Characterization of hollow fiber membranes in a permeator using binary gas mixtures

R. Wang*, S. L. Liu, T. T. Lin, T. S. Chung

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

115 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have studied the CO2/CH4 mixed gas permeation through hollow fiber membranes in a permeator. An approach to characterize the true separation performance of hollow fiber membranes for binary gas mixtures was provided based on experiments and simulations. Experiments were carried out to measure the retentate and permeate flow rates and compositions at each outlet. The influences of pressure drop within the hollow fibers, non-ideal gas behavior in the mixture and concentration polarization were taken into consideration in the mathematics model. The calculation results indicate that the net influence of the non-ideal gas behavior, competitive sorption and plasticization yields the calculated CO2 permeance in a mixed gas permeator close to that obtained in pure gas tests. Whereas the CH4 permeance is higher in the mixed gas tests than that in the pure gas tests, as the plasticization caused by CO2 dominates the permeation process. As a result, the CO2/CH4 mixed gas selectivity is smaller than those obtained in pure gas tests at equivalent pressures. The calculated membrane performance shows little changes with stage cut if the effect of concentration polarization is accounted for in the calculation. The integration method developed in this study could provide more accurate characterizations of mixed gas permeance of hollow membranes than other estimation methods, as our model considers the roles of non-ideal gas behavior and concentration polarization properly.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)967-976
Number of pages10
JournalCHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
Volume57
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 14 2002
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Concentration polarization
  • Hollow fiber membranes
  • Membrane permeator
  • Mixed gas permeation
  • Non-ideal gas behaviors
  • Simulation model

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

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