Modeling and Simulation of Hollow Fiber Modules of Hybrid Facilitated Transport Membranes for Flue Gas CO₂ Capture

Abstract

A basis for modeling and simulation of the post-combustion CO2 capture process was developed using hollow fiber membrane technology. The membrane cell was modeled using Aspen Custom Modeler (ACM) and exported to Aspen Plus as a membrane unit. The Aspen Plus methodology was effectively used to estimate the physico-chemical parameters of CO2 absorption by kinetic and thermodynamic models. The membrane cell for the permeation of gas mixtures was programmed using ACM and successfully imported into the simulation media, as there was no model block included for the hollow fiber membrane unit in the standard package for a process flowsheet simulation. The transport mechanism in hollow fiber membranes was discussed, and both empirical and theoretical models are presented for the facilitated transport theory of gases in membrane cells. The goal of modeling membrane cells is to design and optimize membranes for carbon capture processes. The concept of modeling membrane processes is identified, and some of the most important aspects of the simulation of membrane systems are discussed. As a reference, a CO2 flux of more than 700 NL m−2h−1 through a membrane cell was obtained. Challenges adversely affecting the separation performance of hollow fiber-based gas separation membranes are explained in detail, and the significance of incorporating the effects of such challenges into membrane models is clarified. Parameters affecting the separation performance of hollow fiber-based gas separation membranes were studied, and the significance of integrating the effect of probable challenges into membrane models was clarified.

Keywords

• carbon capture
• modeling
• hollow fiber
• membrane
• model
• separation