Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

David Douglas Brengel

Rakesh Agrawal

Michael Francis Carolan

Brett Tamatea Henderson

Robin Edward Richards

Steven Lee Russek

VanEric Edward Stein

Doohee Kang

Donald Laurence Meixner

Edward P Foster

The current invention relates to a means for improving heat removal from the inside of an electrochemical device to the outer surface so as to reduce thermal stresses in the device, thereby allowing for increased oxygen production. A means for conducting heat toward the outer edge is provided. The means for conducting heat comprises at least one of silver, gold, platinum, rhodium, and palladium.

Heat conducting metal layer for ion conductor stack

A method for controlling the sulfur dioxide partial pressure in a pressurized, heated, oxygen-containing gas mixture which is contacted with an ion-conducting metallic oxide membrane which permeates oxygen ions. The sulfur dioxide partial pressure in the oxygen-depleted non-permeate gas from the membrane module is maintained below a critical sulfur dioxide partial pressure, p *, to protect the membrane material from reacting with sulfur dioxide and reducing the oxygen flux of the membrane. Each ion-conducting metallic oxide material has a characteristic critical sulfur dioxide partial pressure which is useful in determining the required level of sulfur removal from the feed gas and/or from the fuel gas used in a direct-fired feed gas heater.

Sulfur control in ion-conducting membrane systems

Oxygen is recovered from a heated, compressed, oxygen-containing feed gas by selective permeation of oxygen through an ion transport membrane separation system and the hot, pressurized non-permeate gas is passed through an expansion turbine to recover power for compressing the feed gas and optionally generating electric power. Membrane performance and process heat recovery are enhanced by the addition of water to selected process streams. Steam raised by process heat is used to sweep the permeate side of the membrane to increase the oxygen permeation rate. The injection of partially or fully vaporized water into the expansion turbine inlet gas recovers process heat and increases mass flow to the turbine.

Production of oxygen by ion transport membranes with steam utilization

Growing community of inventors

Schnecksville, PA, United States of America

David Douglas Brengel