Abstract: A multi-stage membrane system is provided to separate helium from a gas stream such as a natural gas stream. There are at least two permeate streams from a first membrane module. One of the permeate streams is compressed and sent to a second membrane module while one of the permeate streams bypasses the compressor. There are control means provided to determine the flow for these two permeate streams based on factors including the compressor capacity, the concentration of the target component in the combined permeate streams and the capacity of the second membrane module.

Abstract: One or more processes to cool a wet natural gas feed stream before the feed stream is passed to a guard bed zone for a membrane separation unit. The processes utilizing an existing processes stream that has a temperature below the hydrate formation temperature of the feed stream. The existing stream may be a residue stream from the membrane separation unit which is heat exchanged with a cleaned stream from the guard bed zone. The cooled clean stream may then be used to cool the wet feed stream.

Abstract: One or more processes to cool a wet natural gas feed stream before the feed stream is passed to a guard bed zone for a membrane separation unit. The processes utilizing an existing processes stream that has a temperature below the hydrate formation temperature of the feed stream. The existing stream may be a residue stream from the membrane separation unit which is heat exchanged with a cleaned stream from the guard bed zone. The cooled clean stream may then be used to cool the wet feed stream.

Abstract: Methods and systems for separating hydrocarbons are disclosed. In one example, a method for separating hydrocarbons includes separating a feed gas stream that includes methane, ethane, and propane and heavier hydrocarbons into a residue gas stream including the methane and the ethane and a natural gas liquids (NGL) stream include the propane and heavier hydrocarbons, compressing the residue gas stream to produce a hot and compressed residue gas stream, and heating a portion of the NGL stream with the hot and compressed residue gas stream.

Abstract: Disclosed are membrane separation assemblies. The membrane separation assemblies include a plurality of membrane separation modules configured into an array, each module of the plurality of membrane separation modules includes a plurality of membrane elements configured for separating a feed flow into a residual flow and a permeate flow. The membrane separation assemblies also include one or two feed headers configured for supplying the feed flow to the plurality of membrane separation modules and one or two residual headers configured for directing the residual flow away from the plurality of membrane separation modules. Further, the membrane separation assemblies include a permeate flow directing system for directing the permeate flow external to the plurality of membrane separation modules. The plurality of membrane separation modules configured into the array are directly and fluidly coupled to one another.