| Abstract: | Using a portion of the product N2 to purge the permeate side of a membrane module in order to reduce the membrane area for the separation of air for nitrogen production is considered. A simulation program was developed and used to compare a purge system to a conventional non-purge permeator. Both the selectivity of the membrane and the feed/permeate pressure ratio were found to affect the ability of the purge stream to reduce the membrane area. The purge stream reduces the recovery of nitrogen, which results in a minimum in the membrane area per unit of product flow. |
