Gas separation with glass membranes. Final report
The Department of Energy (DOE) is seeking to develop high temperature, high pressure inorganic membrane technology to perform a variety of gas separation processes to improve the efficiency and economics of advanced power generation systems such as direct coal-fueled turbines (DCFT) and the integrated gasification combined cycle process (IGCC). The temperatures encountered in these power generation systems are far above the temperature range for organic membrane materials. Inorganic materials such as ceramics are therefore the most likely membrane materials for use at high temperatures. This project focussed on silica glass fiber membranes made by PPG Industries (Pittsburgh, PA). The goals were both experimental and theoretical. The first objective was to develop a rational theory for the performance of these membranes. With existing theories as a starting point, a new theory was devised to explain the unusual ``molecular sieving`` behavior exhibited by these glass membranes. An apparatus was then devised for making permeation performance measurements at conditions of interest to DOE (temperatures to 2000{degrees}F; pressures to 1000 psia). With this apparatus, gas mixtures could be made typical of coal combustion or coal gasification processes, these gases could be passed into a membrane test cell, and the separation performance determined. Data were obtained for H{sub 2}/CO,N{sub 2}/CO{sub 2}, 0{sub 2}/N{sub 2}, and NH{sub 3}/N{sub 2} mixtures and for a variety of pure component gases (He, H{sub 2}, CO{sub 2}, N{sub 2}, CO, NH{sub 3}). The most challenging part of the project turned out to be the sealing of the membrane at high temperatures and pressures. The report concludes with an overview of the practical potential of these membranes and of inorganic membranes in general of DOE and other applications.
- Research Organization:
- SRI International, Menlo Park, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC21-88MC25204
- OSTI ID:
- 10189009
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/MC/25204-3133; ON: DE93000217
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: May 1992
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
COAL GASIFICATION
HOT GAS CLEANUP
FUEL GAS
MEMBRANES
PERFORMANCE TESTING
HYDROGEN
SEPARATION PROCESSES
CARBON MONOXIDE
NITROGEN
CARBON DIOXIDE
AMMONIA
HELIUM
PROGRESS REPORT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
COMBINED-CYCLE POWER PLANTS
GAS TURBINES
CERAMICS
MIXTURES
MEDIUM PRESSURE
TEMPERATURE RANGE 1000-4000 K
GLASS
SEALS
PERMEABILITY
010402
010800
400105
PURIFICATION AND UPGRADING
WASTE MANAGEMENT
SEPARATION PROCEDURES