Spiral Wound Gas Separation Membrane Module with Reduced Contact Area
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas separation modules face challenges in achieving optimal flux and selectivity due to the high contact area between membrane sheets and permeate carriers, which can lead to reduced efficiency in gas separation processes.
Innovation Solution
The gas separation module design incorporates membrane sheets and permeate carriers with a contact area of less than 50%, utilizing textured surfaces and macroporous sheets to reduce contact while maintaining gas permeability, and optionally includes a gas impermeable sheet to enhance selectivity and prevent compaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the contact area between membrane sheets and permeate carrier is increased to approach 100%, then the membrane utilization is improved, but the axial flux rate and selectivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The permeate carrier is designed with a textured surface featuring protrusions and recesses, creating regions of varying contact pressure. This local quality variation ensures adequate membrane contact in critical areas while maintaining low overall contact area, thereby preserving axial flux rate and selectivity without compromising membrane utilization
2Stability of the object's composition
If the contact area between membrane sheets and permeate carrier is increased, then the structural stability is improved, but the gas separation efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The permeate carrier employs a macroporous structure with controlled pore size and distribution. This porous architecture provides structural stability through the three-dimensional framework while maintaining low contact area with membrane sheets, thus preserving gas separation efficiency by preventing membrane compaction and maintaining permeability pathways
3Strength
If a smooth permeate carrier is used to maximize contact area, then the membrane support is improved, but the compaction resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The permeate carrier surface features curved protrusions and recesses rather than flat surfaces. This curvature reduces the contact area between the permeate carrier and membrane sheets, distributing mechanical stresses more effectively and resisting compaction forces that would otherwise deform the membrane structure and reduce gas separation performance
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 configuration improves axial flux rates and selectivity, reducing compaction and enhancing gas separation efficiency, particularly in spiral wound modules, by optimizing the contact area and using macroporous layers for improved gas flow and module stability.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing textured surfaces and macroporous sheets to reduce contact while maintaining gas permeability
Implementation Method 2
The membrane sheets typically comprise a polymeric discriminating layer and a porous support
Data Source
AI summary
A gas separation module comprising one or more gas separation elements, said elements comprising at least two membrane sheets and a permeate carrier sandwiched between the membrane sheets, wherein the contact area of the membrane sheets with the permeate carrier is less than 50%.