Investigation of membrane performance in the separation of carbon dioxide

Abstract

Investigation of membrane performance in the separation of carbon dioxide

HY2SEPS was an EU-funded project directed at the reduction of CO[2] emissions. The principal objective of the project was to develop a hybrid membrane-adsorptive H[2]/CO[2] separation technique that would form an integral element of the pre-combustion process. Specific tasks included the derivation of simplified mathematical models for the membrane separation of H[2]/CO[2] mixtures.

In the present study one of the developed models is discussed in detail, namely that with the countercurrent plug flow of the feed and the permeate. A number of simulations were carried out concerning the separation of binary mixtures that may appear following steam conversion of methane. The numerical results were then compared with the experimental data obtained by FORTH/ICEHT. The estimated fluxes of pure CO[2], H[2], CH[4] and N[2] are shown alongside those measured experimentally as a function of temperature and CO[2] partial pressure in Figs 2 - 7. It is concluded that, in general, CO[2] flux increases monotonically with both temperature and CO[2] partial pressure. It is also found that the fluxes of hydrogen, methane and nitrogen reach a minimum at a temperature slightly above 323 K. Overall, a good agreement was obtained between the simulations and experiments.