1195results about "Methane capture" patented technology

A coated susceptor of electromagnetic energy for chemical processing made of a matrix material that surrounds a non-matrix material that is made from a material that is different from the matrix material, in which the matrix material is constructed of material having lower dielectric losses compared to the non-matrix material, the non-matrix material initially absorbs electromagnetic energy applied to the electromagnetic susceptor to a greater extent than the matrix material, the non-matrix material produces subsequent heat in the matrix material, and the surface of the susceptor is coated with a material that interacts with applied electromagnetic energy of at least one frequency and initially absorbs electromagnetic energy and produces heat.

Improved adsorbent sheet based parallel passage adsorbent structures for enhancing the kinetic selectivity of certain kinetic-controlled adsorption processes, such as PSA, TSA and PPSA processes, and combinations thereof, are provided. The enhancements in kinetic selectivity made possible through the implementation of the present inventive improved adsorbent structures may unexpectedly enable significant intensification of selected kinetic adsorption processes relative to attainable performance with conventional adsorbent materials in beaded or extruded form. Such process intensification enabled by the present inventive adsorbent structures may provide for increased adsorption cycle frequencies, and increased gas flow velocities within the adsorbent beds, which may increase the productivity and / or recovery of a kinetic adsorption system incorporating the inventive adsorbent structures.

A process for the production of hydrogen from anaerobically decomposed organic materials by applying an electric potential to the anaerobically decomposed organic materials, including landfill materials and sewage, to form hydrogen, and for decreasing the time required to treat these anaerobically decomposed organic materials. The organic materials decompose to volatile acids such as acetic acid, which may be hydrolyzed by electric current to form hydrogen. The process may be continuously run in sewage digestion tanks with the continuous feed of sewage, at landfill sites, or at any site having a supply of anaerobically decomposed or decomposable organic materials.

Hydrogen (H2) gas and crude carbon dioxide (CO2) gas are separated from a gaseous mixture thereof. Combustible gas(es) in the crude CO2 gas are combusted to produce heat, at least a portion of which is recovered by indirect heat exchange with at least a portion of the separated H2 gas or a gas derived therefrom. The invention may be integrated with coal-fired power stations to reduce or eliminate emission of harmful components into the atmosphere.

A method, and systems implementing such method, for reducing methane emissions by ruminants. The method includes providing a feed dispenser for feeding ruminants one or more nutrient supplements, and the feed dispenser includes a gas analyzer proximate to where the ruminant places its head. The method includes determining a particular ruminant has accessed the feed dispenser such as by reading an identifier from an RFID ear tag and operating the feed dispenser to provide a ration of methane-controlling nutrient supplement. The method includes using the gas analyzer to determine levels of carbon dioxide and methane and operating a data analyzing station to determine a ratio of methane to carbon dioxide and modify the type or amount of nutrient supplement for the ruminant for a next feeding to control methane production or achieve an animal production goal, such as by selectively operating a hopper with two or more supplements compartments.

The present invention relates to a method for recovering methane gas by adding a gas mixture containing N2 and CO2 gases to natural gas hydrate and reacting them. The method for recovering methane gas from natural gas hydrate of the present invention comprises the step of replacing CH4 gas in natural gas hydrate with a gas mixture containing N2 and CO2 gases by adding the gas mixture to the natural gas hydrate. The method for recovering methane gas of the invention assures a recovery rate of CH4 gas much higher than prior art method without dissociating natural gas hydrate layer and utilization of flue gas as a gas mixture containing N2 and CO2 gases, which makes possible its practical application for the production of natural gas in terms of economy and environmental protection.

Improved adsorbent sheet based parallel passage adsorbent structures for enhancing the kinetic selectivity of certain kinetic-controlled adsorption processes, such as PSA, TSA and PPSA processes, and combinations thereof, are provided. The enhancements in kinetic selectivity made possible through the implementation of the present inventive improved adsorbent structures may unexpectedly enable significant intensification of selected kinetic adsorption processes relative to attainable performance with conventional adsorbent materials in beaded or extruded form. Such process intensification enabled by the present inventive adsorbent structures may provide for increased adsorption cycle frequencies, and increased gas flow velocities within the adsorbent beds, which may increase the productivity and / or recovery of a kinetic adsorption system incorporating the inventive adsorbent structures.

