Patent ID: 11878953
Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
Field: Chemical engineering (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC C  B | IPC B  C

Claim 10:
11. A methane conversion system comprising:
a first reactor comprising first and second flow volumes separated by a first membrane;
a first gas supply constructed to provide a first sweep gas to the second flow volume, the first sweep gas comprising O2 or an oxygen-containing compound;
an aromatics separation device connected to receive a first processed stream from the first flow volume and constructed to remove at least some aromatics from the first processed stream;
a second reactor comprising third and fourth flow volumes separated by a second membrane; and
a second gas supply constructed to provide a second sweep gas to the fourth flow volume, the second sweep gas comprising O2 or an oxygen-containing compound,
wherein each of the first and second reactors are constructed to convert at least some CH4 in the first and third flow volumes, respectively, such that a quantity of CH4 at an outlet of the respective reactor is reduced as compared to at an inlet of the respective reactor and such that a processed stream from the respective outlet comprises C2 hydrocarbons and aromatics, and
each of the first and second membranes is constructed to allow permeation of hydrogen ions therethrough, so as to remove at least some H2 in the first and third flow volumes, respectively.