Membrane Gas Separation Under Vacuum With Explosive Range Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas separation methods using inorganic membranes face challenges with low permeation rates due to decreased partial pressure driving force, leading to increased energy consumption and potential explosive risks from leaks, especially when combustible components are present.
Innovation Solution
A gas separation method and apparatus that uses a membrane module to separate combustible components by pressurizing the source gas and depressurizing the secondary side, incorporating real-time detection of secondary-side gas composition, pressure, or flow rate to immediately stop the operation when hazardous conditions are detected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If inorganic membranes with high separation performance are used, then separation selectivity is improved, but permeation rate decreases due to decreased partial pressure driving force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameter by depressurizing the permeate side to below atmospheric pressure, creating a pressure difference that serves as an additional driving force for gas permeation. This compensates for the low permeation rate inherent in high-selectivity inorganic membranes, maintaining both high separation selectivity and acceptable productivity without requiring excessive compression energy
2Productivity
If pressure of non-permeate side is increased to increase partial pressure difference, then permeation rate is improved, but power consumption of compressor increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the pressure on the non-permeate side (feed side) to drive permeation, the patent inverts the approach by depressurizing the permeate side below atmospheric pressure. This creates a pressure gradient that drives gas through the membrane without requiring high compression power, thus improving permeation rate while minimizing energy consumption
3Productivity
If pressure of permeate side is reduced to increase partial pressure difference, then permeation rate is improved, but risk of air leakage and explosive range entry increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system with detectors that continuously monitor the permeate gas composition for combustible components. When the concentration reaches a predetermined safe threshold, the system automatically stops the permeation process, preventing the gas mixture from entering the explosive range even when the permeate side is depressurized below atmospheric pressure
4Ease of operation
If organic membranes are used for gas separation, then ease of operation is improved, but separation performance decreases leading to high combustible gas concentration in permeate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite membrane structures that combine the advantages of different membrane types. The composite structure integrates the high separation selectivity of inorganic membranes with the operational robustness of organic membranes, achieving both high separation performance and ease of operation while keeping combustible gas concentration in the permeate below explosive levels
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
Ensures safe operation by preventing the accumulation of combustible components in the permeate side, avoiding explosive risks and reducing energy consumption by stopping the process at the first sign of hazardous conditions.
Implementation Method 1
separating a source gas into a primary-side gas and a secondary-side gas with a membrane of a membrane module, the source gas containing a combustible component
Implementation Method 2
pressurizing the source gas and supplying the source gas to a primary side of the membrane module
Implementation Method 3
depressurizing a secondary side of the membrane module to a pressure lower than an atmospheric pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A gas separation method including performing a gas separation operation that separates a source gas into a primary-side gas and a secondary-side gas with a membrane of a membrane module. The source gas contains a combustible component. The gas separation operation includes pressurizing the source gas and supplying the source gas to a primary side of the membrane module and depressurizing a secondary side of the membrane module to a pressure lower than an atmospheric pressure. The primary-side gas has a higher concentration of the combustible component than the secondary-side gas, and the gas separation method further includes detecting a composition of the secondary-side gas and stopping the gas separation operation in an instance in which the composition enters a specified range.