EFFECT OF CELL CONFIGURATION ON SEPARATION CHARACTERISTICS OF GAS-MIXTURES BY POLYMERIC MEMBRANES

The separation of gas mixtures using polysulfone hollow-fiber membrane cells was studied experimentally. Three gas mixtures (O-2/N-2, CO2/N- 2/O-2, CH4/CO2/N-2) were used in the study. The variables examined inc lude the flow configuration, feed pressure, and reject flow rate. The results indicate that the extent of separation in terms of the separat ion factor as defined by McCandless [7] is strongly in influenced by t he feed pressure and reject flow rate. Furthermore, the separation fac tor was found to be independent of the stage cut for the cocurrent cas e, but was found to increase rapidly if the flow was countercurrent. ( C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.