Recovery Of Hydrogen Patents (Class 62/931)
  • Patent number: 7380413
    Abstract: A method for simultaneously producing hydrogen and carbon monoxide by subjecting synthesis gas to a decarbonation in a decarbonation unit, and to desiccation in a desiccation unit. After the decarbonation and the desiccation, the remaining synthesis gas components are cryogenically separated and a hydrogen-enriched gas is recycled upstream from the decarbonation unit and downstream from synthesis gas producing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme A Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Eric Dumont, Antoine Hernandez
  • Patent number: 7201019
    Abstract: A method of separating one or more light components, such as helium, from a carbon dioxide containing stream. A two-phase stream is obtained, at least in part, by cooling a pressurized feed stream to at least partially condense such stream. The stream that is subsequently degassed to produce a first vapor stream enriched in the light component(s) and a first liquid stream containing an entrained fraction of the light component(s). The first liquid stream is expanded to create another two-phase stream that is degasified to produce a second vapor stream that is also enriched in the light component(s) and a second liquid stream having an enriched carbon dioxide content. The second liquid stream is repressurized and vaporized. In case of a supercritical feed, the pressurized feed stream is expanded after having been cooled. Thereafter, the feed is degassed to produce the light component enriched vapor stream and a liquid stream enriched in the carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry Edward Howard
  • Patent number: 6568206
    Abstract: A process for recovering a first component and/or a second component from a multicomponent feed gas mixture containing the first component and the second component includes multiple steps. The first step is to pass the feed gas mixture through a membrane separation unit, thereby separating the feed gas mixture into a first stream enriched in the first component and a second stream lean in the first component. The second step is to cool the first stream. The third step is to expand the cooled first stream in a work extraction device, thereby generating a refrigeration supply for the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric William Scharpf
  • Patent number: 6269657
    Abstract: Hydrogen and carbon monoxide are separated from a condensate-containing gaseous mixture thereof by using (a) a “first” stripping column (8) to remove the hydrogen content of the CO-loaded methane stream (6) obtained by washing CO from the gaseous mixture, or the vapor portion from a phase separation thereof, ascending a methane wash column (2) and (b) a “second” stripping column or a flash separator (30) to remove the hydrogen content of the feed gas condensate (9) obtained from the methane wash column (2), or the phase separation. The vapor stream (32) from the second stripping column or flash separator (30) is fed to the first stripping column (8). The liquid stream from the first stripping column and the liquid stream (33) from the second stripping column or flash separator (30) are fed (16, 17, 19 & 20; 34 to 39) to different locations of a separation column (18) providing a gaseous carbon monoxide product stream (21) and a liquid methane wash recycle stream (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Alfred McNeil
  • Patent number: 6266976
    Abstract: A process for obtaining purified carbon monoxide from a gaseous mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide and one or more additional impurities to be removed by one or more vapor-liquid separation devices is provided which includes the steps of providing a feed stream of the gaseous mixture, cooling and partially condensing the feed stream to partially separate the feed stream into at least one hydrogen rich vapor substream and at least one carbon monoxide rich liquid substream, withdrawing a first and a second substream from one of the carbon monoxide rich substreams, passing the first substream through a first expansion valve to let down the pressure to a pressure nominally the same as that of a vapor-liquid separation device downstream, vaporizing the second substream using a heat exchange device to produce a third substream at a pressure substantially above that of the vapor-liquid separation device, passing the third substream through a work extraction device to provide a substantial portion of all refrige
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric William Scharpf
  • Patent number: 6047561
    Abstract: A device and a process for preparing a high-purity inert gas from air, includes the successive steps of:a) cryogenically distilling compressed air,b) recovering an impure inert fluid containing hydrogen impurities (H.sub.2) and residual impurities,c) adsorbing at least some of the residual impurities contained in the impure inert fluid by at least one bed of at least one adsorbent,d) recovering an intermediate inert fluid containing hydrogen impurities,e) removing the hydrogen impurities contained in the intermediate inert fluid by permeation, andf) recovering a high-purity inert fluid in the gas state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Daniel Gary, Rene Lardeau, Jean-Yves Thonnelier
  • Patent number: 5956970
    Abstract: Hydrogen gas from an generator (1) is occluded in a hydrogen recovery container (20), thereafter, in the initial stage during which hydrogen gas is released from the hydrogen recovery container (20), initially purged hydrogen gas containing much amount of impure gas is introduced from the hydrogen recovery container (20) to a gas tank (2) and saved therein, then, hydrogen gas having high purity released from a hydrogen absorbing alloy in the hydrogen recovery container (20) is refluxed to the generator (1), and this process comprising absorbing and releasing of hydrogen gas in the hydrogen recovery container (20) and saving in the gas tank (2) is repeated once or several times, successively, the hydrogen gas containing much amount of impure gas saved in the gas tank (2) is introduced in the hydrogen recovery container (20) and occluded therein, thereafter, in the initial stage during which hydrogen gas is released from the hydrogen recovery container (20), the hydrogen gas containing much amount of impure gas
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignees: The Kansai Electric Power Company, Inc., The Japan Steel Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Sato, Yusaku Nishimura, Harunobu Takeda, Yukio Sato, Shoichi Sato, Yuichi Wakisaka
  • Patent number: 5832747
    Abstract: The molar ratio of hydrogen and carbon monoxide in synthesis gas is changed by partially condensing at least a portion of the feed gas and separating the partially condensed feed mixture by non-fractionating phase separation. Preferably, the partially condensed feed mixture is separated by a first phase separation into a first liquid stream and a first vapor stream; the first vapor stream is partially condensed and separated by a second phase separation into a second liquid stream and a second vapor stream; the second vapor stream is warmed and expanded to provide refrigeration and partial condensation; and the expanded partially condensed stream is separated by a third phase separation to provide a third liquid stream and a third vapor stream. The synthesis gas product is at least partially derived from the third liquid stream and a portion of the third vapor stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: John Dollin Bassett, Brian Alfred McNeil, Eric William Scharpf
  • Patent number: 5609040
    Abstract: Carbon monoxide is recovered by a cryogenic route from a gas mixture, for example from the tail gas of an operation for scrubbing with nitrogen in the preparation of an ammonia synthesis mixture, this mixture containing carbon monoxide, hydrogen and other constituents including nitrogen. The hydrogen is separated off by partial condensation and the other components by distillation of the condensate. The carbon monoxide is produced by distillation in two columns, of which only one has a head condenser fed with a flow of liquid carbon monoxide. A liquid flow is drawn at an intermediate level in the column with the head condenser and directed to the head of the other column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean Billy, Fran.cedilla.ois Granier