Systems and methods for separating a biogas or other gaseous material into its constituent parts, including solid methane and carbon dioxide, using liquid nitrogen in a processing chamber. The individual parts may be extracted from the processing chamber. Separation and extraction can be performed on a mobile processing plant.

Methods and systems for removing contaminants, such as water and/or carbon dioxide, from a gas stream, such as a natural gas stream or a flue gas stream. One or more solid-tolerant heat exchangers are employed to chill the gas stream to a temperature at which the contaminants solidify. The solidified contaminants may then be separated and removed from the gas stream. In one or more aspects, the one or more solid-tolerant heat exchangers may include a scraped heat exchanger.

A system for melting contaminant-laden solids that have been separated from a hydrocarbon-containing vapor stream in a hydrocarbon distillation tower, comprising at least one plate positioned where the solids form within the hydrocarbon distillation tower, hollow tubing forming an integral part of each of the at least one plate, and a heating medium disposed to flow through the hollow tubing at a higher temperature than a temperature of the solids to at least partially melt the solids.

A combined plant for cryogenic separation and liquefaction of methane and carbon dioxide in a biogas stream, including a mixing means, a compressor, a first exchanger, a distillation column, a second exchanger, a separating means, an expanding means, and a separator vessel. Wherein, the mixing means is configured such that the recycle gas is the overhead vapour stream, and the first exchanger and the expanding means are combined.

A combined plant for cryogenic separation and liquefaction of methane and carbon dioxide in a biogas stream, including a mixing means, a compressor, a first exchanger, a distillation column, a second exchanger, a separating means, an expanding means, and a separator vessel. Wherein, the mixing means is configured such that the recycle gas is the overhead vapour stream, and the first exchanger and the expanding means are combined.

A combined plant for cryogenic separation and liquefaction of methane and carbon dioxide in a biogas stream, including a mixing means, a compressor, a first exchanger, a distillation column, a second exchanger, a separating means, an expanding means, and a separator vessel. Wherein, the mixing means is configured such that the recycle gas is the overhead vapour stream, and the first exchanger and the expanding means are combined.

Process for producing biomethane from a biogas stream including methane, carbon dioxide and at least one impurity chosen from ammonia, volatile organic compounds, water, sulfur-based impurities (H.sub.2S) and siloxanes. A biogas stream is dried, the at least one impurity is at least partially removed by solidification and removal of the impurity. The methane and the carbon dioxide contained in the biogas obtained from the second step are separated so as to produce a biomethane stream and a CO.sub.2 stream.

An apparatus for forming solid carbon dioxide blocks comprises a chamber with an internal cavity, a flow control valve including a variable area orifice, an actuator configured to control the area of the variable area orifice and a controller configured to vary the are of the variable area orifice while liquid carbon dioxide is being flashed to solid carbon dioxide snow through the flow control valve. A method of forming carbon dioxide blocks comprises the steps of varying the area of an orifice while flowing liquid carbon dioxide through the orifice under sufficient pressure to flash the liquid carbon dioxide to solid carbon dioxide snow.

A CO2 separation and liquefaction system such as might be used in a carbon capture and sequestration system for a fossil fuel burning power plant is disclosed. The CO2 separation and liquefaction system includes a first cooling stage to cool flue gas with liquid CO2, a compression stage coupled to the first cooling stage to compress the cooled flue gas, a second cooling stage coupled to the compression stage and the first cooling stage to cool the compressed flue gas with a CO2 melt and provide the liquid CO2 to the first cooling stage, and an expansion stage coupled to the second cooling stage to extract solid CO2 from the flue gas that melts in the second cooling stage to provide the liquid CO2.

A system and method for cooling, purifying and liquifying a feed gas stream uses liquid nitrogen for cooling the system. After cooling the system, the warmed nitrogen is vented as a vapor. The system and method include a water condenser, a first and second cooler and a liquifier and production of at least first and second contaminant streams. Optionally, the system includes a compressor or blower and/or a separator.