초록 ▼

A method for the substantial separation of at least one gas component from a gas mixture to generate a residue gas substantially depleted of the gas components to be separated. A semipermeable membrane is provided which has a feed gas side and a sweep gas side. The feed gas side is contacted with a

A method for the substantial separation of at least one gas component from a gas mixture to generate a residue gas substantially depleted of the gas components to be separated. A semipermeable membrane is provided which has a feed gas side and a sweep gas side. The feed gas side is contacted with a feed gas mixture containing at least one gas to be retained and at least one gas to be separated therefrom. The sweep side is simultaneously contacted with a sweep gas having a pressure lower than that of the feed gas. The partial pressure of certain gas components present on both sides of the membrane are balanced to cause the remaining gas components to diffuse in either direction across the membrane depending upon their differential partial pressures. Apparatus for the gas separation is also provided.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for substantial separation of at least one gas component from a gas mixture to generate a residue gas substantially depleted of said gas components comprising the steps of: providing a semipermeable membrane having a feed gas side and a sweep gas side; contacting said feed gas side of said

A method for substantial separation of at least one gas component from a gas mixture to generate a residue gas substantially depleted of said gas components comprising the steps of: providing a semipermeable membrane having a feed gas side and a sweep gas side; contacting said feed gas side of said semipermeable membrane with a feed gas mixture containing at least one gas to be retained and at least one gas to be separated therefrom; simultaneously contacting said sweep side of said semipermeable membrane with a sweep gas having a pressure lower than that of said feed gas and containing at least one of the same gas components to be retained in said feed gas mixture; balancing the partial pressures of at least one of the gas components to be retained on said feed gas side which is present on both sides of the membrane so that the partial pressure differential on both sides of the membrane is substantially zero to minimize passage across the membrane in either direction of the gas component to be retained and at the same time providing a partial pressure differential of said gases to be separated such that the partial pressure of each said gases to be separated on said feed side is greater than the partial pressure of each said gases respectively on said sweep side to encourage passage of said gases to be separated from said feed gas mixture side across said membrane to said sweep side; withdrawing a residue gas after contact with said feed side of said membrane which is substantially depleted of said gases to be separated; and, withdrawing a permeate gas after contact with said sweep side of said membrane which is substantially enriched with said gases to be separated.