How a Membrane Compressor Works

membrance compressor

membrance compressor compress air or gas using electrostatic forces to push the diaphragm in one direction while pulling it backward against the chambers, creating a mechanical compression cycle. They are a quieter, more efficient way to produce nitrox than traditional piston compressors and do not wear out the piston rings as quickly.

Atmospheric air enters through a valve on the membrane compressor cover and travels through a space inside the membrane block. Vanes mounted on the internal spinning rotor divide this space, creating several smaller cavities. The rotor arms with self-adjusting lengths move in and out of these cavities as they rotate, creating the necessary force to compress air. Air moves around the rotor and the membranes in a cycle that lasts less than a second. The result is the production of compressed air that can be mixed with oxygen to produce nitrox for diving.

The Green Revolution: Membrane Compressors in Sustainable Industrial Applications

A dc voltage applied between the diaphragm and one of the chamber halves generates an electrostatic attraction between the chamber half and the diaphragm. This forces the diaphragm to move in that direction and fills the working cavity with a volume VBC of gas. This volume is called the suction volume.

The recirculation of the organic-enriched permeate streams from the two membrane separation steps creates a processing loop. A preferred recovery method is condensation, achieved by cooling the permeate stream 107 below its dewpoint to form the organic liquid phase. This can be accomplished by simple air aftercooling, heat exchange against other streams entering or leaving the membrane unit, chilling by external refrigerants, or a combination of these.

Related Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *