Technology Transfer Award for oxygen production technology

Air Products’ patented ITM oxygen production technology could significantly increase the efficiency and reduce the costs of coal-fired power plants, both with and without CO₂ capture and storage systems.

ITM is a technology for gas separation that works by transporting an ionised gas through a ceramic membrane. The crystalline metal-oxide structure of the proprietary membranes incorporates oxygen ion vacancies, through which the oxygen ions diffuse. No external source of electrical power is required in the process.

The technology would be an alternative to traditional cryogenic air-separation units, the conventional means of producing the large quantities of oxygen required by an integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) plant and also the newer oxy-combustion electric power plants, which would capture CO₂.

This process typically contributes up to 15 per cent of the capital cost of the plant and up to 80 per cent of the internal power demand.