Abstract: A method of purifying a gas composed of a product gas and one or more impurity gases including combining a feed stream with a second stream thereby forming a combined feed stream, introducing the combined feed stream into a pressure swing adsorption device, thereby producing a high purity product gas stream and an off-gas stream, and introducing the off-gas stream into a membrane separation device, thereby producing a gas stream lean in product gas and a permeate stream.

Abstract: A method and system for purification of helium and CO2 from a stream containing at least Helium, CO2, nitrogen or methane uses a combination of cryogenic, membrane and adsorption technologies.

Abstract: A method for separating a mixture containing at least nitrogen and methane by cryogenic distillation in a first column operating in a first pressure and a second column operating at a second pressure lower than the first pressure, the mixture being separated in the first column to form a gas enriched in nitrogen and a liquid enriched in methane, at least a portion of the gas enriched in nitrogen being at least partially condensed in a heat exchanger and returned to the first column, the gas enriched in nitrogen is sent into the heat exchanger by the bottom, ascends in a first series of passages of the exchanger and condenses therein at least partially, the liquid formed descending in these passages of the first series and exiting by the bottom of the exchanger.

Abstract: A process for the separation of nitrogen from a feed stream containing at least methane and nitrogen, with a methane content between 4 and 12% mol. consists of at least the following steps: separation of the feed stream by means of a rubbery-type membrane to produce a permeate enriched in methane at a pressure greater than 2 bara and a non-permeate which is a nitrogen-enriched residue gas at a pressure greater than 2 bara and processing of the high-pressure residue gas in a cryogenic separation unit to produce a methane rich liquid and a nitrogen-enriched gas wherein the pressure of the membrane permeate is controlled as a function of the nitrogen concentration in the nitrogen-enriched gas.

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: A pressurized CO2 rich gas is cooled down to condense at least part of the stream in a heat exchanger. A bulk of the CO2 is separated by partial condensation and distillation in order to obtain at least one non-condensable gas from a separation vessel. The non-condensable gas is optionally heated up to a temperature lower than ?20° C. (membranes performances is greatly enhanced by low temperature operation). The non-condensable gas is introduced into a membrane permeation unit, producing a residue stream and a permeate stream (the permeate stream is enriched in CO2). The permeate stream is recycled to the process, optionally after compression. The method is auto-refrigerated, i. e. no external refrigerant is used to provide cooling below 0° C.

Abstract: A process for the separation of nitrogen from a feed stream containing at least methane and nitrogen, with a methane content between 4 and 12% mol. consists of at least the following steps: separation of the feed stream by means of a rubbery-type membrane to produce a permeate enriched in methane at a pressure greater than 2 bara and a non-permeate which is a nitrogen-enriched residue gas at a pressure greater than 2 bara and processing of the high-pressure residue gas in a cryogenic separation unit to produce a methane rich liquid and a nitrogen-enriched gas wherein the pressure of the membrane permeate is controlled as a function of the nitrogen concentration in the nitrogen-enriched gas.

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: A method for separating a mixture containing at least nitrogen and methane by cryogenic distillation in a first column operating in a first pressure and a second column operating at a second pressure lower than the first pressure, the mixture being separated in the first column to form a gas enriched in nitrogen and a liquid enriched in methane, at least a portion of the gas enriched in nitrogen being at least partially condensed in a heat exchanger and returned to the first column, the gas enriched in nitrogen is sent into the heat exchanger by the bottom, ascends in a first series of passages of the exchanger and condenses therein at least partially, the liquid formed descending in these passages of the first series and exiting by the bottom of the exchanger.

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: Process for extracting nitrogen from a feed stream of natural gas or of biomethane comprising at least nitrogen, methane, CO2 and/or H2S, wherein a liquid stream enriched in methane resulting from a cryogenic separation is recovered by pumping the bottom product of one or more of the columns and/or pumping a liquid stream to a pressure P2 greater than 25 bar absolute and preferably greater than the critical pressure of said product.

Abstract: In a method for separating a mixture containing carbon dioxide, the mixture is cooled in a heat exchanger and partially condensed and a first liquid is separated from the mixture in a first system operating at low temperature comprising at least one first phase separator and a gas from the first system is treated in a membrane system to produce a permeate and a non-permeate, the gas from the first system being divided into two portions, a first portion being sent to the membrane system without being heated and a second portion being heated to at least an intermediate temperature of the heat exchanger and then sent to the membrane system without being cooled.

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 method and system for purification of helium and CO2 from a stream containing at least Helium, CO2, nitrogen or methane uses a combination of cryogenic, membrane and adsorption technologies.

Abstract: A process for producing biomethane by scrubbing a biogas feed stream includes introducing the feed gas stream into a pretreatment unit wherein a CO2-depleted gas stream is partially separated from a CO2 stream and an oxygen stream and is compressed to a pressure P1 above 25 bar abs. Subjecting the CO2-depleted gas stream to cryogenic separation in a distillation column to separate a nitrogen stream and produce a CH4-enriched stream, the distillation column comprising n plates, n being an integer between 8 and 100. Recovering a pressurized CH4-enriched stream by pumping the CO2-depleted gas stream to a pressure P2 above 25 bar absolute.

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.

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

Abstract: A process for producing biomethane by scrubbing a biogas feed stream including introducing a feed gas stream into a pretreatment unit wherein the gas stream is partially separated from a CO2 stream and an oxygen stream, thereby producing a CO2-depleted gas stream, which is compressed, thereby producing a pressurized CO2-depleted gas stream; separating the pressurized CO2-depleted gas stream by cryogenic separation by introducing the pressurized CO2-depleted gas stream into a distillation column thereby producing a nitrogen stream and a CH4-enriched stream, recovering a pressurized CH4-enriched stream by pumping the CH4-enriched stream; wherein the separation of the CO2 stream and the oxygen stream from the feed gas stream is performed by a unit comprising at least two separating membrane stages in order that the CO2-depleted gas stream comprises between 0.3 mol % and 2 mol % of CO2.