Reflux ratio membrane systems

The most important step in the membrane separation process is the selection of the membrane material, its properties, and its selectivity to the different components of the gas stream. The membrane area and operational power consumption are the major factors to be considered in the design of a membrane gas-separation system once the suitable membrane is selected. Capital investment is affected by the membrane area, while the operating cost could be altered by the power requirements. However, the individual (specific to the separation problem) design parameters (e.g., pressure ratio between feedstock and permeate stream, reflux fraction for a recycle permeator, and relative areas for a cascade system) must be considered during the design process. 

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