Experimental and Numerical Analysis for Improving CO2 Mass Transfer
Performance in Hollow Fiber Membrane Contactors
Abstract
In this study, the COMSOL Multiphysics simulation software was used to
simulate the CO2 mass transfer process in laminar flow and turbulent
flow in a hollow fiber membrane contactor. The established simulation
model was verified by comparing the simulated value of CO2 absorption
flux in a DEEA/MAPA mixed solution with the actual process value. It was
found that the laminar flow model with 5% membrane wettability is in
good agreement with the experimental value, with an average relative
error of only 2.64%. In addition, the effects of operating parameters
and membrane process optimization on the velocity field, concentration
field and mass transfer process in the membrane contactor were studied
taking into consideration both the diffusion effect and the convection
effect. From the analysis of the simulation results, increasing the
degree of fluid turbulence and the series connection of multi-stage
membrane modules are both good methods to promote mass transfer.