Patent ID: 6106591
Filing Date: 2000-08-22
Classification: B01D,C01B

Abstract:
A process for inhibiting the formation of carbon and/or coke from a carbon-containing reactive gas stream on the permeate side of an oxygen ion transport membrane, the process comprising:separating a feed gas stream containing elemental oxygen and at least one other gas using an oxygen ion transport module having an oxygen ion transport membrane with a retentate side and a permeate side such that an oxygen depleted gas stream forms on the retentate side and a gas stream containing reaction products forms on the permeate side;purging the permeate side of the oxygen ion transport membrane with the carbon-containing reactive gas stream;recirculating at least a portion of an exhaust gas stream formed from the reaction of the reactive gas stream with the oxygen gas stream permeated through the oxygen ion transport membrane to purge the permeate side of the oxygen ion transport membrane; andpassing at least a portion of the exhaust gas stream through a separator to remove carbon dioxide and combining at least a portion of the carbon dioxide with a recirculating portion of the non-separated exhaust gas stream before it is used to purge the permeate side of the oxygen ion transport membrane to form the recirculating gas stream used to purge the permeate side of the oxygen ion transport membrane, thereby inhibiting the formation of carbon and/or coke thereon.