Layered Gas Separation Membrane for High-Pressure Selectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas separation membranes (GSMs) experience significant drops in selectivity when used to separate polar and non-polar gases under high feeding pressures and temperatures, often deforming due to imprint and tangential/shear stress, which reduces their efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A gas separation membrane comprising a support layer, buffer layer, discriminating layer, and optionally a fluorinated polymer layer, where the buffer and discriminating layers contain specific metal or metalloid atoms bonded to oxygen, with the buffer layer having 4 to 10 atomic% of these groups and the discriminating layer having over 10 atomic%, with the buffer layer located between the support and discriminating layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gas separation membranes are used to separate polar gases from non-polar gases under high pressure and temperature, then gas separation is achieved, but selectivity drops significantly over time due to deformation from imprint and shear stress
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane is divided into multiple functional layers: a support layer providing mechanical strength, a buffer layer reducing deformation, and a discriminating layer performing gas separation. This segmentation allows each layer to specialize in one function, preventing the compromise of selectivity under stress.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite membrane structure combining different materials with complementary properties. The support layer uses mechanically strong materials, the buffer layer uses deformation-resistant materials, and the discriminating layer uses high-selectivity materials, creating a composite system that maintains performance under high pressure and temperature.
2Strength
If the membrane structure is made more robust to resist deformation under high pressure, then mechanical strength improves, but gas separation selectivity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the membrane into distinct layers, the invention allows the support layer to provide mechanical strength while the discriminating layer maintains selectivity. The buffer layer further protects the discriminating layer from deformation, ensuring that robustness does not compromise separation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the membrane have different properties optimized for their specific functions. The support layer has high mechanical strength, the buffer layer has high deformability resistance, and the discriminating layer has high gas separation selectivity. This local optimization ensures that each property is maximized where needed without compromising other properties.
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 maintains selectivity and gas separation efficiency under high pressures and temperatures by reducing deformation and damage, ensuring effective separation of gases like CO2 from CH4.
Implementation Method 1
the buffer layer (ii) and the discriminating layer (iii) each independently comprise groups of Formula (1): <image> wherein: each M independently is a metal or metalloid atom; O is an oxygen atom
Implementation Method 2
a layer having a separation selectivity indicates a layer in which a ratio (PCO2/PCH4) of a permeability coefficient (PCO2) of carbon dioxide to a permeability coefficient (PCH4) of methane
Data Source
AI summary
A gas separation membrane comprising the following layers: (i) a support layer; (ii) a buffer layer; (iii) a discriminating layer; (iv) optionally a fluorinated polymer layer; and (v) optionally a protective layer; wherein: (a) the buffer layer (ii) and the discriminating layer (iii) each independently comprise groups of Formula (1): M-(O—)x Formula (1) wherein: each M independently is a metal or metalloid atom; O is an oxygen atom; and each x independently has a value of at least 4; (b) the buffer layer (ii) comprises a surface comprising 4 to 10 atomic % of M of Formula (1) groups, wherein M is as hereinbefore defined; (c) the discriminating layer (iii) comprises a surface comprising more than 10 atomic % of M of Formula (1) groups, wherein M is as hereinbefore defined; and (d) layer (ii) is located between layers (i) and (iii).