Membrane Separation Device Series Segmentation VOC Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gas separation membranes face challenges in achieving high permeability and selectivity simultaneously, leading to increased costs due to the need for large membrane areas and inefficient separation processes, particularly in the production of expandable polystyrene, where volatile organic compounds like pentane are not effectively recovered, resulting in economic inefficiencies and environmental pollution.
Innovation Solution
A membrane separation device comprising multiple separation membranes with different selectivities and permeabilities coupled in series, allowing for efficient separation of desired components by optimizing the permeability and selectivity of each membrane, thereby reducing the required membrane area and processing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a single separation membrane with high selectivity is used, then selectivity is improved, but permeability decreases and membrane area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single separation membrane is divided into multiple membranes with different selectivity characteristics arranged in series. The first membrane has high selectivity for separating the target component, while the second membrane has lower selectivity but higher permeability. This segmentation allows each membrane to perform its specialized function, achieving both high overall selectivity and high permeability that would be impossible with a single membrane.
2Manufacturing precision
If membrane area is increased to improve separation efficiency, then separation performance is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the membrane system are assigned different properties: the first membrane region is optimized for high selectivity with appropriate area, while the second membrane region is optimized for high permeability. This local quality differentiation allows the system to achieve high separation efficiency without requiring a uniformly large membrane area, thus reducing overall system complexity and cost.
3Manufacturing precision
If process conditions are changed to improve separation performance, then separation efficiency is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of changing operating conditions such as pressure, temperature, or flow rate to improve separation performance, the invention changes the fundamental parameter of the membrane system by using multiple membranes with different selectivity and permeability characteristics. This parameter change at the membrane level achieves improved separation performance without requiring costly changes to process conditions.
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 device enables high-efficiency separation of components with reduced membrane area usage, lowering production costs and environmental impact by effectively recovering volatile organic compounds, such as pentane, in the production of expandable polystyrene.
Implementation Method 1
a gas permeation phenomenon in which gases pass through a non-porous membrane is explained using the solution-diffusion model
Implementation Method 2
respective gas components appear to have different relative diffusion coefficients and solubility constants according to materials constituting a membrane
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to a membrane separation device. According to the separation device of the present application, components to be separated using a separation membrane having a small area size can be separated with high selectivity and consequently processing efficiency and economical efficiency can be superbly improved; and according to a method for producing an expanded polystyrene which includes the membrane separation device, components to be separated using a separation membrane having a small area size, in particular, a volatile organic compound (VOC), can be separated with high selectivity and consequently processing efficiency and economical efficiency can be superbly improved, and also, by separating and recovering VOC, an effect in preventing environmental pollution caused by global warming is exhibited.