complete the conversion of the methane.

Abstract: In a method for the production of carbon dioxide, an oxygen-containing first process gas is flowed along a cathode side of a first oxygen selective ion transport membrane. The membrane is at operating conditions effective to transport a first permeate oxygen portion from the cathode side to an opposite anode side. A carbon-containing second process gas is flowed along the anode side at a flow rate effective to provide a stoichiometric surplus of oxygen on combination with the first permeate oxygen portion. A first mixture of a second process gas and the first permeate oxygen portion is combusted such that substantially all of the second process gas is converted into a second mixture of water and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is separated from such second mixture.

Abstract: Methane is formed into synthesis gas through a combination of a partial oxidation reaction and a steam reforming reaction. Oxygen for the partial oxidation reaction is obtained by contacting air with an oxygen transport membrane and recovering the oxygen transported through the membrane. To increase the oxygen flux through the membrane, steam is utilized as a sweep gas on the anode side of the membrane. The steam reduces the oxygen partial pressure on the anode side increasing the flux. The efficiency and cost benefit of the process is enhanced by utilizing in-line combustors to heat gases being delivered to the oxygen transport membrane. Membrane integrity is enhanced by conducting the reactions in a reactor that is remote from the oxygen transport membrane.

Abstract: A method of producing a crude syngas product stream or a syngas product stream by further processing of the crude syngas product stream. Both the crude and syngas product stream comprise carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The crude syngas product stream additionally comprises carbon dioxide and moisture. In accordance with the method, methane in a feed stream is converted into the hydrogen and carbon monoxide in at least two stages, thereby to form a crude syngas stream. An initial stage has an oxygen transport membrane reactor having a catalyst to promote carbon dioxide or steam methane reforming. Since, the conversion is shared between two stages, the oxygen transport membrane reactor can be operated at a sufficiently low temperature to avoid ceramic membrane deterioration due to creep effect. The subsequent stage can be operated at a higher temperature with more favorable equilibrium conditions to complete the conversion of the methane.

Abstract: Methane is formed into synthesis gas through a combination of a partial oxidation reaction and a steam reforming reaction. Oxygen for the partial oxidation reaction is obtained by contacting air with an oxygen transport membrane and recovering the oxygen transported through the membrane. To increase the oxygen flux through the membrane, steam is utilized as a sweep gas on the anode side of the membrane. The steam reduces the oxygen partial pressure on the anode side increasing the flux. The efficiency and cost benefit of the process is enhanced by utilizing in-line combustors to heat gases being delivered to the oxygen transport membrane. Membrane integrity is enhanced by conducting the reactions in a reactor that is remote from the oxygen transport membrane.