A dehumidification mechanism for an appliance includes a blower that delivers humid process air along an airflow path. A drum is positioned along the airflow path. A condensing apparatus dehumidifies the humid air to define dehumidified air. A membrane has a plurality of nanopores that define a portion of the airflow path within the condensing apparatus. The humid air is delivered along the membrane having the plurality of nanopores and the nanopores operate through capillary condensation to dehumidify the humid air and separate condensate away from the humid air to define the dehumidified air. The condensate removed by the nanopore membrane is delivered away from the airflow path and to a condensate collection area within the appliance.

A separation system includes first and second separation parts each having a separation membrane and provided with a fluid supply port, a permeate fluid exhaust port, and a non-permeate fluid exhaust port, an intermediate connecting part for connecting the permeate fluid exhaust port of the first separation part and the fluid supply port of the second separation part, a supply pipe connected to the fluid supply port of the first separation part, in which a mixed fluid flows at a pressure higher than an atmospheric pressure, and a pressure reducing part connected to the permeate fluid exhaust port of the second separation part, for reducing a pressure inside the permeate fluid exhaust port to a pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure. A pressure inside the intermediate connecting part is lower than a pressure inside the supply pipe and not lower than the atmospheric pressure.

The invention relates to a specific process and apparatus for separation of gas mixtures with reduced maintenance costs.

A process for providing a carbon monoxide-containing stream involves a separation of synthesis gas into a hydrogen-rich gas stream and a carbon monoxide-rich gas stream containing carbon monoxide to an extent of 85% by volume or more. The separation is effected in an arrangement composed of three membrane separation stages. Prior to the performance of the membrane separation, the synthesis gas is pretreated for removal of secondary components present in the synthesis gas.

A natural gas refining apparatus including a first separation membrane unit including a first separation membrane; and a second separation membrane unit provided in a subsequent stage of the first separation membrane unit. The second separation membrane unit includes a second separation membrane that allows an amine solution to circulate through the second separation membrane unit, and the natural gas refining apparatus refines raw natural gas containing CO.sub.2 by passing the raw natural gas through the first and second separation membrane units, separating CO.sub.2-rich gas with the first and second separation membranes, and absorbing CO.sub.2 with the amine solution circulating through the second separation membrane unit.

The invention relates to a method for membrane permeation of a gas flow including methane and carbon dioxide, wherein said gas flow is cooled to a temperature of 0° C. to −60° C. before being fed into a membrane separation unit.

Membrane modules for hydrogen separation and fuel processors and fuel cell systems including the same are disclosed herein. The membrane modules include a plurality of membrane packs. Each membrane pack includes a first hydrogen-selective membrane, a second hydrogen-selective membrane, and a fluid-permeable support structure positioned between the first hydrogen-selective membrane and the second hydrogen-selective membrane. In some embodiments, the membrane modules also include a permeate-side frame member and a mixed gas-side frame member, and a thickness of the permeate-side frame member may be less than a thickness of the mixed gas-side frame member. In some embodiments, the support structure includes a screen structure that includes two fine mesh screens. The two fine mesh screens may include a plain weave fine mesh screen and/or a Dutch weave fine mesh screen. The fine mesh screens may be selected to provide at most 100 micrometers of undulation in the hydrogen-selective membranes.

A gas separation module and assembly for housing ceramic tubular membranes. The module includes a plurality of tubes containing the ceramic tubular membranes. The tubes are arranged parallel to one another and are supported by tube sheet plates at each end. Gas-tight seals surround each membrane, preventing a feed gas and a residue gas within the inner lumen of the membrane from mixing with a permeate gas in the tube interior. The module also contains a gas distribution pipe for withdrawing the permeate gas out of, or introducing a sweep gas into, the module. This configuration allows for ceramic tubular membranes to be modularized for use in an assembly that carries out many types of gas separations.

A generator of inert gas from an airflow, in an inerting system for at least one aircraft fuel tank is disclosed. The generator includes a system with an air inlet and means for distributing the airflow to a plurality of air separation modules arranged in parallel on the air system to deplete oxygen in the air and generate a nitrogen-enriched inert gas at the outlet. The generator also includes a programed control unit for the distribution means to selectively supply air to a single, a portion or all of the air separation modules, depending on the flight phase of the aircraft.

An apparatus/system for generating a high-purity nitrogen gas using a fuel cell includes; a fuel cell that operates by taking in air or a gas containing nitrogen and oxygen, and a fuel gas; a dehumidification mechanism that reduces moisture or water vapor content in an exhaust gas that is extracted from the fuel cell and has a lower oxygen concentration than air; and a filtering mechanism which includes a filter using fibers having different degrees of permeation for nitrogen and oxygen and converts the exhaust gas having a reduced moisture or water vapor content into a gas having an increased nitrogen concentration. The filter recovery ratio is higher when an oxygen concentration of a gas to be filtered is lower. The dehumidification mechanism is a pump unit including a water seal pump to provide an adiabatic expansion chamber in which the exhaust gas extracted from the fuel cell expands adiabatically.