In the present invention high performance cross-linked polybenzoxazole and polybenzothiazole polymer membranes and methods for making and using these membranes have been developed. The cross-linked polybenzoxazole and polybenzothiazole polymer membranes are prepared by: 1) first synthesizing polyimide polymers comprising pendent functional groups (e.g., —OH or —SH) ortho to the heterocyclic imide nitrogen and cross-linkable functional groups in the polymer backbone; 2) fabricating polyimide membranes from these polymers; 3) converting the polyimide membranes to polybenzoxazole or polybenzothiazole membranes by heating under inert atmosphere such as nitrogen or vacuum; and 4) finally converting the membranes to high performance cross-linked polybenzoxazole or polybenzothiazole membranes by a crosslinking treatment, preferably UV radiation. The membranes can be fabricated into any convenient geometry. The high performance cross-linked polybenzoxazole and polybenzothiazole polymer membranes of the present invention are suitable for a variety of liquid, gas, and vapor separations.

The present invention is for novel high performance cross-linkable and cross-linked mixed matrix membranes and the use of such membranes for separations such as for CO2 / CH4, H2 / CH4 and propylene / propane separations. More specifically, the invention involves the preparation of cross-linkable and cross-linked mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). The cross-linkable MMMs were prepared by incorporating microporous molecular sieves or soluble high surface area microporous polymers (PIMs) as dispersed microporous fillers into a continuous cross-linkable polymer matrix. The cross-linked MMMs were prepared by UV-cross-linking the cross-linkable MMMs containing cross-linkable polymer matrix such as BP-55 polyimide. Pure gas permeation test results demonstrated that both types of MMMs exhibited higher performance for CO2 / CH4 and H2 / CH4 separations than those of the corresponding cross-linkable and cross-linked pure polymer matrices.

The treatment unit comprises N adsorption units, N being greater than or equal to 1, operating on a parametrized cycle split uniformly into at most N phase times. Further more, use is made of a control unit for controlling the treatment unit, designed to modify at least one parameter of the cycle. Each time there is a predicted change in the composition of the feed gas, the control unit is sent a pre-established signal representing this change. The processing unit then processes the signal to determine the parameters of an exceptional operating cycle of the treatment unit which cycle is suited to the predicted change.

Hydrogen (H2) gas and crude carbon dioxide (CO2) gas are separated from a gaseous mixture thereof. Combustible gas(es) in the crude CO2 gas are combusted to produce heat, at least a portion of which is recovered by indirect heat exchange with at least a portion of the separated H2 gas or a gas derived therefrom. The invention may be integrated with coal-fired power stations to reduce or eliminate emission of harmful components into the atmosphere.

A process for cooling down a hot flue gas stream comprising water vapour and carbon dioxide, the process including: (a) heat exchange between the hot flue gas stream and a cooling water stream so that the hot flue gas stream is cooled to a cooled down gas stream at a temperature at which at least part of the water vapour therein has condensed and the cooling water stream increases in temperature; (b) combining the condensed water vapour and the cooling water stream to produce a combined water stream; (c) separation of the cooled down gas stream from the combined water stream; (d) cooling the combined water stream by contact with air from the atmosphere and by evaporation of a portion of the combined water stream; (e) using at least part of any non-evaporated and cooled water of the combined water stream as at least part of the cooling water stream for cooling the hot flue gas stream in step (a); and (f) storing any non-evaporated and cooled water of the combined water stream that is not used in step (e) and using the stored water later as at least part of the cooling water stream in step (a).

The present invention provides gels, solutions, films, membranes, compositions, and other materials containing polymerized and / or non-polymerized room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs). These materials are useful in catalysis, gas separation and as antistatic agents. The RTILs are preferably imidazolium-based RTILs which are optionally substituted, such as with one or more hydroxyl groups. Optionally, the materials of the present invention are composite materials comprising both polymerized and non-polymerized RTILs. The RTIL polymer is formed from polymerized RTIL cations typically synthesized as monomers and polymerized in the presence of the non-polymerized RTIL cations to provide a solid composite material. The non-polymerized RTIL cations are not covalently bound to the cationic polymer but remain as free cations within the composite material able to associate with charged subunits of the polymer. These composite materials are useful in catalysis, gas separation, and antistatic applications.

