Separation of gases by enhanced upstream diffusion

Journal Article · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Separation Science and Technology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/01496399208019718· OSTI ID:5261392

Jaeger, M J; Kalle, P; Kurzweg, U H ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Florida, Gainesville (United States)

Small amplitude oscillations have been shown to raise the diffusional flux in cylindrical tubes by orders of magnitude. The flux is especially high when the oscillation frequency is tuned to the size of the capillaries and to properties of the gases involved. The process has been shown to permit separation of molecules of different molecular weight. The separation factor approaches, but is not equal to, the square root of the ratio of the molecular weight of the molecules involved. Hertz showed the separation can be enhanced by diffusion in a convective counterflow; it may then exceed the ratio of the square roots. The authors have combined oscillations and counterflow to obtain high yield and high separation. The results are encouraging. The separation is 20 to 40 times better than our past results. When applied to a simulated cascade, the savings in equipment and operational costs would be substantial.

• OSTI ID: 5261392
• Journal Information: Separation Science and Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Separation Science and Technology; (United States) Vol. 27:6; ISSN 0149-6395; ISSN SSTED
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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COST
COUNTERFLOW SYSTEMS
DATA
DIFFUSION
DISPERSIONS
EFFICIENCY
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUIDS
GASEOUS DIFFUSION
GASES
HELIUM
INFORMATION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MIXTURES
MOLECULAR WEIGHT
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
OPTIMIZATION
OSCILLATIONS
OXYGEN
RARE GASES
SEPARATION EQUIPMENT
SEPARATION PROCESSES