Hydrogen purification devices and their components are disclosed. In some embodiments, the devices may include at least one foil-microscreen assembly disposed between and secured to first and second end frames. The at least one foil-microscreen assembly may include at least one hydrogen-selective membrane and at least one microscreen structure including a non-porous planar sheet having a plurality of apertures forming a plurality of fluid passages. The planar sheet may include generally opposed planar surfaces configured to provide support to the permeate side. The plurality of fluid passages may extend between the opposed surfaces. The at least one hydrogen-selective membrane may be metallurgically bonded to the at least one microscreen structure. In some embodiments, the devices may include a permeate frame having at least one membrane support structure that spans at least a substantial portion of an open region and that is configured to support at least one foil-microscreen assembly.

Facility and method for membrane permeation treatment of a feed gas stream containing at least methane and carbon dioxide including first, second, and third membrane separation units each including at least one membrane that is more permeable to carbon dioxide than to methane, wherein a permeate from the first membrane separation unit is fed to the third membrane separation unit and a retentate from the first membrane separation unit is fed to the second membrane separation unit. A compressor B adjusts the third-permeate suctioning pressure as a function of the feed gas stream pressure and the second retentate methane concentration.

A natural gas processing system is mounted on a mobile platform that is transported to a natural gas source, such as a well. The system supplies retentate gas to operate multi-fuel engines for wellfield equipment such as pumps, compressors, and drills. A liquid drain discharges contaminants. A separator, first and second coalescing filters, and a particulate filter remove particulate matter and fluid contaminant matter from the natural gas. A dryer removes water vapor from the natural gas. Dual membranes separate the natural gas into a retentate gas and a permeate gas. A first heat exchanger adjusts temperature of the natural gas entering the membranes. A second heat exchanger adjusts temperature of the retentate gas output. A thermoelectric generator powered by the natural gas supplies process electricity. A process control monitors and controls the natural gas processing system, including pressure control valves, temperature control valves, and emergency shutdown systems. An instrument gas supply with an accumulator supplies gas pressure to operate pneumatic valves and instruments.

The invention relates to a process and apparatus for separation of gas mixtures with reduced maintenance costs. The process and the apparatus consist of a feed stream separation stage (1), and a retentate separation stage (2), of which both are membrane separation stages, wherein the first retentate stream (7) is heated to temperature higher than the temperature of the feed stream (5), before it is introduced to the retentate separation stage (2), and the total capacity of the membranes used in the retentate separation stage (2) is higher than the total capacity of the membranes used in the feed stream stage (1).

A feed containing methane and nitrogen gas is processed in a three-stage membrane system, each stage of which is selective for methane over nitrogen. The methane enriched permeate from the first stage is removed as product gas. The methane-depleted residue from the second stage is purified in second and third cascaded stages to provide second and third permeates and second and third residues. The third stage permeate is recycled to the feed.

A membrane is described for purifying or separating hydrogen from a multi-component gas stream such as syngas. This membrane uses a molecular pre-treatment, a transition metal, fluorine containing polymer, carbon fibers and carbon matrix sintered on a supportive screen. The membrane may be a bilayer membrane comprised of a layer containing high surface area carbon and another layer containing lower surface area carbon. Methods for purifying hydrogen are also described.

A method for removing ethylene from the atmosphere surrounding an agricultural product that is sensitive to ethylene, which promotes climacteric ripening and senescence, is disclosed. The method uses a membrane for selective ethylene permeation and removal from a container that is used to store, transport, and preserve the agricultural product.

An apparatus and method for flow management and CO.sub.2-recovery from a CO.sub.2 containing hydrocarbon flow stream, such as a post CO.sub.2-stimulation flowback stream. The apparatus including a flow control zone, a gas separation zone, a pretreatment zone, and a CO.sub.2-capture zone. The CO.sub.2-capture zone is in fluid communication with the pretreatment zone to provide CO.sub.2-capture from a pretreated flowback gas stream and output a captured CO.sub.2-flow stream. The CO.sub.2-capture zone includes a first CO.sub.2-enricher and at least one additional CO.sub.2 enricher disposed downstream of the first CO.sub.2 enricher and in cascading relationship to provide a CO.sub.2-rich permeate stream, the CO.sub.2-capture zone further including at least one condenser to condense the enriched CO.sub.2-stream and output the captured CO.sub.2-flow stream.

An apparatus and process for separating a gas mixture is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first membrane stage, a second membrane stage, and a third membrane stage. The first membrane stage includes a first gas separation membrane configured to separate the gas mixture into a first retentate stream and a first permeate stream. The second membrane stage includes a second gas separation membrane configured to separate the first permeate stream into a second retentate stream and a second permeate stream. The second retentate stream of the second membrane stage is recycled back to connect with the first retentate stream to form a mixed fluid stream. The third membrane stage includes a third gas separation membrane configured to separate the mixed fluid stream into a third retentate stream and a third permeate stream, and the third retentate stream is configured to be withdrawn as a product or discarded.

A thin film composite gas separation membrane comprising a polyether block amide copolymer coating layer and a nanoporous asymmetric support membrane with nanopores on the skin layer surface of the support membrane and gelatin polymers inside the nanopores on the skin layer surface of the support membrane. A method for making the thin film composite gas separation membrane is provided as well as the use of the membrane for a variety of separations such as separations of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide from natural gas, carbon dioxide removal from flue gas, fuel gas conditioning, hydrogen/methane, polar molecules, and ammonia mixtures with methane, nitrogen or hydrogen and other light gases separations, but also for natural gas liquids recovery and hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide removal from natural gas in a single step.