Process Intensification by Coupling Gas Permeation and Membrane Contactor for Removing CO2 at Low Partial Pressure.

Effective solutions for removing CO2 are necessary to ensure the safety of crew members in confined spaces. Exploring enhanced process coupling strategies is a way to solve the important demand of maintaining low CO2 concentrations. Despite extensive inquiries into different approaches, a conclusive and ideal technology nonetheless remains unresolved. A novel method is presented that combines gas permeation with membrane contactors to effectively eliminate CO2 at low partial pressures. The mathematical models were validated using experimental data, and extensive computational evaluations of the coupled process were performed. The transport characteristics of gas permeation membranes demonstrate a prospective path for the development of high-performance membranes. More precisely, membranes with a gas permeance unit value of 1000 for CO2 and CO2/N2 selectivity of around 40 show a substantial decrease in the overall membrane surface area needed. Furthermore, the significance of process design in enhancing system performance is emphasized. The results suggest that using a single-stage flowsheet provides similar effectiveness as a two-step method while also simplifying operations. This study enhances the comprehension of CO2 elimination technologies and suggests a simplified, efficient resolution for real-world implementations.