The invention relates to an internal combustion engine that comprises a first Brayton cycle comprising a mixed ionic-electronic conducting (MIEC) membrane that separates the O.sub.2 from the air such that the suctioned air current is free from N.sub.2; a second Brayton cycle combined in a binary manner with the first Brayton cycle and nested with a cycle selected from an Otto cycle and a diesel cycle performed by means of oxy-combustion. The second Brayton cycle transmits mechanical energy and thermal energy from exhaust gases to the first Brayton cycle. The first Brayton cycle provides to the second Brayton cycle compressed O.sub.2 from the MIEC membrane. By means of the present engine, the NOx emission into the atmosphere is prevented by the separation of N.sub.2 in the MIEC membrane.

A method and system for decarbonization of a hydrocarbon conversion process such as steam methane reforming process for hydrogen production utilizing oxygen transport membrane reactors. The system employs catalyst-containing reforming reactors for converting natural gas into synthesis gas which is further treated in high temperature or medium temperature water gas shift reactors and fed to a hydrogen PSA to produce hydrogen product. The system further employs oxygen transport membrane reactors thermally coupled to reforming reactors and configured to oxy-combust about 90% to about 95% of combustibles in PSA tail gas that may be optionally mixed with natural gas. The oxy-combustion product stream leaving the oxygen transport membrane reactors contains about 90% of the carbon provided to the feed of the reforming reactor. The carbon dioxide in the oxy-combustion product stream can be recovered and further purified for utilization or geologic storage or liquefied to form a liquid carbon dioxide product.

An apparatus for separating oxygen from a gas mixture includes an oxide layer having ion transport channels therein, which facilitate the migration of oxygen ions from a first side to a second side of the layer. Molecular oxygen is decomposed into oxygen ions at the first side, whereas oxygen ions recombine into molecular oxygen at the second side. A first chamber into which a gas mixture (e.g., air) is admitted is located on the first side of the oxide layer. A second chamber receives oxygen from the oxide layer, and is located on the second side of the oxide layer; the second chamber has a polarizable medium that is in contact with the oxide layer. A gate electrode in contact with the polarizable medium applies an electric field to the second side of the oxide layer, thereby driving oxygen ions across the oxide layer.

A method and system for producing methanol that employs an integrated oxygen transport membrane based reforming system is disclosed. The integrated oxygen transport membrane based reforming system carries out a primary reforming process, a secondary reforming process, and synthesis gas conditioning to produce synthesis gas having a desired module of between about 2.0 and 2.2 for a methanol production process thereby optimizing the efficiency and productivity of the methanol plant.

A fluid system includes an inlet conduit disposed in a fluid flow path between a fluid source and a fluid destination. The fluid conduit includes a fluid mixing portion. The fluid system includes a fluid separation module disposed in the flow path downstream of the constriction between the source and the destination. The fluid separation module includes a first fluid separator, The fluid system includes a second fluid separator disposed in the flow path upstream of the first fluid separator, The fluid system includes a feedback conduit that may provide fluid communication between an outlet of the fluid separation module and the fluid mixing portion.

The power turbine system includes two power turbines communicating with an ion transport membrane (ITM) reactor. Heavy liquid fuel is atomized and burned within the reactor to drive the first turbine, with the first turbine producing useful power. Exhaust from the first turbine is recycled back into the reactor. The reactor includes a series of concentric cylindrical ion transport membranes that separate atmospheric and exhaust gases into suitable components for combustion therein, with at least some of the gases being “cracked” to alter their molecular structure for further combustion to power the second turbine. The second turbine drives a compressor to supply air to the reactor. At least one of the ITMs precludes atmospheric nitrogen from the combustion processes, with the resulting exhaust including pure water and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is either recycled into the reactor to facilitate fuel atomization, or compressed for sequestration.

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.

Disclosed are a method and a membrane module for the separation of oxygen from air during biomass gasification. The method comprises employing a membrane module as disclosed herein and using gas exiting the membrane module to heat incoming fresh air, more than 50% of heat energy contained in the gas exiting the membrane module being utilized to preheat the fresh air. The fresh air is further heated to a temperature of from 800° C. to 900° C. by directly feeding combustion gas or synthesis gas from the biomass gasification into a combustion space of the membrane module.

The present technology is directed to processes involving formation of hydrocarbons and oxygenated hydrocarbons through use of oxygen supplied by ion transport membranes. More particularly, the present technology relates in part to a process involving steam reforming and subsequent production of a synthetic product where carbon dioxide and/or hydrogen downstream of the process is reclaimed to generate the synthetic product. The present technology also relates in part to an ethylene formation process involving a viral-templated coupling catalyst in the presence of an ion transport membrane.

The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for the continuous production of compressed oxygen from air using mixed conducting ceramic membranes. The aim of the invention is to provide a way of isolating pure oxygen from the air and compressing said oxygen to pressures above the ambient pressure, without using mechanical or electromechanical compression of air or oxygen. To achieve this aim, according to the invention water in various aggregate states is conducted in a circuit and the configuration of the equipment is designed such that the desired high oxygen pressure is produced in a separate area from the membrane module and the oxygen produced is prevented from mixing with the freshly produced water vapour.