Process and apparatus for enriching ammonia

Abstract

A process for enriching a crude ammonia stream having moisture and/or metal impurities and/or gas impurities therein. The crude ammonia stream is condensed to form a crude liquid ammonia stream. A distillation membrane or pervaporation membrane is contacted with the crude liquid ammonia stream to form an enriched ammonia vapor stream, which is removed as a permeate. When the crude ammonia stream originates from a manufacturing tool, the enriched ammonia vapor stream may be recycled to the manufacturing tool. There is also an apparatus for enriching a crude ammonia stream.

1 . Process for enriching a crude ammonia stream having moisture and/or metal impurities and/or gas impurities therein, which comprises: 
 condensing said crude ammonia stream to form a crude liquid ammonia stream; and    contacting a distillation membrane or pervaporation membrane with said crude liquid ammonia stream, wherein an enriched ammonia vapor stream is removed as a permeate.    
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said crude ammonia stream originates from a manufacturing tool, and wherein said enriched ammonia vapor stream is recycled to said manufacturing tool.  
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said enriched ammonia vapor stream contacts a gas separation membrane, wherein a further-enriched ammonia vapor stream is removed as a permeate.  
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 3 , wherein said crude ammonia stream originates from a manufacturing tool, and wherein said further-enriched ammonia vapor stream is recycled to said manufacturing tool.  
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 3 , wherein said crude ammonia stream contacts a thermal swing adsorber prior to condensation.  
     
     
         6 . A process for enriching a crude ammonia stream having moisture and/or metal impurities and/or gas impurities therein, which comprises: 
 separating said crude ammonia stream via a first separator into a first crude ammonia liquid stream and a first crude ammonia vapor stream;    contacting a gas separation membrane with said first crude ammonia vapor stream, wherein a first enriched ammonia vapor stream is removed as a permeate;    passing said first enriched ammonia vapor stream to said first separator;    separating said first crude ammonia liquid stream via a second separator into a second crude ammonia liquid stream and a second enriched ammonia vapor stream as a product stream;    contacting a gas distillation membrane with said second crude ammonia liquid stream, wherein a third enriched ammonia vapor stream is removed as a permeate; and    passing said third enriched ammonia vapor stream to said first separator.    
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 6 , wherein said crude ammonia stream originates from a manufacturing tool, and wherein said product stream is recycled to said manufacturing tool.  
     
     
         8 . A system for enriching a crude ammonia stream having moisture and/or metal impurities and/or gas impurities therein, which comprises: 
 a condenser for condensing said crude ammonia stream to form a crude liquid ammonia stream; and    a distillation membrane or pervaporation membrane that produces an enriched ammonia vapor permeate from said crude liquid ammonia stream.    
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a manufacturing tool from which said crude ammonia stream originates and a conduit capable of recycling said enriched ammonia vapor stream to said manufacturing tool.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a gas separation membrane with which produces a further-enriched ammonia vapor permeate from said enriched ammonia vapor.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a manufacturing tool from which said crude ammonia stream originates, and a conduit capable of recycling said further-enriched ammonia vapor stream to said manufacturing tool.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a thermal swing adsorber disposed upstream of said condenser.  
     
     
         13 . A system for enriching a crude ammonia stream having moisture and/or metal impurities and/or gas impurities therein, which comprises: 
 a first separator which is capable of forming a first crude ammonia liquid stream and a first crude ammonia vapor stream from said first crude ammonia stream;    a gas separation membrane which is capable of separating a first enriched ammonia vapor stream from said first crude ammonia vapor stream;    a first conduit for conveying said first enriched ammonia vapor stream to said first separator;    a second conduit for conveying said first crude ammonia liquid stream to a second separator, wherein said second separator is capable of separating a second crude ammonia liquid stream and a second enriched ammonia vapor stream from said first crude ammonia liquid stream;    a gas distillation membrane which is capable of separating from said second crude ammonia liquid stream a third enriched ammonia vapor stream; and    a third conduit for conveying said third enriched ammonia vapor stream to said first separator.    
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a manufacturing tool from which said crude ammonia stream originates, and wherein a fourth conduit recycles said product stream to said manufacturing tool.