A GENERALIZED-MODEL FOR PERMEATION OF MULTICOMPONENT GAS-MIXTURES THROUGH POLYMERIC MEMBRANES

A generalized model for permeation of multicomponent gas mixtures thro ugh polymeric membranes has been presented here. The governing transpo rt equations are discussed for a multicomponent mixtures which can be applied in a number of situations; for example, feed flowing outside o r inside of fibres; feed and permeate flowing in cocurrent or counterc urrent mode. To solve the governing coupled and nonlinear differential equations the driving force approximation (DFM) method developed earl ier is extended and analytical expressions are presented assuming a qu adratic variation in the driving force with membrane area for all comp onents in the mixture. This results in much simpler and faster computa tions. The effectiveness of the method for different conditions is dis cussed.