Patent ID: 11964231
Assignee: HAFFMANS B.V.
Field: Chemical engineering (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC B  C  Y | IPC B

Claim 9:
10. An apparatus for separating a gas mixture having at least two components, comprising:
a first membrane stage in fluid communication with a gas source comprising a reservoir of the gas mixture, wherein the first membrane stage separates the gas mixture into a first retentate stream and a first permeate stream;
a second membrane stage in fluid communication with the first permeate stream, wherein the second membrane stage separates the first permeate stream into a second retentate stream and a second permeate stream;
a continuing stream that places the second retentate stream in fluid communication with the first retentate stream to form a mixed retentate stream;
a third membrane stage designed to separate the mixed retentate stream into a third permeate stream and a third retentate stream;
a first gas transport device having a first inlet in fluid communication with the second retentate stream and a first outlet in fluid communication with the continuing stream; and
a controller programmed to acquire at least one process parameter associated with the second retentate stream or the continuing stream, and wherein the controller will adjust the first gas transport device to maintain a desired set-point in the continuing stream.