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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

New Insights into Physical Aging‐Induced Structure Evolution in Carbon Molecular Sieve Membranes

Abstract Carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membranes offer the best available combination of scalable economical processability with excellent separation performance. Physical aging of CMS membranes causes pore structure changes over time that affect CMS membrane performance. To provide fundamental insights into the structure evolution in CMS membranes during physical aging, a combined dual‐mode sorption and transport model is used in this study to characterize the diffusion coefficients of gas molecules in fresh and 7‐day vacuum aged CMS membranes. The results show physical aging of CMS membrane is primarily “diffusion related” and such aging behavior simultaneously causes ultramicropore changes in the continuous phase and Langmuir phase of CMS membrane. The new insights offered in this study suggest strategies to control the physical aging of CMS membranes and even use it as a valuable tool to tune the separation performance of CMS membranes for demanding gas separations.

Liu, Zhongyun↗
DOE OSTI2022

Polybenzimidazole-derived carbon molecular sieve hollow fiber membranes with tailored oxygen selective transport

Polymer membrane carbonization is a promising strategy to obtain carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membrane materials with tailorable cavity size distributions for high gas selectivities beyond that attained from traditional polymer membrane materials. Despite their already demonstrated exceptional separation performance characteristics for several gas separation applications (e.g. CO 2 /CH 4 and H 2 /CO 2 ), further development of CMS membranes having high O 2 /N 2 perm-selectivity for energy-efficient high-purity O 2 production has proven challenging. Herein, we explore CMS hollow fiber membranes (HFMs) derived from highly rigid and tightly-packed polybenzimidazole (PBI) materials. Nearly defect-free PBI-derived CMS HFMs were fabricated and evaluated for O 2 /N 2 separation performance for the first time. The micro-structural and O 2 selective gas separation characteristics of PBI-CMS HFMs pyrolyzed at different pyrolysis conditions were intensively studied. With rigorous carbonization protocol optimization, we obtained highly O 2 permselective PBI-CMS HFMs having O 2 /N 2 selectivities approaching 14, enabling high purity O 2 production. The PBI-CMS HFM O 2 /N 2 separation performance dependence on operating conditions (e.g. temperature and feed pressure) are reported.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Recent advances in polymeric facilitated transport membranes for carbon dioxide separation and hydrogen purification

Membrane and membrane process have been widely considered as one of the best candidates for mitigating CO 2 emissions from the combustion or utilization of fossil fuels. Various amine-containing polymers constitute an important class of membranes, where the highly selective CO 2 transport is achieved by the facilitated transport mechanism. In this review, the amine–CO 2 chemistry is discussed in conjunction with the mechanism of the reaction-mediated CO 2 transport. A wide variety of amine-containing polymers are discussed based on two synthesis motifs: (a) polyamines with amino groups covalently bound to the polymer backbone and (b) small molecule amines embedded in a polymer matrix. This review concludes with the remarks on the facilitated transport membranes for post-combustion carbon capture (CO 2 /N 2 ) and hydrogen purification (CO 2 /H 2 ).

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Optimization of Membrane-based Carbon Capture using Dimensional Analysis, CFD and Process System Engineering

Carbon capture is a promising option to mitigate CO2 emissions from existing coal-fired power plants, cement and steel industries, and petrochemical complexes. Among the available technologies, membrane-based carbon capture presents the lowest energy consumption, operating costs, and carbon footprint. In addition, membrane processes have important operational flexibil-ity and response times. On the other hand, the major challenges to widespread application of this technology are related to reducing capital costs and improving membrane stability and durability.To upscale the technology into stacked flat sheet configurations, high fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) that describes the separation process accurately are required. High fidelity simulations have been shown to be effective in studying the complex transport phenomena in membrane systems. In addition, obtaining high CO2 recovery percentages and product purity requires a multi-stage membrane process, where the optimal network configuration of the membrane modules must be studied in a systematic way. In order to address the design problem at process scale, we formulate a superstructure for the membrane-based carbon capture, including up to three separation stages. In the formulation of the optimization problem, we include reduced models, based on rigorous CFD simulations of the membrane modules. Numerical results indicate that the optimal design includes three membrane stages, and the capture cost is 45.4 $/t-CO2.

Pedrozo, Hector A.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Membrane-based Carbon Capture Process Optimization using CFD Modeling

Carbon capture is a promising option to mitigate CO2 emissions from existing coal-fired power plants, cement and steel industries, and petrochemical complexes. Among the available technologies, membrane-based carbon capture presents the lowest energy consumption, operating costs, and carbon footprint. In addition, membrane processes have important operational flexibility and response times. On the other hand, the major challenges to widespread application of this technology are related to reducing capital costs and improving membrane stability and durability. To upscale the technology into stacked flat sheet configurations, high fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) that describes the separation process accurately are required. High fidelity simulations have been shown to be effective in studying the complex transport phenomena in membrane systems. In addition, obtaining high CO2 recovery percentages and product purity re-quires a multi-stage membrane process, where the optimal network configuration of the mem-brane modules must be studied in a systematic way. In order to address the design problem at process scale, we formulate a superstructure for the membrane-based carbon capture, including up to three separation stages. In the formulation of the optimization problem, we include reduced models, based on rigorous CFD simulations of the membrane modules.

