Patent ID: 7384452
Filing Date: 2008-06-10
Classification: C01B,F23L,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method of heating a fluid comprising: introducing a fuel stream into a process heater having at least one first combustion zone and at least one second combustion zone for combustion of fuel contained in the fuel stream and heat transfer passages extending through the at least one first combustion zone for passage of the fluid to be heated from heat generated from the combustion of the fuel; the at least one first combustion zone and the at least one second combustion zone being connected in series so that a first portion of the fuel is able to be combusted in the at least one first combustion zone and a second portion of the fuel not combusted in the at least one first combustion zone is able to be combusted in the at least one second combustion zone; contacting the fuel stream with at least one oxygen transport membrane located in the at least one first combustion zone and separating oxygen from at least one first oxygen containing gas stream with the at least one oxygen transport membrane such that permeated oxygen supports the combustion of the first portion of the fuel and supplies between about 50 percent and about 99 percent of an amount of stoichiometric oxygen necessary for complete combustion of the fuel present within the at least one first combustion zone and the combustion of the first portion of the fuel provides a driving force for the separation of the oxygen; introducing at least one second oxygen containing gas stream into the at least one second of the combustion zones to support combustion of the second part of the fuel so that a flue gas is produced from the combustion of the second part of the fuel containing between about 1 and about 3 percent by volume of oxygen; and discharging the flue gas from the at least one second combustion zone.