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Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering

ISSN 2095-0179

ISSN 2095-0187(Online)

CN 11-5981/TQ

Postal Subscription Code 80-969

2018 Impact Factor: 2.809

Front. Chem. Sci. Eng.    2018, Vol. 12 Issue (2) : 296-305    https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-018-1701-3
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Integration of molecular dynamic simulation and free volume theory for modeling membrane VOC/gas separation
Bo Chen1, Yan Dai1,2(), Xuehua Ruan1, Yuan Xi2, Gaohong He1,2()
1. State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, R & D Center of Membrane Science and Technology, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin 124221, China
2. Panjin Industrial Technology Institute, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin 124221, China
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Abstract

Gas membrane separation process is highly unpredictable due to interacting non-ideal factors, such as composition/pressure-dependent permeabilities and real gas behavior. Although molecular dynamic (MD) simulation can mimic those complex effects, it cannot precisely predict bulk properties due to scale limitations of calculation algorithm. This work proposes a method for modeling a membrane separation process for volatile organic compounds by combining the MD simulation with the free volume theory. This method can avoid the scale-up problems of the MD method and accurately simulate the performance of membranes. Small scale MD simulation and pure gas permeation data are employed to correlate pressure-irrelevant parameters for the free volume theory; by this approach, the microscopic effects can be directly linked to bulk properties (non-ideal permeability), instead of being fitted by a statistical approach. A lab-scale hollow fiber membrane module was prepared for the model validation and evaluation. The comparison of model predictions with experimental results shows that the deviations of product purity are reduced from 10% to less than 1%, and the deviations of the permeate and residue flow rates are significantly reduced from 40% to 4%, indicating the reliability of the model. The proposed method provides an efficient tool for process engineering to simulate the membrane recovery process.

Keywords membrane vapor separation      membrane process modeling      process engineering      free volume theory      volatile organic compound     
Corresponding Author(s): Yan Dai,Gaohong He   
Just Accepted Date: 27 December 2017   Online First Date: 15 March 2018    Issue Date: 09 May 2018
 Cite this article:   
Bo Chen,Yan Dai,Xuehua Ruan, et al. Integration of molecular dynamic simulation and free volume theory for modeling membrane VOC/gas separation[J]. Front. Chem. Sci. Eng., 2018, 12(2): 296-305.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/10.1007/s11705-018-1701-3
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/Y2018/V12/I2/296
Fig.1  Schematic view of membrane module, hollow fiber membrane and composite membrane
Fig.2  Schematic view of the series solution for the membrane module
Fig.3  SEM image of the cross section for the composite membrane
Fig.4  Illustration of the lab-scale membrane module experiments. A: the gas chromatography sampling position; F: flow meter (soap bubble flow meter); P: pressure gauge; T: temperature gauge
Fig.5  Model validation for pressure-dependent permeability. The experimental data is obtained from ref. [12]; vfs = 0.212, Bd = 0.144 and 0.195, β = 0.003 and 0.011 for toluene and CO2 respectively. The dash-dot line is calculation value of the non-ideal model; the solid line is the pressure-independent permeability (ideal model)
Fig.6  Free volume and occupied volume by molecular dynamic simulation. Blue surface: free volume; white surface: occupied volume by polymer; (a) pure PDMS; (b) PDMS/N2; (c) PDMS/C3H8
Fig.7  MD simulation results of gas diffusivity (symbols). The lines are MD data correlated by Eq. (14)
Fig.8  C3H8 concentrations from experiments and simulations. Symbol: experimental data; line: simulation results
Fig.9  Permeate flow rates of experimental data and simulation results. Symbol: experimental data; line: simulation results
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