Membrane element

UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, today announced  a  new, advanced membrane element designed to increase natural gas processing capacity, compared with existing technology, allowing producers to capture higher revenue and reduce costs. Separex Flux+ is a drop-in replacement for the membrane elements in existing Separex membrane systems. It increases the removal of contaminants, such as acid gas and water, which must be removed before natural gas can be transported by pipeline for commercial use.

In addition to increasing the amount of gas that can be processed in the system, the membrane element removes more carbon dioxide per unit membrane area than existing membrane products. This helps debottleneck downstream processing units, lowering overall operating costs for gas producers. Designed to a compact footprint, the units can be installed on-shore or off-shore, require little to no utilities, and provide for very short start-up times and high turndown capabilities.

Separex membranes eliminate the need for solvents, making the technology particularly desirable in remote locations where logistics make supply transportation to the site difficult. Because Separex membrane elements are inert solids, these membranes offer a spill-free, ecosystem-friendly solution. Decades of operation in natural gas service have demonstrated that Separex membranes are the most robust for natural gas service and can achieve the longest membrane life in the industry. To date, more than 130 Separex units have been installed worldwide.