MEMSEP - Gas Separation by Membrane Permeation

An internally-staged, gas-permeation module is used for the oxygen enrichment of air, using the flow arrangement shown in Fig. 1. Enrichment depends on differing membrane permeabilities for the oxygen and nitrogen to be separated. The permeation rates are proportional to the differences in component partial pressures. 

The module system consists of three well-mixed sections, separated by two membranes. Overall steady-state balances can be used to check the computer solution and are given by  

Steady-state total mass balances can also be written for Sections 1, 2 and 3, based on the flow rates in each section and the permeation rates between 

The dynamic component mass balances in terms of concentrations are as follows  

5 Simulation Tools and Examples of Chemical Engineering Processes 

Here the rates are converted from mol/s to m /s using the ideal gas law. The component balances in terms of concentrations are as follows  

The permeation rates are written in terms of partial pressures, permeabilities, membrane areas and thicknesses as follows  

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