Membrane contactor air conditioning system: Experience and prospects

Abstract

This paper presents theoretical and experimental study of humidity control and independently carbon dioxide removal from indoors conditions by means of the pilot recycle membrane contactor air conditioning system (MCACS). The system can be successfully used for indoor air purifying for clean room facilities, industrial processes improvement, food and agricultural products storages and others. Advantages of membrane-absorptive separation method realized in membrane contactors are relative construction simplicity, reliability, high parameters of separation, lower energy consumption and absence of high-pressure drop. Developed air conditioning system represents combination of recycle membrane contactors (RMC) in single block designed to operate with atmosphere restricted air exchange for indoor air purification. Triethylene glycol (TEG) was used as effective hygroscopic liquid carrier for air dehumidification system. Carbon dioxide control system was tested on pure water. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polyvinyltrimethylsilane (PVTMS) based nonporous membranes were used in spiral wound and flat frame membrane modules. The experiments with membrane contactor systems demonstrated effective air-drying ( T dew point = −30 °C) under high gas flow to liquid carrier flow ratio ( G/ L = 10 3) with membrane absorber and desorber temperature difference about Δ T = 30 °C. Carbon dioxide removal system showed possibility of CO 2 concentration reduction 10 times.