Patent ID: 8262755

Claim:
An ion transport membrane oxidation system comprising (a) a first group and a second group of two or more membrane oxidation stages, each stage comprising a reactant zone, an oxidant zone, one or more ion transport membranes separating the reactant zone from the oxidant zone, a reactant gas inlet region, a reactant gas outlet region, an oxidant gas inlet region, and an oxidant gas outlet region wherein the one or more ion transport membranes are mixed conductor membranes and wherein the second group is downstream of the first group; (b) an interstage reactant gas flow path disposed between each pair of membrane oxidation stages, wherein the interstage reactant gas flow path is adapted to place the reactant gas outlet region of a first stage of the pair in flow communication with the reactant gas inlet region of a second stage of the pair such that interstage reactant gas can flow from the first stage to the second stage; and (c) one or more reactant interstage feed gas lines of the first group of two or more membrane oxidation stages for providing a reactant interstage feed gas, each line being in flow communication with any interstage reactant gas flow path or with the reactant zone of any membrane oxidation stage of the first group of two or more membrane oxidation stages receiving interstage reactant gas; (d) one or more reactant interstage feed gas lines of the second group of two or more membrane oxidation stages for providing a reactant interstage feed gas, each line being in flow communication with any interstage reactant gas flow path or with the reactant zone of any membrane oxidation stage of the second group of two or more membrane oxidation stages receiving interstage reactant gas; (e) a first control valve for controlling the flow rate of the reactant interstage feed gas to the one or more reactant interstage feed gas lines of the first group of two or more membrane oxidation stages; (f) a second control valve for controlling the flow rate of the reactant interstage feed gas to the one or more reactant interstage feed gas lines of the second group of two or more membrane oxidation stages; (g) a first temperature indicator/controller configured to send control signals to the first control valve to regulate a temperature in the first group of two or more membrane oxidation stages; and (h) a second temperature indicator/controller configured to send control signals to the second control valve to regulate a temperature in the second group of two or more membrane oxidation stages.