CO2 Separation Membrane Module Preliminary Pressure Boosting
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-pressure natural gas containing high concentrations of CO2, when supplied to CO2 gas separation apparatuses at atmospheric pressure, leads to abrupt temperature decreases, causing CO2 to liquefy or solidify, which degrades the separation membrane's performance and requires excessive heating to prevent this.
Innovation Solution
The CO2 gas separation method involves preliminary pressure boosting of the separation membrane module by supplying a boosted gas, such as nitrogen or helium, to maintain a temperature above the condensation or solidification temperature of CO2, reducing the pressure difference and preventing membrane degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high-pressure natural gas is supplied to a separation membrane module at atmospheric pressure, then CO2 gas separation can be performed, but the temperature of the gas decreases abruptly causing CO2 to liquefy or solidify which degrades membrane performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by boosting the pressure of the separation membrane module to a preliminary pressure (between stand-by pressure and operating pressure) before supplying the high-pressure natural gas. This preliminary pressure boost prevents abrupt temperature decrease when the high-pressure gas is introduced, thereby preventing CO2 condensation or solidification and maintaining membrane performance.
2Productivity
If the pressure difference between supply pressure and stand-by pressure is large, then CO2 separation efficiency is improved, but the temperature decrease becomes more severe requiring excessive heating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a preliminary pressure boost step before the main separation process. By establishing a preliminary pressure (higher than stand-by pressure but lower than operating pressure) in advance, the system reduces the abrupt temperature decrease that would otherwise occur when high-pressure gas is supplied, thereby reducing the heating energy required while maintaining separation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pressure parameter dynamically during operation. Instead of directly transitioning from stand-by pressure to operating pressure, the system uses a preliminary pressure as an intermediate state. This parameter change strategy allows the system to maintain larger pressure difference for efficient separation while controlling temperature effects through the intermediate pressure state.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method effectively suppresses the abrupt temperature decrease, preventing CO2 condensation or solidification and maintaining membrane performance, while also reducing the thermal energy required for heating, thus enhancing the efficiency and reliability of CO2 separation.
Implementation Method 1
a step of supplying a preliminary boosted gas to the primary side of the separation membrane to boost the pressure to a preliminary pressure between a stand-by pressure and an operating pressure
Implementation Method 2
supplying a preliminary boosted gas to the primary side of the separation membrane to boost the pressure to a preliminary pressure between a stand-by pressure and an operating pressure
Implementation Method 3
the gas to be treated is heated by a heating unit and then supplied to the separation membrane module
Implementation Method 4
CO2 is permeated through the inorganic separation membrane, and thereby CO2 gas is separated from hydrocarbon gas that cannot be permeated through the inorganic separation membrane
Data Source
AI summary
Carbon dioxide gas in a high-pressure gas to be treated is stably separated using a separation membrane. Upon separating carbon dioxide gas in a high-pressure gas to be treated using a separation membrane module including a separation membrane, a preliminary boosted gas is supplied to the separation membrane module before the supply of natural gas is started to boost a pressure on a primary side of the separation membrane to a preliminary pressure between a stand-by pressure and an operating pressure. Thus, when the supply of a high-pressure gas to be treated is started to increase the pressure of the separation membrane module to an operating pressure, an abrupt decrease in temperature of the gas to be treated can be suppressed.