Facilitated CO2 Transport Membrane with Hydration Catalyst
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing CO2 separation methods in hydrogen production processes, such as chemical absorption and membrane separation, face challenges in achieving high CO2 permeance and selectivity, especially at high temperatures and high CO2 partial pressures, due to limitations in carrier saturation and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A facilitated CO2 transport membrane incorporating a CO2 hydration catalyst and a CO2 carrier, such as a carbonate or hydroxide of alkali metals like cesium or rubidium, within a hydrophilic polymer gel membrane, which accelerates CO2 permeation and selectivity through a facilitated transport mechanism, even at high temperatures and pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional polymer membrane using solution-diffusion mechanism is used, then the membrane is inexpensive and has excellent moldability, but it cannot achieve high CO2 selectivity over H2 due to the smaller molecular diameter of H2
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite membrane structure combining an inorganic porous support substrate with a facilitated transport active layer containing CO2 carrier substances (alkali metal carbonates, bicarbonates, or hydroxides). This composite structure provides both mechanical strength and high CO2 selectivity through chemical reaction mechanisms, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing ease and selectivity performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the separation mechanism from physical solution-diffusion to chemical facilitated transport by introducing reactive carrier substances. This parameter change in the transport mechanism enables high CO2 selectivity over H2 by utilizing chemical reaction differences rather than relying solely on molecular size differences, achieving the desired selectivity improvement.
2Manufacturing precision
If chemical absorption method is used for CO2 separation, then CO2 can be separated effectively, but large-scale equipment and large amounts of steam are required for regeneration, resulting in high energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal regeneration process (mechanical/thermal system) with a membrane separation process driven by partial pressure difference. The facilitated transport membrane enables CO2 separation at lower temperatures by utilizing chemical reaction mechanisms, eliminating the need for large-scale steam heating and high-energy regeneration processes while maintaining effective CO2 separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the separation mechanism from thermal-driven chemical absorption to partial-pressure-driven facilitated transport. By introducing carrier substances that react with CO2 and changing the driving force from thermal energy to partial pressure difference, the system achieves effective CO2 separation with significantly reduced energy consumption and without requiring large-scale regeneration equipment.
3Use of energy by moving object
If membrane separation method is used to save energy, then no phase change is involved and gas pressure can be utilized as energy, but achieving high CO2 permeance and selectivity at high temperatures and high CO2 partial pressures is difficult due to carrier saturation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure with an inorganic porous support providing mechanical strength and a facilitated transport active layer containing high concentration CO2 carriers. This composite design enables the membrane to maintain high CO2 permeance and selectivity at high temperatures and pressures by combining the advantages of both inorganic support and chemical transport mechanisms, overcoming the carrier saturation limitation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the concentration and type of CO2 carrier substances (using alkali metal carbonates, bicarbonates, or hydroxides) to enhance the facilitated transport capacity. By changing the chemical parameters of the carrier system and increasing carrier concentration in the active layer, the membrane achieves high CO2 permeance and selectivity even under high temperature and high partial pressure conditions where conventional membranes fail due to carrier saturation.
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
The membrane achieves improved CO2 permeance and selectivity over hydrogen, maintaining performance stability and energy efficiency, enabling efficient CO2 separation from mixed gases containing CO2 and H2 at high temperatures, thus enhancing the decarbonation process in hydrogen production.
Implementation Method 1
A facilitated CO2 transport membrane incorporating a CO2 hydration catalyst and a CO2 carrier, such as a carbonate or hydroxide of alkali metals like cesium or rubidium, within a hydrophilic polymer gel membrane, which accelerates CO2 permeation and selectivity through a facilitated transport mechanism
Implementation Method 2
A facilitated CO2 transport membrane incorporating a CO2 hydration catalyst and a CO2 carrier, such as a carbonate or hydroxide of alkali metals like cesium or rubidium, within a hydrophilic polymer gel membrane, which accelerates CO2 permeation and selectivity
Implementation Method 3
a CO2 separation and collection process using a membrane separation method is intended to separate a gas by means of a difference in velocity of gases passing through a membrane using a partial pressure difference as driving energy
Implementation Method 4
The organic membrane that is used for gas separation is generally a polymer membrane prepared by a phase inversion method, and the mechanism of separation is based on a solution-diffusion mechanism in which a gas is separated by means of a difference in solubility of the gas in the membrane material and diffusion rate of the gas in the membrane
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a facilitated CO2 transport membrane having an improved CO2 permeance and an improved CO2/H2 selectivity. The facilitated CO2 transport membrane includes a separation-functional membrane that includes a hydrophilic polymer gel membrane containing a CO2 carrier and a CO2 hydration catalyst. Further preferably, the CO2 hydration catalyst at least has catalytic activity at a temperature of 100°C or higher, has a melting point of 200°C or higher, or is soluble in water.