Delivery systems with in-line selective extraction devices and associated methods of operation

• US 8,814,983 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2012
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Green Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: McAlister Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: McAlister, Roy Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Greene, Jason M
• Application Number:
  US13/682,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20130216457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 95/45, 95/47, 95/54, 95/55, 95/56, 96/4, 96/7, 96/9, 96/10, 429/411, 429/416, 423/580.1
• US Class Current: 95/45
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/00 Apparatus in general for separation processes using semi-permeable membranes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/501 by diffusion
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/58 including a catalytic reaction
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04201 Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a system for delivery of a target material and/or energy. The system includes a source configured to provide a mixture containing the target material and a non-target material, a delivery conduit coupled to the source to receive the mixture from the source, and an in-line extraction device concentric to the delivery conduit. The in-line extraction device is configured to selectively extract the target material and/or energy from the mixture in the delivery conduit and to delivery it to a downstream facility.

Claims

1. A method of extracting a target material from a mixture in an industrial pipeline delivery conduit, the method comprising:

selecting an in-line extraction device having a target permeability based on a characteristic of the target material;

selectively removing at least a portion of the target material from the mixture in the delivery conduit using the in-line extraction device, the in-line extraction device having a first side in contact with the mixture in the delivery conduit and a second side opposite the first side; and

collecting the target material removed by the in-line extraction device and supplying the collected target material to a downstream facility.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the mixture includes hydrogen (H₂) and at least one of methane (CH₄), ethane (C₂H₆), propane (C₃H₈), water (H₂O), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen (N₂), oxygen (O₂), argon (Ar), and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S);

the target material includes hydrogen; and

selecting an in-line extraction device includes selecting a proton permeable membrane based on a permeability of hydrogen.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting an in-line extraction device includes selecting an in-line extraction device based on at least one of a concentration of the target material in the mixture and a rate of extraction of the target material.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the method further includes providing a reactant to the second side of the in-line extraction device; and

selecting an in-line extraction device includes selecting an in-line extraction device having a catalyst based on the provided reactant.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the mixture includes hydrogen (H₂) and at least one of methane (CH₄), ethane (C₂H₆), propane (C₃H₈), water (H₂O), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen (N₂), oxygen (O₂), argon (Ar), and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S);

the target material includes hydrogen;

selecting an in-line extraction device includes selecting a proton permeable membrane based on a permeability of hydrogen;

the method further includes providing oxygen to the second side of the proton permeable membrane; and

selecting an in-line extraction device includes selecting a proton permeable membrane having a catalyst containing at least one of palladium, nickel, platinum and a rare earth metal.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein:

returning the electrons to the target material ions pressurizes a collection region of the in-line extraction device with the target material.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the mixture is presented to the delivery conduit as an unseparated material stream from a natural gas facility.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein:

the unseparated material stream includes at least one of methane (CH₄), ethane (C₂H₆), propane (C₃H₈).

9. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the mixture is presented to the delivery conduit as an unseparated material stream from a pyrolysis facility that produces the material stream at least in part by converting biomass into a synthetic natural gas.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein:

the unseparated material stream includes hydrogen (H₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO₂).

11. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the target material is selected using a controller that is operatively coupled with the in-line extraction device.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein:

a rate at which the target material is extracted from the mixture is selected using a controller that is operatively coupled with the in-line extraction device.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein:

a pressure of the target material is controlled using a controller and metering system that are operatively coupled with the in-line extraction device.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein:

a temperature of the target material is controlled using a controller and metering system that are operatively coupled with the in-line extraction device.