An apparatus for capture of CO2 from the atmosphere comprising an anion exchange material formed in a matrix exposed to a flow of the air.

This invention relates to an apparatus, comprising: at least one process microchannel having a height, width and length, the height being up to about 10 mm, the process microchannel having a base wall extending in one direction along the width of the process microchannel and in another direction along the length of the process microchannel; at least one fin projecting into the process microchannel from the base wall and extending along at least part of the length of the process microchannel; and a catalyst or sorption medium supported by the fin.

The present invention provides methods and systems for carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and other acid gases capture via adsorption at high pressure using mesoporous materials.

The present invention provides a functionalized adsorbent for removal of acid gases, which comprises a pore-expanded mesoporous support having a pore volume of between 0.7 and 3.6 cc / g, a median pore diameter of between 1 and 25 nm, and a BET surface area of between 500 and 1600 m2 / g. The support is functionalized by addition of acid-gas reactive functional groups within the pores and external surface of said support material. Also provided are methods of manufacturing the adsorbent and methods of use.

A pressure swing adsorption process for the separation of hydrogen from a mixture of the same with methane, utilizing two separate PSA stages, one containing a nitrogen selective crystalline zeolite, and the second containing a methane selective adsorbent.

An apparatus for capture of CO2 from the atmosphere comprising an anion exchange material formed in a matrix exposed to a flow of the air.

A system and method of controlling a flow of steam in a steam generator having a heater for heating fluid in a vessel is disclosed. The method includes: delivering the steam from the steam generator to a first side of a filtering membrane; receiving purified steam from a second side of the filtering membrane, the purified steam having a steam flow rate; determining at least one coefficient of a substantially linear mathematical relationship between the steam flow rate of the purified steam and duty cycle; and configuring the steam generator to control: the duty cycle of the heater based on the determined at least one coefficient and a target steam flow rate; and / or the target steam flow rate based on the at least one coefficient and a target duty cycle of the heater.

The invention relates to a hybrid nano sorbent that is capable of reducing and / or removing acidic gases in a gas stream. The hybrid nano sorbent includes at least (i) a nano-structured carbonous material including at least one organic functional group, (ii) at least one metal from at least one of groups 2A, 6B, 7B, 9B or 10B of the periodic table of elements, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii). The method for reducing and / or removing the acidic gases in a stream is also described.

A PSA system that purifies a feed gas, such as a reformate gas in fuel cell system. The PSA system includes a series of vessels housing an adsorbent or combination of adsorbents that adsorb carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, water and methane in the reformate gas. The adsorbent vessels are connected to each other and a feed manifold, a product manifold and an exhaust manifold through suitable conduits, where the gas flows are controlled by a product rotating valve and feed rotating valve or a series of open / shut valves. A specialized PSA cycle controls the valves so that the vessels cycle through various stages of equalization, blow-down, purge, pressurization and production to purify the feed gas.

A method of storing and supplying a gaseous hydrogen product to a pipeline under a product purity specification in which a hydrogen stream made up of gaseous hydrogen is compressed to form a compressed hydrogen stream and introduced into a salt cavern for storage. A crude hydrogen stream, contaminated from storage in the salt cavern is recovered and purified by sufficiently removing at least carbon dioxide and water vapor to produce a hydrogen product stream having an impurity level at or below the product purity specification. The hydrogen product stream is supplied back to the pipeline. Alternatively, during periods of low demand, hydrogen produced by a production facility is both purified and supplied to the pipeline and stored in the salt cavern. During high demand period, both the output of the production facility and hydrogen retrieved from the salt cavern are purified and supplied to the pipeline.

A new type of silica-modified membrane has been developed by the high-temperature, atmospheric-pressure CVD of Vycor glass. The new membrane, Nanosil, showed unprecedented selectivity to hydrogen (100%), without loss of permeability compared to the porous Vycor precursor. The membrane also showed high stability under hydrothermal conditions over prolonged time. The suitability of a Rh / Al2O3 catalyst for the methane reforming with carbon dioxide was also demonstrated. The limitations imposed by thermodynamics on methane conversion have been circumvented by the use of membranes to preferentially remove hydrogen during reaction. The shortcoming of the Knudsen mode of diffusion was overcome by the development of the modified porous glass membrane.

