Fermentation hydrocarbon gas products separation via membrane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fermentation hydrocarbon gas products often contain impurities such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, and bio-byproducts, which are not effectively separated and purified using existing methods, particularly without the need for low temperatures or solvents.
Innovation Solution
A membrane system is used to selectively separate impurities from the fermentation hydrocarbon gas product, with single or multiple membrane stages, where the feed gas is compressed and passed through membrane modules to produce a retentate stream rich in hydrocarbon gas, and the permeate stream is recycled to reduce product losses and enhance purity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If chillers and flash drums are used to purify fermentation hydrocarbon products, then purification effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases and operating complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical separation system (chillers and flash drums) with a membrane-based separation system. The membrane selectively permeates impurities while allowing the hydrocarbon product to pass through, achieving purification without the need for low-temperature equipment and associated high energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the separation mechanism from temperature-based (cryogenic) to membrane-based selective permeation. By operating at ambient or elevated temperatures with a membrane that has specific selectivity properties, the process achieves purification without the energy-intensive cooling requirements of traditional methods.
2Manufacturing precision
If chillers and flash drums are used to purify fermentation hydrocarbon products, then purification effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical separation system (chillers and flash drums) with a simpler membrane-based separation system. The membrane module has no moving parts and requires minimal operational intervention, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining purification effectiveness.
3Manufacturing precision
If solvents are used to extract hydrocarbon impurities, then purification effectiveness is improved, but environmental harm increases and process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces solvent extraction with membrane-based separation. The membrane selectively allows the hydrocarbon product to pass while retaining impurities, eliminating the need for organic solvents and their associated environmental hazards while maintaining purification effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane acts as an intermediary separation medium that selectively permeates different components based on their molecular properties. This intermediary mechanism achieves purification without direct contact between the hydrocarbon product and harmful solvents.
4Manufacturing precision
If low temperatures are used to obtain liquid isoprene enriched composition, then product purity is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the operating temperature parameter from low (cryogenic) to ambient or elevated temperatures. The membrane-based separation mechanism allows for effective purification at higher temperatures, eliminating the energy-intensive cooling requirements while achieving the desired product purity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The membrane system achieves high purity levels of hydrocarbon gas products, with purities exceeding 70% weight in single-stage configurations and up to 90% weight in multi-stage configurations, reducing the need for low temperatures and solvents.
Implementation Method 1
contacting a membrane selectively permeable to the impurities with a gaseous mixture comprising the fermentation hydrocarbon gas product, and permeating these impurities through the membrane
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a process for separation and purification of a fermentation gas product from a fermenter off-gas containing a fermentation product, volatile impurities, bio-product impurities and water, based on a membrane system. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the process of separating and purifying a fermentation product from a fermenter off-gas, containing the fermentation product, volatile impurities, bio-byproduct impurities and water, comprises the steps of: (a) compressing the fermenter off-gas and feeding it into a membrane module, and (b) selectively permeating the volatile impurities, bio-byproduct impurities and water through the membrane, resulting in a product rich retentate stream. The fermentation gas product is separated from the fermenter off-gas in a single membrane stage to produce a purified retentate stream. In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, the fermenter off-gas (2), comprising the fermentation gas product, volatile impurities, bio-byproduct impurities and water, passes through a blower (201) that transports it to a gas holder (202), in order to smooth the process fluctuations. Stream (11) exits the gas holder (202) and is compressed in a multi-stage compressor (203), from which bio-byproduct and water are removed through stream (4). The compressed stream (12) enters the membrane module (204), which permeates the volatile impurities, disposing them in stream (13). The process may be still conducted in a 2-stage membrane system in accordance with the present invention.