Gas Separation
The development of effective selective polymeric membranes, whose separation principle is based on the solution-diffusion-process, enables the separation of different gas components from each other. Due to the usage of appropriate module constructions a reliable membrane operation by the end user is given. For the industrial application the thermal, chemical and mechanical module resistance is paramount to ensure the permanent membrane performance.
Important industrial gas separation applications can be summarised as “Separation of volatile organic compounds from permanent gases”. The main objective of the separation is either the prevention of emissions or the recovery of valuable products. The ideal application is naturally the one in which both aims can be accomplished. In the applications described below GMT membranes are employed in many hundred membrane process units worldwide.
The aim of gas conditioning is the provision of a tailor-made gas composition according to the customer requirements. The corresponding chapter displays application examples for the operation of GMT membranes.
Emission Control
The use, storage and distribution of solvents and petroleum products have been identified as the most significant sources for volatile organic compound emissions due to displacement and evaporation processes. Vapour recovery units based on a combination of membrane technology and absorption or condensation enable the compliance with legislative regulations and product recovery.
Typical products are gasoline, diesel, additives, alcohols and different solvents. Vapour recovery units are state-of-the-art technology for tank farms, marine loading and refineries.
Product Recovery
Gas separation with GMT membranes helps minimising raw material losses via exhaust flows for following products:
- Ethylene, vinyl acetate, propylene and vinyl chloride monomer and ethylene oxide
- Solvents such as butane and hexane from slurry-type polymer production
- Aromatics such as benzene, toluene and xylene
- MTBE, ETBE
- Fluoro & chloro hydrocarbons
- Methanol, ethanol
- Gasoline at car filling stations
Gas Conditioning - Fuel Gas Conditioning
GMT membranes increase the quality of fuel gas by selective removal of heavier hydrocarbons (C3+). The lighter components, mainly methane and ethane, remain at high pressure. This high quality fuel gas can be utilised in a gas motor or turbine or can be injected into a pipeline depending on the local situation.
Gas Conditioning - Oxygen Enrichment From Air
Many combustion processes in the aluminium, glass, cement and waste incineration industry can be optimised by a moderate increase of the oxygen concentration of the injected air. A completely different application results from the fact that oxygen enriched air increases human wellness. All of these applications benefit from the modular structure of membrane systems as both small devices and bigger installations are available.
Do not hesitate to contact us, even if your application is not mentioned. We gladly discuss how we can use the interaction of gas components with membrane materials to your advantage.