Augmenting CO2 Absorption Flux through a Gas–Liquid Membrane Module by Inserting Carbon-Fiber Spacers

Membranes

Chii-Dong Ho¹  Li-Yang Jen¹  Yu-Han Chen¹  Jun-Wei Lim²  Luke Chen³ 

[1] Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Tamkang University, Tamsui, New Taipei 251, Taiwan;Department of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, HICoE-Centre for Biofuel and Biochemical Research, Institute of Self-Sustainable Building, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar, Perak Darul Ridzuan 32610, Malaysia;Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, Tamkang University, Tamsui, New Taipei 251, Taiwan;

关键词: carbon dioxide absorption;    MEA solvent;    mass transfer;    Sherwood number;    membrane contactor;    concentration polarization;   

DOI  :  10.3390/membranes10110302

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

We investigated the insertion of eddy promoters into a parallel-plate gas–liquid polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane contactor to effectively enhance carbon dioxide absorption through aqueous amine solutions (monoethanolamide—MEA). In this study, a theoretical model was established and experimental work was performed to predict and to compare carbon dioxide absorption efficiency under concurrent- and countercurrent-flow operations for various MEA feed flow rates, inlet CO₂ concentrations, and channel design conditions. A Sherwood number’s correlated expression was formulated, incorporating experimental data to estimate the mass transfer coefficient of the CO₂ absorption in MEA flowing through a PTFE membrane. Theoretical predictions were calculated and validated through experimental data for the augmented CO₂ absorption efficiency by inserting carbon-fiber spacers as an eddy promoter to reduce the concentration polarization effect. The study determined that a higher MEA feed rate, a lower feed CO₂ concentration, and wider carbon-fiber spacers resulted in a higher CO₂ absorption rate for concurrent- and countercurrent-flow operations. A maximum of 80% CO₂ absorption efficiency enhancement was found in the device by inserting carbon-fiber spacers, as compared to that in the empty channel device. The overall CO₂ absorption rate was higher for countercurrent operation than that for concurrent operation. We evaluated the effectiveness of power utilization in augmenting the CO₂ absorption rate by inserting carbon-fiber spacers in the MEA feed channel and concluded that the higher the flow rate, the lower the power utilization’s effectiveness. Therefore, to increase the CO₂ absorption flux, widening carbon-fiber spacers was determined to be more effective than increasing the MEA feed flow rate.

【 授权许可】

Unknown