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Q. 1 A silica-glass membrane, 2-μm thick with pores <10 A in diameter, has been developed
for separating H2 from CO at a temperature of 500℉. From laboratory data, the membrane
permeabilities for H2 and CO respectively, are 200,000 and 700 barrer, where the barrer, a
common unit for gas permeation, is defined by:
where cm3 (STP)/(cm2-s) refers to the volumetric transmembrane flux of the diffusing species
in terms of standard conditions of 0℃ and 1atm; cm refers to the membrane thickness; and
cmHg refers to the transmembrane partial-pressure driving force for the diffusing species.
If the transmembrane, partial-pressure driving forces for H2 and CO, respectively, are 240 psi
and 80 psi, calculate the transmembrane fluxes for H2 and CO in kmol/m2-s.
Q.1 It is desired to pass water at 70℉ through a supported polypropylene membrane, with a
skin of 0.003-cm thickness and 35% porosity, at the rate of 200 m3/m2 membrane surface
area/day. The pores can be considered straight cylinders of uniform diameter equal to 0.2 𝜇m.
If the pressure on the downstream side of the membrane is 150 kPa, estimate the required
pressure on the upstream side of the membrane. The pressure drop through the support is
negligible
Q. 1. A hollow-fiber module has 4,000 ft2 of membrane surface area based on the size of the
fibers, which are 42 μm I. D × 85 μm O. D × 1.2 m long each. Determine the: (a) number of
hollow fibers in the module; (b) diameter of the module, assuming the fibers are on a square
spacing of 120 μm center-to-center; and (c) membrane surface area per unit volume of module
(packing density) m2/m3. (5)
Ans: (a) 2350000 fibers (b) 20.8 cm. (c) 9150 m2/m3.
Q.2. A hollow-fiber module has 3,500 ft2 of membrane surface area based on the size of the
fibers, which are 42 μm I. D × 85 μm O. D × 1.2 m long each. Determine the: (a) number of
hollow fibers in the module; (b) diameter of the module, assuming the fibers are on a square
spacing of 110 𝜇𝑚 center-to-center; and (c) membrane surface area per unit volume of module
(packing density) m2/m3. (5)
Q.1 Porous membrane with pressure differential, Water at 70℃ is passed through a
polyethylene membrane of 25% porosity with an average pore diameter of 0.3 𝜇m and an
average tortuosity of 1.3. The pressures on the downstream and upstream sides of the
membrane are 125 kPa and 500 kPa, respectively. Estimate the flux of water in m3/m2-day. In
addition, check it whether laminar or turbulence flow. Assume membrane is 1 micron thick
and flow is fully developed laminar flow. At 70℃, viscosity of water is 0.42 cP.
Ans T4 : 41,700 m3/m2-day. and laminar, velocity = 2.51 m/s
Ans: For urea: N1 = 2.16 × 10-7 gm/cm2.s and For 𝛽-dextrin: N2 = 1.90 × 10-8 gm/cm2.s