Development of Membrane Process for Carbon Dioxide Separation from Diving Atmosphere

Abstract

Computer simulations have shown that membrane separation processes can be used effectively to remove Carbon dioxide 2 from exhaled air in an underwater breathing apparatus. Membrane separation processes are based on the selective permeation of the components of a gas mixture through nonporous polymer membranes. A permeator module provided with membranes in the form of asymmetric or 'composite' hollow fibers is best suited for CO2 removal from exhaled air. The operation of such a permeator, designed to reduce the CO2 concentration in exhaled air from about 4 mole-% to 1 mole-%, has been simulated in order to determine its optimum dimensions and membrane are requirement. The exhaled air will flow in such a permeator in an axial direction inside the hollow fibers, while the external surface of the fibers will be in contact with sea water. The fraction of the exhaled air permeating through the hollow fibers (the 'permeate') will be enriched in CO2, which will be dissipated in the sea water. Keywords: Membrane separation process, Diving, Computerized simulation, Hollow -fiber permeator modules, UBA, Marine atmospheres.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1990
Accession Number
ADA222606

Entities

People

  • K. A. Lokhandnala
  • S. S. Stern

Organizations

  • Syracuse University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Biomedical And Dental Materials
  • Breathing Apparatus
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Chemistry
  • Composite Materials
  • Computer Simulations
  • Cross Flow
  • Ethyl Cellulose
  • Films
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Polymeric Films
  • Polymers
  • Sea Water
  • Underwater Breathing Apparatus

Readers

  • Computer Science.
  • Underwater engineering and Marine Technology.