This invention relates a series of steps to provide an economical production of a carbon based fertilizer and soil amendment made during the capture of greenhouse gases from the combustion of fossil and non fossil fuels. The invention uses biomass and other carbonaceous sources through pyrolytic conversion to gases and charcoal, to allow for the further production of co-products, such as hydrogen and ammonia. The invention also relates to the combination of hydrated ammonia, combustion flue gas exhaust, and charcoal, provide for the conversion of the charcoal into a valued added soil amendment to return essential trace minerals and plant nutrients to the soil. The ability to produce a large volume carbon co-product while removing mandated emissions and producing renewable based hydrogen provides an economic gain to a large number small and large businesses and increase the chance of achieving significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

A method of storing and supplying a gaseous hydrogen product to a pipeline under a product purity specification in which a hydrogen stream made up of gaseous hydrogen is compressed to form a compressed hydrogen stream and introduced into a salt cavern for storage. A crude hydrogen stream, contaminated from storage in the salt cavern is recovered and purified by sufficiently removing at least carbon dioxide and water vapor to produce a hydrogen product stream having an impurity level at or below the product purity specification. The hydrogen product stream is supplied back to the pipeline. Alternatively, during periods of low demand, hydrogen produced by a production facility is both purified and supplied to the pipeline and stored in the salt cavern. During high demand period, both the output of the production facility and hydrogen retrieved from the salt cavern are purified and supplied to the pipeline.

A series of MOF-based hierarchical porous material, namely IPD-mesoMOF-1˜9, based on nanoscale MOFs of MIL-100(Al, Fe, Cr, Sc and In), MIL-53(Al), HKUST-1, DUT-5, DUT-4, MIL-101(Cr), MIL-101NDC(Cr), MIL-101BPDC(Cr) and MIL-110 respectively, forming the permanent interparticle porosities by using close (or relatively close) packing, and preparation methods thereof. Modulated or functionalized IPD-mesoMOFs can be applied for gas adsorption and molecule separation (such as CH4- and CO2-adsorption, gasoline / diesel desulfurization and purification), catalyst loadings and molecular recognition / immobilization of biological macromolecules and enzymes.

The present invention relates to a process for reducing cold start emissions in an exhaust gas stream (such as from an internal combustion engine) by contacting the exhaust stream with a combination of molecular sieves comprising (1) a small pore crystalline molecular sieve or mixture of molecular sieves having pores no larger than 8 membered rings selected from the group consisting of SSZ-13, SSZ-16, SSZ-36, SSZ-39, SSZ-50, SSZ-52 and SSZ-73 molecular sieve and having a mole ratio at least 10 of (a) an oxide of a first tetravalent element to (b) an oxide of a trivalent element, pentavalent element, second tetravalent element which is different from said first tetravalent element or mixture thereof and (2) a medium-large pore crystalline molecular sieve having pores at least as large as 10 membered rings selected from the group consisting of SSZ-26, SSZ-33, SSZ-64, zeolite Beta, CIT-1, CIT-6 and ITQ-4 and having a mole ratio of at least 10 of (a) an oxide of a first tetravalent element to (b) an oxide of a trivalent element, pentavalent element, second tetravalent element which is different from said first tetravalent element or mixture thereof.

The present invention discloses a new type of polyimide membrane with high permeances and high selectivities for gas separations and particularly for CO2 / CH4 and H2 / CH4 separations. The polyimide membranes have CO2 permeability of 50 Barrers or higher and single-gas selectivity for CO2 / CH4 of 15 or higher at 50° C. under 791 kPa for CO2 / CH4 separation. The polyimide membranes have UV cross-linkable functional groups and can be used for the preparation of UV cross-linked polyimide membranes having CO2 permeability of 20 Barrers or higher and single-gas selectivity for CO2 / CH4 of 35 or higher at 50° C. under 791 kPa for CO2 / CH4 separation.