Development of a Membrane Module Prototype for Oxygen Separation in Industrial Applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science and Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Separation Technology

Background:

• Oxygen transport membranes offer energy and economic benefits in industrial processes.
• Proof-of-concept modules are crucial for demonstrating technological feasibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a lab-scale oxygen transport membrane module prototype for industrial application.
• To address technological aspects for a viable industrial-ready module.

Main Methods:

• Manufactured scalable planar La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.2Fe_0.8O_3-δ (LSCF) membrane components using advanced techniques.
• Designed membrane geometry for low failure probability (2.2 × 10^-6) under operational conditions.
• Developed a custom glass-ceramic sealant for housing integration with Inconel 625.

Main Results:

• Achieved membrane permeation of ~3 NmL/min/cm² at 900 °C with air/He gradient.
• Demonstrated remarkable membrane stability for up to 720 hours.
• Developed a CFD model correlating working conditions with module performance.

Conclusions:

• The developed lab-scale module is a viable prototype for industrial oxygen separation.
• The multi-disciplinary approach is adaptable to various membrane module designs and materials.
• The glass-ceramic sealant shows good thermo-chemical compatibility with LSCF and Inconel 625.