Discussion on the development trends of biogas gas membrane separation technology
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NO.1 continues to develop high-performance gas separation membrane materials. Research has shown that for most polymers, there is an inverse relationship between permeability and selectivity. As the selectivity of the polymer increases, the amount of penetration decreases, which is not sufficient to meet the demands of large-scale production. Therefore, researching new polymer materials to break the upper limit relationship between permeability and selectivity has become a focus of research. NO.2 Actively develop and optimize membrane module combinations. The membrane modules available on the market currently include hollow fiber membrane modules, wound membrane modules, and gasket-type membrane modules. Each type of membrane module has good performance, but they also have their drawbacks; for example, the bonding technology used in spiral-wound membrane modules is not yet optimal, and there is a need to continuously improve aspects such as the bonding width. By combining high-tech products with advanced production processes, it is possible to promote the development of membrane separation technology in our country. NO.3 Develop integrated separation technologies. Every separation technology has its technical and economic limitations; it exhibits the greatest advantages under certain specific separation targets and operating conditions, and membrane separation technology is no exception. The integration of membrane separation technology with other technologies to achieve the optimal process combination and the lowest economic costs is the direction of development for gas membrane separation technology; this also expands the fields of application and scope of this technology. For example, a combination of solid desulfurization and membrane-based dehydration is used for the purification of natural gas prior to its transmission. Additionally, a combination of membrane separation and condensation is used to purify and recover halogenated hydrocarbons from organic vapors. As a new type of unit operation for separation, gas membrane separation is demonstrating increasing viability and competitiveness in terms of technological advancement, product structure adjustment, energy savings, and pollution control. However, at present, the development of membranes is constrained by several factors: one is the price of membrane products ； The second is membrane fouling ； Third is the improvement in membrane separation performance. If these issues can be better addressed, membrane separation technology will play an even more important role in the national economy. It is foreseeable that membrane technology in the 21st century will develop into a relatively complete and systematic discipline through integration with other fields. It will play an irreplaceably important role in the history of human society’s development.
It seems there’s still a lot of research that can be done on membranes
First, Chinese people are currently unable to produce biogas separation membranes. Second, such membranes are quite effective when used abroad. Third, aside from factors such as efficiency and energy consumption, it is at least feasible to use membranes for biogas separation; however, the main issue lies in gas purification – only by ensuring the safety of membrane use can we discuss its effectiveness. Fourth, although biogas purification seems simple, it is actually a systematic process that requires comprehensive consideration; it’s not something that can be achieved simply by putting together a few devices or modules. Fifth, the development of any technology requires investment in human resources, materials, financial resources, and time for research. Sixth, the effectiveness of any technology must be tested through practice over time, and the results of that practice are needed to improve upon and address the shortcomings of the technology, thereby driving its advancement
This post was last edited by Gate of Heaven on 2016-4-24 at 14:37. It’s impossible in China to truly invest in research on basic materials; people prefer to use what’s already available. There is also a strong tendency for quick results, with people claiming they can do something just by seeing how others do it. This ends up disrupting the market, harming buyers, and damaging the reputation of membrane technology. In fact, membrane technology has been in use in China for over 20 years, with examples of systems that have been operating continuously for 10 years. It’s only just starting to be applied in the field of biogas production, and it’s hoped that it won’t be phased out so early on
Many people have seen that some are engaged in the purification of biogas into natural gas. However, methods such as PSA, amine treatment, and high-pressure washing all involve calculations related to equipment and process design, etc.; many people are unable to handle these tasks. Buying the necessary technology comes at a high cost, making it uncompetitive. When it comes to membrane separation, it seems simple – just apply pressure and let the gas pass through the membrane. Membrane manufacturers even provide calculation software, allowing them to convince others using this tool. But the manufacturers only supply the membranes; they don’t provide the process design, which has to be developed on one’s own. I wonder how many people have actually studied in detail the various requirements put forward by membrane manufacturers along with the membranes they supply, especially those regarding the quality of the feed gas. Are the standards set there something that we can easily meet?
Yes, the level of precision required for many preprocessing tasks can only be achieved in laboratories; industrial settings do not have the necessary conditions for this. But now that new concepts and business opportunities have emerged, too many people are rushing to seize these opportunities and to expand their industrial chains, which ends up harming everyone involved and the entire industry as a whole. Therefore, it’s difficult to develop technology in such an environment – before even the harvest comes, the fruits have already been ruined. In society, each person should focus on doing what they do best, by first mastering their own skills
The foundation of industrial conditions lies in the laboratory; since what can be achieved in the laboratory, it can certainly be achieved on an industrial scale as well, though the methods used differ from those in the laboratory. Regarding processing accuracy, there are filters that can achieve it. But it remains the issue everyone talks about: after new concepts or business opportunities emerge, too many people rush in, and few of them do things properly.