Radically Engineered Modular Air Separation System Using Tailored Oxygen Sorbents

North Carolina State University will develop and demonstrate a radically engineered modular air separation unit (REM-ASU) for small-scale coal gasifiers. Compared to state-of-the-art separation technologies, the REM-ASU will have reduced capital costs and energy consumption. A successful project may result in advanced oxygen sorbents with greater than 2 weight percent oxygen capacity and high activity; robust, steam-resistant oxygen sorbents with high-equilibrium oxygen partial pressure to allow effective oxygen generation without a vacuum desorption step; a tailored oxygen sorbent and modular ASU that can be readily integrated with 1-5 MW modular coal gasification system that reduces energy consumption by more than 30 percent compared to state-of-the-art ASUs; and demonstration of the sorbent and REM-ASU system to validate its robustness and performance.