Gas Separation Membrane Module Moisture Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas separation methods using gas separation membrane modules often suffer from reduced separation efficiency when scaling up from laboratory to large-scale operations, particularly in separating specific gases like carbon dioxide from synthetic gases or natural gases.
Innovation Solution
The method involves preparing a gas separation membrane module with a hydrophilic resin composition layer adjusted to maintain a moisture content that achieves an equilibrium relative humidity of at least 10% RH, followed by increasing pressure and temperature within the module before feeding the raw gas, to enhance the selective permeation of specific gases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If gas separation membrane module is used for large-scale operations, then throughput increases, but separation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-humidifying the hydrophilic resin composition layer before gas separation operations. This preliminary moisture adjustment ensures that the membrane maintains optimal separation performance even during large-scale continuous operations, preventing the decline in separation efficiency that typically occurs when scaling up throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the membrane by controlling the moisture content of the hydrophilic resin composition layer. By adjusting and maintaining specific moisture levels (equilibrium relative humidity of 10-90% RH), the membrane's gas permeation properties are optimized to maintain high separation efficiency while operating at high throughput conditions.
2Productivity
If driving force for gas permeation is increased, then recovery rate improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters by optimizing the moisture content of the hydrophilic resin composition layer. This parameter adjustment enhances the membrane's intrinsic permeability and selectivity, allowing for effective gas separation at lower driving forces (pressure and temperature differences), thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining high recovery rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material principles by creating a hydrophilic resin composition layer with specific moisture content characteristics. This composite structure (polymer matrix + controlled moisture) provides enhanced gas permeation properties that improve recovery rate without requiring excessive driving force, thus reducing overall energy consumption of the separation system.
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 approach significantly improves the separation efficiency of specific gases, such as carbon dioxide, by maintaining high selectivity and throughput, even in large-scale operations, compared to traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
a gas separation membrane including a hydrophilic resin composition layer for selectively allowing for permeation of the specific gas
Implementation Method 2
the hydrophilic resin composition layer included in the gas separation membrane module prepared in the step of preparing the gas separation membrane module is adjusted to contain moisture
Implementation Method 3
the step of increasing a pressure and the step of increasing a temperature are performed after the step of preparing the gas separation membrane module
Implementation Method 4
the step of increasing a pressure and the step of increasing a temperature are performed after the step of preparing the gas separation membrane module
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method for separating a specific gas from a raw gas using a gas separation membrane module that includes a gas separation membrane element enclosed in a housing. The element includes a gas separation membrane including a hydrophilic resin composition layer. The method includes: preparing the module; increasing pressure in an interior of the module; increasing a temperature in the interior; and feeding a raw gas to the interior. The layer of the module prepared is adjusted to contain moisture, and a moisture content thereof is an amount that allows an equilibrium relative humidity at a temperature of 23° C. of a gas phase portion in the housing to be 10% RH or more. The raw gas feeding step is performed after the preparation step. The pressure increase step and the temperature increase step are performed after the preparation step and before the raw gas feeding step.