Liquid Fuel Synthesis Membrane Protection Using Heated Sweep Gas
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The durability of the separation membrane in liquid fuel synthesis systems is compromised due to reduced pressure and increased relative humidity on the permeation side, especially in high temperature and high humidity environments, leading to potential decomposition.
Innovation Solution
The system maintains a higher temperature on the permeation side by using a sweep gas with controlled heating, suppressing the reduction in temperature and humidity on the permeation side of the separation membrane, thereby enhancing the durability of the membrane.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water vapor is separated from the raw material gas to improve conversion efficiency, then conversion efficiency is improved, but durability of the separation membrane deteriorates due to high temperature and high humidity environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter on the permeation side by introducing heated sweep gas, raising it from a lower temperature to a higher temperature (e.g., 200-400°C). This parameter change reduces relative humidity while maintaining water vapor removal efficiency, thereby protecting the membrane from degradation in high-temperature, high-humidity conditions while preserving conversion efficiency improvement
2Quantity of substance
If temperature on permeation side is reduced to enhance water vapor permeation, then water vapor removal is improved, but relative humidity increases which reduces membrane durability
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of lowering temperature to enhance permeation, the patent changes multiple parameters simultaneously: it introduces sweep gas to increase water vapor partial pressure difference, and heats the sweep gas to raise temperature. This combination maintains high water vapor permeation while reducing relative humidity, avoiding membrane degradation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite approach combining sweep gas introduction with heating, creating a combined effect that achieves both high water vapor removal and low relative humidity, protecting the membrane while maintaining permeation efficiency
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 effectively suppresses the reduction in durability of the separation membrane by maintaining high temperatures and reducing relative humidity, ensuring the membrane's longevity and efficiency in high humidity conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a separation membrane permeable to water vapor which is a by-product of the conversion reaction
Implementation Method 2
a heating unit configured to heat the sweep gas
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Aliquid fuel synthesis system (100) includes a liquid fuel synthesis portion (110) and a sweep gas supply unit (130). The liquid fuel synthesis portion (110) includes a separation membrane (3) permeable to water vapor which is a by-product of a conversion reaction of a raw material gas containing hydrogen and carbon oxide to a liquid fuel. The sweep gas supply unit (130) supplies the liquid fuel synthesis portion (110) with a sweep gas for sweeping the water vapor permeating through the separation membrane (3). A temperature (Tp 1) of the sweep gas flowing into a permeation side space (110B) and a temperature (Tp2) of a second outflow gas flowing out of the permeation side space (110B) are each higher than a lower temperature of a temperature (Tq1) of the raw material gas flowing into a non-permeation side space (110A) and a temperature (Tq2) of a first outflow gas flowing out of the non-permeation side space (110A).