Pedrozo, Hector A.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Membrane-based carbon capture process optimization using CFD modeling

Carbon capture is a promising option to mitigate CO2 emissions from existing coal-fired power plants, cement and steel industries, and petrochemical complexes. Among the available technologies, membrane-based carbon capture presents the lowest energy consumption, operating costs, and carbon footprint. In addition, membrane processes have important operational flexibility and response times. On the other hand, the major challenges to widespread application of this technology are related to reducing capital costs and improving membrane stability and durability. To upscale the technology into stacked flat sheet configurations, high fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) that describes the separation process accurately are required. High fidelity simulations have been shown to be effective in studying the complex transport phenomena in membrane systems. In addition, obtaining high CO2 recovery percentages and product purity requires a multi-stage membrane process, where the optimal network configuration of the membrane modules must be studied in a systematic way. In order to address the design problem at process scale, we formulate a superstructure for the membrane-based carbon capture, including up to three separation stages. In the formulation of the optimization problem, we include reduced models, based on rigorous CFD simulations of the membrane modules. Numerical results indicate that the optimal design includes three membrane stages, and the capture cost is 45.4 $/t-CO2.

Pedrozo, Hector A.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Direct, efficient and selective capture of low concentration of CO 2 from natural gas flue gas using a high temperature tubular carbon capture membrane

Natural gas (NG) fired power plants emit low concentration (4–5%) of CO 2 , which presents additional technical and economic challenges to the current benchmark amine absorption technology. The newly emerged high-temperature multiphase membranes operated on molten carbonate (MC) chemistry for CO 2 capture/separation/conversion have been demonstrated with great potential to meet this challenge. In this study, we report on the CO 2 capture performance of such a membrane in tubular geometry from a mockup NG flue gas. The membrane is comprised of a mixture of Gd 0.20 Ce 0.80 O 1.95 (GDC) and MC, in which GDC forms a porous skeleton to contain MC. Here, we show that the membrane with a dimension of 6.1 mm in outer diameter, 5.1 mm in inner diameter and 5 cm in effective length (resulting in 4cm 2 effective surface area) can achieve a CO 2 flux density of 0.46–0.55 mL/min·cm 2 at 650°C, capturing 97% pure CO 2 at a rate of 37–42% from 5%CO 2 –N 2 using moistened Ar as the sweep gas. The level of performance demonstrated by this study suites the membrane well for stationary CO 2 capture from NG power plants.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2024

CFD and systems engineering to minimize membrane-based carbon capture costs

In this study, we propose a superstructure for membrane-based carbon capture, addressing these challenges through the formulation of an optimization problem. The case study considers a flue gas with a flowrate of 1000 mol/s and a 30 % CO2 (molar basis), which is representative of steel plants. Reduced models, derived from rigorous CFD simulations of membrane modules, are utilized to enhance the efficiency of the optimization process. The reduced model includes specific input variables such as inlet flow rate, retentate and permeate pressures, and inlet CO2 concentration; while the CO2 recovery and purity in the permeate side are considered as output variables. In this way, we exploit the information from the CFD simulations in the superstructure, aiding in the selection of the optimal configuration for the multi-stage membrane process. The results underscore the efficiency of a multi-stage membrane design, showing capture costs around 45 $/t-CO2.

Pedrozo, Hector A.↗
NASA NTRS2005

High Performance Immobilized Liquid Membrane for Carbon Dioxide Separations

An immobilized liquid membrane has a substrate. A plurality of capsules is disposed on the substrate. Each of the capsules is permeable to a first gas of a mixture of gases comprising the st gas and a second gas. Each of the capsules is substantially impermeable to the second gas. A liquid is disposed in each of the capsules that is permeable to the first gas and substantially impermeable to the second gas.

Parrish, Clyde F.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Highly Efficient Urea Oxidation via Nesting Nano-Nickel Oxide in Eggshell Membrane-Derived Carbon

Here, we reported a strategy of using an eggshell membrane to produce hierarchically porous carbon as a low-cost substrate for synthesizing a nano-nickel oxide catalyst (C@NiO), which can effectively turn biowaste—urea—into energy through an electrochemical approach. Here, the interwoven carbon networks within NiO led to highly efficient urea oxidation due to the strong synergistic effect. The as-prepared electrode only needed 1.36 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode to realize a high efficiency of 10 mA cm –2 in 1.0 M KOH with 0.33 M urea and delivered an even higher current density of 25 mA cm –2 at 1.46 V, which is smaller than that of the porous carbon and commercial Pt/C catalyst. Benefiting from theoretical calculations, Ni(III) active species and the porous carbon further enabled the electrocatalyst to effectively inhibit the “CO 2 poisoning” of electrocatalysts, as well as ensuring its superior performance for urea oxidation.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Selective permeation up a chemical potential gradient to enable an unusual solvent purification modality

