Zeolite Membrane Separation of Azeotropic Fluorocarbon Gases

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for separating fluorocarbon gases, such as distillation and conventional membrane separation, are energy-intensive and inefficient due to the small differences in molecular diameters and azeotropy, making it difficult to achieve effective separation and recycling.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a porous membrane composed of zeolite is used to separate fluorocarbon gases by exploiting molecular sieve effects, allowing gases with different molecular diameters to permeate through pores, specifically utilizing zeolites like A-type, CHA-type, and ZSM-5-type zeolites with controlled pore diameters and conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If distillation is used to separate fluorocarbon gases, then separation can be achieved, but energy consumption is high and separation efficiency is low due to azeotropy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation efficiencyVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a porous membrane containing zeolite or metal organic framework materials with specific pore sizes to separate fluorocarbon gases based on molecular diameter differences. The porous structure allows selective permeation where smaller molecules pass through more easily than larger ones, achieving separation without the high energy consumption of distillation and without being affected by azeotropic limitations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the separation mechanism from thermal-based (distillation) to size-based (membrane permeation). By utilizing the molecular diameter parameter difference between fluorocarbon gases and matching it with appropriate pore sizes in the membrane material, the system achieves efficient separation at lower energy consumption and without azeotropic constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If conventional membrane separation is used, then energy consumption is reduced, but separation efficiency is insufficient due to small differences in molecular diameters

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidseparation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses specifically engineered porous materials (zeolite or metal organic frameworks) with precisely controlled pore sizes that match the molecular diameter differences of fluorocarbon gases. This targeted pore size selection enhances the size-sieving effect, allowing efficient separation even when molecular diameter differences are small, while maintaining low energy consumption characteristics of membrane separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite membrane structures combining porous support layers with active separation layers containing zeolite or metal organic framework materials. This composite approach provides both mechanical strength and high separation performance, enabling efficient gas separation with low energy consumption by optimizing the interaction between different material components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 method efficiently separates fluorocarbon gases, enhancing separation efficiency and enabling recovery of specific gases regardless of azeotropic mixtures, with improved permeation rates and stability under controlled conditions.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMolecular sieve effect: Molecular Sieve

Implementation Method 2

allowing gases with different molecular diameters to permeate through pores

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Data Source

PatentUS20260027513A1Method for separating gas

Publication Date: 2026.01.29 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD

AI summary

A method for separating a fluorocarbon gas, the method including feeding a mixed gas that includes two or more kinds of fluorocarbon gases having different molecular diameters from each other to a porous membrane and separating a gas composition in which a mixing ratio of one kind of a fluorocarbon gas selected from the two or more kinds of fluorocarbon gases is increased or a single gas, where the porous membrane includes a zeolite.