Grantee Research Project Results
A Membrane Process To Recover and Use Methane Emissions
EPA Contract Number: 68D01029Title: A Membrane Process To Recover and Use Methane Emissions
Investigators: Costa, Andre Da
Small Business: Membrane Technology and Research Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: April 1, 2001 through September 1, 2001
Project Amount: $70,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2001) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics , SBIR - Air Pollution , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
Methane is an important global warming gas. Large amounts of methane and other light hydrocarbons are produced as solution gas in the production of oil, and as biogas from landfills and animal feedlots. Some of this gas is emitted directly to the atmosphere, some is flared, and some (from the very largest sources) is used as fuel in specially modified turbines or engines to generate electricity. The gas is not more commonly used in this way because most sources are small, and the gas is very impure. Membrane Technology and Research, Inc., proposes to develop a membrane process to separate and upgrade the gas. The treated gas will be a much cleaner, richer turbine fuel with which to generate electric power. If this process is to be successful, the systems must be rugged, reliable, and low in cost. This project focuses on adapting current technology to meet these targets.The best application is to treat solution gas formed during oil production operations. The process achieves a simple payback time of only 2.3 years from the value of the heavy hydrocarbon liquids recovered and the electric power produced. There is a total potential market for about 10,000 of these units in North America. Treatment of biogas has a payback time of approximately 5 years. The market for these units will depend on acceptance of regulations requiring these gas emissions to be treated.
If successfully developed, the process could be applied very widely. The first target market is to treat gas currently flared in natural gas operations. The second market, treatment of biogas from small landfills and animal feedlots, will be developed later.
Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, air emissions, methane, engineering, chemistry, EPA, air pollution, global warming, hydrocarbons, landfills, animal feedlots, natural gas operations., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Air, Waste, air toxics, climate change, Hazardous Waste, Hazardous, Environmental Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, emission control strategies, methane recovery, environmental monitoring, membrane technology , biogas, hydrocarbon liquids, methane emissions, membrane processes, methane, landfillsProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.