# Process Intensification by Coupling Gas Permeation and Membrane Contactor for Removing CO2 at Low Partial Pressure

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a new method to remove CO2 in confined spaces by combining gas permeation and membrane contactors, making the process more efficient and simpler.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is a coupled gas permeation and membrane contactor system for efficient low-pressure CO2 removal.

## Key findings

- Membranes with CO2 permeance of 1000 and CO2/N2 selectivity of 40 reduce required surface area significantly.
- Single-stage flowsheets perform similarly to two-step methods but are operationally simpler.
- Mathematical models validated with experiments support the effectiveness of the coupled process.

## Abstract

Effective solutions for removing CO2 are necessary
to
ensure the safety of crew members in confined spaces. Exploring enhanced
process coupling strategies is a way to solve the important demand
of maintaining low CO2 concentrations. Despite extensive
inquiries into different approaches, a conclusive and ideal technology
nonetheless remains unresolved. A novel method is presented that combines
gas permeation with membrane contactors to effectively eliminate CO2 at low partial pressures. The mathematical models were validated
using experimental data, and extensive computational evaluations of
the coupled process were performed. The transport characteristics
of gas permeation membranes demonstrate a prospective path for the
development of high-performance membranes. More precisely, membranes
with a gas permeance unit value of 1000 for CO2 and CO2/N2 selectivity of around 40 show a substantial
decrease in the overall membrane surface area needed. Furthermore,
the significance of process design in enhancing system performance
is emphasized. The results suggest that using a single-stage flowsheet
provides similar effectiveness as a two-step method while also simplifying
operations. This study enhances the comprehension of CO2 elimination technologies and suggests a simplified, efficient resolution
for real-world implementations.