The need for energy-efficient recovery of organic solutes from aqueous streams is becoming more urgent as chemical manufacturing transitions toward nonconventional and bio-based feedstocks and processes. In addition to this, many aqueous waste streams contain recalcitrant organic contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals, industrial solvents, and personal care products, that must be removed prior to reuse. We observe that rigid carbon membrane materials can remove and concentrate organic contaminants via an unusual liquid-phase membrane permeation modality. Surprisingly, detailed thermodynamic calculations on the chemical potential of the organic contaminant reveal that the organic species has a higher chemical potential on the permeate side of the membrane than on the feed side of the membrane. This unusual observation challenges conventional membrane transport theory that posits that all permeating species move from high chemical potential states to lower chemical potential states. Based on experimental measurements, we hypothesize that the organic is concentrated in the membrane relative to water via favorable binding interactions between the organic and the carbon membrane. The concentrated organic is then swept through the membrane via the bulk flow of water in a modality known as “sorp-vection.” We highlight via simplified nonequilibrium thermodynamic models that this “uphill” chemical potential permeation of the organic does not result in second-law violations and can be deduced via measurements of the organic and water sorption and diffusion rates into the carbon membrane. Moreover, this work identifies the need to consider such nonidealities when incorporating unique, rigid materials for the separations of aqueous waste streams.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

High-Performance, Hybrid Polymer Membrane for Carbon Dioxide Separation from Ambient Air

The Department of Energy (DOE) seeks to develop carbon capture materials specifically tailored for Direct Air Capture (DAC) processes. Related to this, they require recipients to develop novel DAC materials such as: solvents, membranes, or sorbents that demonstrate high affinities or capacities for carbon dioxide (CO2) at concentrations typically available in air and at near ambient conditions. Toward this, InnoSense LLC (ISL) is developing High-Performance, Hybrid Polymer Membranes (HypoMemTM) for Carbon Dioxide Separation from Ambient Air. HypoMem consists of two major layers. The first layer is the active layer which contains the active ingredients that help to separate CO2 from ambient air. The second is the support layer that provides good mechanical support to have a free-standing membrane without interfering with the properties of the active layer.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Biocatalytic Membranes for Carbon Capture and Utilization

Innovative carbon capture technologies that capture CO 2 from large point sources and directly from air are urgently needed to combat the climate crisis. Likewise, corresponding technologies are needed to convert this captured CO 2 into valuable chemical feedstocks and products that replace current fossil-based materials to close the loop in creating viable pathways for a renewable economy. Biocatalytic membranes that combine high reaction rates and enzyme selectivity with modularity, scalability, and membrane compactness show promise for both CO 2 capture and utilization. This review presents a systematic examination of technologies under development for CO 2 capture and utilization that employ both enzymes and membranes. CO 2 capture membranes are categorized by their mode of action as CO 2 separation membranes, including mixed matrix membranes (MMM) and liquid membranes (LM), or as CO 2 gas–liquid membrane contactors (GLMC). Because they selectively catalyze molecular reactions involving CO 2 , the two main classes of enzymes used for enhancing membrane function are carbonic anhydrase (CA) and formate dehydrogenase (FDH). Small organic molecules designed to mimic CA enzyme active sites are also being developed. CO 2 conversion membranes are described according to membrane functionality, the location of enzymes relative to the membrane, which includes different immobilization strategies, and regeneration methods for cofactors. Parameters crucial for the performance of these hybrid systems are discussed with tabulated examples. Progress and challenges are discussed, and perspectives on future research directions are provided.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Characterizing and modeling the mechanical behavior of an anion exchange membrane for carbon capture applications

A new direct air capture (DAC) technology uses a moisture swing (MS) process with anion exchange membranes, potentially offering a more energy-efficient way to remove CO₂ from the air. In this MS process, the membrane absorbs CO₂ as it dries and releases it when water is added. Understanding the mechanical behavior of these membranes is essential for improving the design and efficiency of DAC systems and prolonging sorbent lifetime. This study tested one anion exchange membrane, Fumasep’s FAA-3, under mechanical loading and various temperature and humidity conditions to measure its swelling, stiffness, strength, plastic deformation, and stress relaxation. Experimental results were used to identify a mechanical model for FAA-3 that can be used to predict the material’s nonlinear viscous behavior under various loads and environments. Unlike prior studies that assumed linear elastic behavior, this work incorporates humidity-dependent swelling, thermal expansion, and nonlinear viscoelasticity of FAA-3 in both the experiments and the model.

Direct air capture↗