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Ceramic oxygen transport membrane array reactor and reforming method

  • US 9,486,765 B2
  • Filed: 10/07/2014
  • Issued: 11/08/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An oxygen transport membrane tube assembly comprising:

  • a plurality of ceramic oxygen transport membrane tubes coupled together in series such that the tube assembly has a first end configured to be in fluid communication with a feed manifold and a second end configured to be in fluid communication with an exhaust manifold;

    a plurality of ceramic to ceramic coupling elements coupling respective ends of adjacent ceramic oxygen transport membrane tubes;

    a first ceramic to metal coupling element connected to the first end of the oxygen transport membrane tube assembly and configured to connect to a feed manifold such that the plurality of ceramic oxygen transport membrane tubes are in fluid communication with the feed manifold;

    a second ceramic to metal coupling element connected to the second end of the oxygen transport membrane tube assembly and configured to connect to an exhaust manifold such that the plurality of ceramic oxygen transport membrane tubes are in fluid communication with the exhaust manifoldwherein the plurality of coupled oxygen transport membrane tubes comprise a tubular porous support comprising an oxide material, a dual phase intermediate porous layer comprising a mixture of an electrically conducting perovskite structured material and an ionically conducting fluorite structure material, the intermediate porous layer disposed on the porous support; and

    a dual phase dense layer comprising a mixture of an electrically conducting perovskite structured material and an ionically conducting fluorite structure material, wherein the interior surface of the porous support defines a reactive side of the oxygen transport membrane tube and the outermost surface of the oxygen transport membrane tube defines a retentate side;

    wherein the plurality of coupled oxygen transport membrane tubes are configured to separate oxygen from an oxygen containing stream contacting the outer surface of the oxygen transport membrane tubes through oxygen ion transport through the dense layer and intermediate porous layer to the reactive side of the oxygen transport membrane tubes at elevated temperatures and a difference in partial pressure of oxygen between the retentate side and the reactive side of the oxygen transport membrane tubes;

    wherein the oxygen transport membrane tubes are configured to receive a hydrogen containing stream at the reactive side from the feed manifold and oxidize the hydrogen with the oxygen transported through the layers of the oxygen transport membrane tubes to produce heat and the difference in partial pressure of oxygen across the oxygen transport membrane tubes.

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