Kvaerner Membrane Systems

Figure 15 Membrane absorption-based technology for removal of C02 from turbine exhaust gases, developed by Kvaerner Process Systems. (Courtesy Kvaerner.)...

The Institute of Environmental and Energy Technology (TNO) in Netherlands have developed macroporous polypropylene membrane contactors and used it with alkali aminoacid salt as absorbant. No wetting or degradation of polypropylene membrane surface was observed and hence stable membrane performance was reported. The Kvaerner Process is used for Teflon membranes with aqueous amine solutions of MEA, DEA, MDEA and DIP A. The membrane system was used to recover acid gases from natural gas for offshore platform applications. No performance data are available for the flue gas treatment. 

Kvaerner Chemetics have developed a novel, patented process [1] for the removal of multivalent anions from concentrated brine solutions. The prime market for this process is the removal of sodium sulphate from chlor-alkali and sodium chlorate brine systems. The sulphate ion in a brine solution can have a detrimental effect on ion-exchange membranes used in the production of chlorine and sodium hydroxide consequently tight limits are imposed on the concentration of sulphate ions in brine. As brine is continuously recycled from the electrolysers back to the saturation area, progressively more and more sulphate ions are dissolved and build up quickly in concentration to exceed the allowable process limits. A number of processes have been designed to remove sulphate ions from brine. Most of these methods are either high in capital or operating cost [2] or have large effluent flows. 

For C02 capture mostly PTFE membranes are used [5] as extractants aqueous solutions of different amines are used [6]. In the past, the use of membrane contactors to capture C02 has been studied by TNO in the Netherlands and by Kvaerner/Gore in Norway and Germany [7]. They have worked with tubular systems. They claim that working with flue gas from a power generation plant can recover 85% of C02. 

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