An air separation module includes a cylindrical canister and a separator. The cylindrical canister has a longitudinal axis, an inlet, an oxygen-depleted air outlet, and a drain portion with an oxygen-enriched air outlet. The separator is arranged within the cylindrical canister to separate a compressed air flow into an oxygen-depleted air flow fraction and an oxygen-enriched air flow fraction, the oxygen-depleted air flow fraction provided to the oxygen-depleted air outlet and the oxygen-enriched air flow fraction to the drain portion of the canister. The drain portion extends tangentially from the cylindrical canister to issue the oxygen-enriched air flow fraction with entrained condensate from the oxygen-enriched air outlet with a tangential flow component. Nitrogen generation systems and methods of removing condensate from air separation modules are also described.

A hybrid nitrogen gas generation system includes a membrane nitrogen gas generator and a pressure swing absorption nitrogen generator. A gas comprising nitrogen is purified to a first nitrogen purity using one of the membrane nitrogen gas generator and the pressure swing absorption nitrogen generator. The gas is either bypassed around the other of the membrane nitrogen gas generator and the pressure swing absorption nitrogen generator to provide the gas having the first nitrogen purity or the gas is purified to a second nitrogen purity using the other of the membrane nitrogen gas generator and the pressure swing absorption nitrogen generator.

A method of fuel tank inerting includes separating process air into nitrogen-enriched air and oxygen-enriched air with an air separation membrane. A vacuum is applied to the air separation membrane to produce a pressure differential across the air separation membrane. The vacuum is manipulated to vary the pressure differential and vary purity of the nitrogen-enriched air.

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.

A system and method to supply nitrogen gas is provided. Ambient air is compressed and stored in a storage receiver and then nitrogen is separated from the compressed air in a nitrogen membrane separation unit. The separated nitrogen is stored in a nitrogen storage tank under pressure and released through a pressure control valve. The system is confined to a small footprint and is useful as a nitrogen source where conventional compressed nitrogen tanks are a safety or space issue. Systems to prepare nitrogen infused beverages are also provided.

A device for separating gases comprises the following components: a source for the gases and flow adjustment means; a membrane unit for the production of a permeate gas and a retentate gas, one of which is the product gas; purity determining means for the product gas; a first control unit for the device; a retentate control system and a product gas pressure measurement, whereby the source has a second control unit for the flow adjustment means as a function of a target value of the gases and the first control unit is connected to the second control unit and to the retentate control system, whereby the first control unit can determine the target value and can control the retentate control system.

A method of fuel tank inerting includes separating process air into nitrogen-enriched air and oxygen-enriched air with an air separation membrane. A vacuum is applied to the air separation membrane to produce a pressure differential across the air separation membrane. The vacuum is manipulated to vary the pressure differential and vary purity of the nitrogen-enriched air.

A hybrid nitrogen gas generation system includes a membrane nitrogen gas generator and a pressure swing absorption nitrogen generator. A gas comprising nitrogen is purified to a first nitrogen purity using one of the membrane nitrogen gas generator and the pressure swing absorption nitrogen generator. The gas is either bypassed around the other of the membrane nitrogen gas generator and the pressure swing absorption nitrogen generator to provide the gas having the first nitrogen purity or the gas is purified to a second nitrogen purity using the other of the membrane nitrogen gas generator and the pressure swing absorption nitrogen generator.

The disclosure relates to a rotary kiln catalytically enhanced oxy-fuel gasification and oxy-fuel combustion system—power plant including an air separation unit arranged to separate oxygen from air and produce a stream of substantially pure liquid oxygen; rotary kiln gasifiers to convert municipal solid waste, biomass, alternate wastes, coal, or hydrocarbon fuels into a synthesis gas in the presence of oxygen, carbon dioxide, high temperature steam and lime catalysts; an oxy-fuel fired boiler arranged to combust synthesis gas, in the presence of substantially pure oxygen gas, to produce an exhaust gas comprised of water and carbon dioxide; and a carbon dioxide removal unit arranged to recover carbon dioxide gas from the exhaust gas, recycle a portion of the recovered carbon dioxide gas for use in the rotary kiln gasifier, and liquefy the remainder of the recovered carbon dioxide gas for removal from the plant. In this new plant, the carbon dioxide removal unit is thermally integrated with the air separation unit or alternately the liquid oxygen storage and supply system by directing a stream of liquid oxygen to the carbon dioxide removal unit to liquefy the recovered carbon dioxide gas, the liquid oxygen thereby evaporating and forming cold oxygen gas which is heated prior to consumption in the rotary kiln and oxy-fuel fired boiler.

A fuel tank inerting system includes an air separation module with an oxygen permeable membrane and a variable vacuum source in fluid communication with the air separation module. The variable vacuum source provides an adjustable vacuum to the permeate side of the oxygen permeable membrane in the air separation module, driving production of inert gas for fuel tank inerting or fire suppression.