Sweep-based gas separation processes for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from gas-fired power plants. The invention involves at least two compression steps, a combustion step, a carbon dioxide capture step, a power generate step, and a sweep-based membrane separation step. One of the compression steps is used to produce a low-pressure, low-temperature compressed stream that is sent for treatment in the carbon dioxide capture step, thereby avoiding the need to expend large amounts of energy to cool an otherwise hot compressed stream from a typical compressor that produces a high-pressure stream, usually at 20-30 bar or more.

According to one aspect, there is provided a device (4) for providing supplemental oxygen to a subject (8), the device (4) comprising a subject interface (10) through which the subject (8) can inhale; a container (12) that has a first outlet (18) connected to the subject interface (10) to allow gas with an elevated oxygen level stored in the container (12) to be inhaled by the subject (8), a first inlet (24), and a material (15) for removing a specific gas from air passing through the container (12) to increase the oxygen content of the air passing through the container (12); and an air blower (14) that is connected to the first inlet (24) of the container (12) and that is configured to supply air into the container (12) as the subject (8) uses the device (4).

A two-reactor catalytic system including a catalytic membrane gasification reactor and a catalytic membrane water gas shift reactor. The catalytic system, for converting biomass to hydrogen gas, features a novel gasification reactor containing both hollow fiber membranes that selectively allow O.sub.2 to permeate therethrough and a catalyst that facilitates tar reformation. Also disclosed is a process of converting biomass to H2. The process includes the steps of, among others, introducing air into a hollow fiber membrane; mixing the O.sub.2 permeating through the hollow fiber membrane and steam to react with biomass to produce syngas and tar; and reforming the tar in the presence of a catalyst to produce more syngas.

The gas separation method is executed under a condition in which a partial pressure of a first gas (G1) in a feed gas that contains at least mutually different gases being the first gas (GI), a second gas (G2) and a third gas (G3) becomes less than or equal to the total pressure of a permeate-side space (S2) of a gas separation membrane (30). The gas separation method includes a step of causing flow of a sweep gas that contains at least the third gas (G3) into the permeate-side space (S2) of the gas separation membrane (30) while supplying a feed gas to a feed-side space (S1) of the gas separation membrane (30). The permeation rate of the first gas (G1) in the gas separation membrane (30) is greater than the permeation rate of the second gas (G2).

The gas separation method is executed under a condition in which a partial pressure of a first gas (G1) in a feed gas that contains at least mutually different gases being the first gas (G1) and a second gas (G2) becomes less than or equal to a total pressure of a permeate-side space (S2) of a gas separation membrane (30). The gas separation method includes a step of causing flow of a sweep gas that contains at least a third gas (G3) being a different gas from the first gas (G1) and the second gas (G2) into the permeate-side space (S2) of the gas separation membrane (30) while supplying a feed gas to a feed-side space (S1) of the gas separation membrane (30). The permeation rate of the first gas (G1) in the gas separation membrane (30) is greater than the permeation rate respectively of the second gas (G2) and the third gas (G3).

Provided is an oxygen concentration device which, as an oxygen concentration device having a reduced difference in flow rates of gas which flows through a pressure equalization valve of a pressure equalization path during a purge step and a pressure equalization step, is provided at at least one end side of the pressure equalization valve with a pressure control member having a difference in pressure loss due to the direction of gas flow so that pressure loss of the gas which flows through the pressure equalization path in one direction becomes nearly equal to that of the gas which flows therethrough in the opposite direction.

Disclosed herein are asymmetric multilayer carbon molecular sieve (“CMS”) hollow fiber membranes and processes for preparing the membranes. The processes include simultaneously extruding a core dope containing a polymer and suitable nanoparticles, a sheath dope, and a bore fluid, followed by pyrolysis of the extruded fiber.

The present disclosure relates to a purge system for a vapor compression system including an emission canister. The emission canister includes a load cell disposed in an interior of the emission canister, a base supported by the load cell, and an adsorbent material disposed on the base. The adsorbent material is configured to adsorb a refrigerant flowing through the emission canister, and the load cell is configured to monitor a weight of the adsorbent material and the refrigerant within the emission canister.

The present teachings provide for an air system for an internal combustion engine (“ICE”). The air system can include a compressor, separation device, first conduit, second conduit and a system for controlling a ratio of gasses that enter the combustion chamber during an intake stroke. The separation device can include a housing and membrane. The housing can be fluidly coupled to the compressor and configured to receive a first volume of intake air therefrom. The membrane can be disposed within the housing and configured to separate the first volume of intake air into a volume of nitrogen-rich air and a volume of oxygen-rich air. The first conduit can fluidly couple the compressor to the combustion chamber. The second conduit can fluidly couple the compressor to the separation device. The gasses can include the volume of nitrogen-rich air, the volume of oxygen-rich air, and a second volume of intake air.

A method for preparing an adsorbent is disclosed that includes mixing an NaY zeolite, aqueous Al(OH).sub.3, and aqueous KOH, and then heating the resultant mixture for an allotted amount of time to achieve a composition comprising at least 90% single phase chabazite having an Si/Al ratio of 1.0 to 2.2.