Carbon dioxide gas in a high-pressure gas to be treated is stably separated using a separation membrane. Upon separating carbon dioxide gas in a high-pressure gas to be treated using a separation membrane module including a separation membrane, a preliminary boosted gas is supplied to the separation membrane module before the supply of natural gas is started to boost a pressure on a primary side of the separation membrane to a preliminary pressure between a stand-by pressure and an operating pressure. Thus, when the supply of a high-pressure gas to be treated is started to increase the pressure of the separation membrane module to an operating pressure, an abrupt decrease in temperature of the gas to be treated can be suppressed.

To regenerate, by a simple method, an inorganic separation membrane separating non-hydrocarbon gas contained in treatment target gas. Provided in separating the non-hydrocarbon gas contained in the treatment target gas is a regeneration gas supply path supplying moisture-containing regeneration gas to a primary side of the inorganic separation membrane in a separation membrane module. As a result, it is possible to regenerate the inorganic separation membrane by supplying moisture-containing CO2 gas to the inorganic separation membrane and then supplying dry natural gas. Accordingly, there is no need to use dry regeneration gas and the CO2 gas supplied via, for example, a pipeline can be used as it is.

Disclosed are a facility and a method using the facility for treating a feed gas stream comprising at least methane and carbon dioxide by membrane permeation, the facility comprising: —a first membrane separation unit capable of receiving the feed gas stream and providing a first permeate and a first retentate, —a second membrane separation unit capable of receiving the first retentate and providing a second permeate and a second retentate, —a compressor for compressing the first permeate to a pressure of between 17 bar and 25 bar, —a means for cooling the first compressed permeate to a temperature lower than −40° C., —a distillation column for separating the first cooled permeate into a gas stream and a liquid stream, —at least one means for recycling the gas stream exiting the distillation column to the inlet of the first membrane separation unit, —a means for measuring the concentration of methane and/or carbon dioxide in the gas stream exiting the distillation column, —a means for comparing the concentration of methane and/or carbon dioxide measured by the measurement means with a target value, and —a means for adjusting the pressure and/or the temperature of the first permeate depending on the comparison carried out by the comparison means.

This disclosure relates to CO.sub.2-philic crosslinked polyethylene glycol membranes useful for natural gas purification processes. Also provided are methods of using the membranes to remove CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2S from natural gas.

The present invention relates to a process and system for forming a hydrocarbon feedstock from a biomass material, and the hydrocarbon feedstock formed therefrom. The present invention also relates to a process and system for forming a bio-derived LPG fuel from a hydrocarbon feedstock, and the bio-derived LPG fuel formed therefrom, as well as intermediate treated hydrocarbon feedstocks formed during the process.

A system including biogas purification and provides biogas as feedstock to a solid oxide fuel cell. The biogas purification treatment process provides a polished biogas that is substantially free of carbonyl sulfides and hydrogen sulfide. The system uses a biogas treatment apparatus, that includes apparatus such as a packed columns, comprising copper oxide or potassium permanganate packing material, and an activated carbon component configured to treat the biogas by polishing it to remove carbonyl sulfides and deleterious trace residues, such as hydrogen sulfide, that were not removed by any prior bulk H2S removal steps. In addition, an oil removal device is used to remove any entrained fine oil droplets in the biogas. A polished biogas having in the range of 60% methane is charged to the fuel cell. Electricity generated may be fed into a grid or used directly as energy to charge electrical-powered vehicles, for example. Energy credits are tracked in real time and are appropriately assigned.

The invention relates to a method for obtaining natural gas components, wherein, using natural gas, a feed mixture containing methane and helium is provided and subjected to a separating sequence so as to obtain a natural gas product which is enriched with methane and depleted of helium in comparison to the feed mixture and a helium product which is depleted of methane and enriched with helium in comparison to the feed mixture, which method comprises one or more membrane separating steps and one or more pressure change adsorption steps. According to the invention, the feed mixture is provided using natural gas containing methane, higher hydrocarbons, helium and carbon dioxide, and the providing of the feed mixture comprises depleting the natural gas used for provision of the feed mixture of carbon dioxide and of the higher hydrocarbons. The present invention also relates to a corresponding system.

An acidic gas separation device includes: a first separation device which has an inorganic separation membrane and is configured to separate a gaseous hydrocarbon fluid containing an acidic gas into a first gaseous fluid having a large acidic gas content and a second gaseous fluid having a smaller acidic gas content than the first gaseous fluid by the inorganic separation membrane; and a second separation device which has an organic polymer separation membrane and is configured to separate the second gaseous fluid into a third gaseous fluid having a large acidic gas content and a fourth gaseous fluid having a smaller acidic gas content than the third gaseous fluid by the organic polymer separation membrane.

Methane and carbon dioxide-containing feed gas stream is compressed and cooled to condense and remove a portion of water therein, separated with a membrane separation unit into a permeate enriched in carbon dioxide and a biomethane stream scrubbed of CO.sub.2 that is subsequently scrubbed of water in an adsorption purification unit.

Process and plant for membrane permeation treatment of a carbon dioxide and methane-containing biogas stream in which the biogas stream is compressed with a compressor and the compressed biogas stream is fed to a membrane separation unit comprising first and second modules each containing at least one membrane selective for carbon dioxide over methane. The first module separates the compressed biogas stream into a first, second, and third methane-deficient permeates (in comparison to the biogas stream) and a first methane-enriched retentate (in comparison to the biogas stream). The first permeate being richer in methane than the second or third permeates. The second module separates the first permeate into a fourth methane-deficient permeate and a second methane-enriched retentate. The second and third retentates are recycled back to an inlet of the compressor.