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Department of Chemical Engineering
Annual Report 2015
31
NANOMBE / NFR /NANO2021
This project started from Fall 2014 and will last for 4
years. The aim of this project is to develop
nanocomposite membrane containing bio-nanofibers
and mimic enzyme for CO
2
separation, which can
significantly increase the separation performance and
reduce the energy penalty for CO
2
capture from power
plant flue gas (CO
2
/N
2
separation) and to upgrade biogas
(CO
2
/CH
4
separation). The nano-materials developed in
this project is based on a bio-product from one of
Norway’s most important natural resources, i.e. trees,
which increases value creation based on natural
resources. Three PhD students are currently working in
this project.
OMPA / NFR/ BIP STATOIL
The project started in 2012 and planned for 3years. The
principal objective has been to develop an autonomous
valve based on the principle of pressure retarded
osmosis (PRO), so that it is able to close off the water
producing zones in the well while other parts of the well
continue to produce oil/gas. The main focus for Memfo
has been to develop a suitable forward osmotic
membrane that can withstand the harsh environmental
conditions in a given well. Two postdoc researchers work
in this project in 2015. The specially designed osmotic
membrane for OMPA has been developed from
chemically and thermally stable polymeric materials.
VARIOUS PROJECTS ON NANOCOMPOSITES
The group has additionally several smaller research
projects focusing on development of hybrid materials; in
2015 four PhDs have been involved in this topic,
including an application of nanocomposite membrane in
membrane contactor using mimic enzyme as promotor
for CO
2
absorption.
The Memfo researchers work very much as a team in
addition to be dedicated to individual projects. Hence
the simulation of processes is handled whenever needed
by those who have the competence. Likewise; the
concern for environmental issues, leads to the focus also
on biogas upgrading to vehicle fuel quality (biomethane).
Carbon membranes has proved to be suitable for
upgrading of biogas; documented by experiments and
discussed in publications.
SEVERAL
PROJECTS
ON
MEMBRANE
CONTACTORS
The group has also been involved in several projects on
membrane contactors, including a postdoc working in
3GMC (NFR/CLIMIT) project focusing on the non-porous
membrane contactor, one PhD on membrane contactor
using green solvent promoted by mimic enzyme, and one
PhD working on membrane contactor for high pressure
natural gas sweetening (The GREEN SEA project).
EU-PROJECT HIPERCAP
(COORDINATED BY
SINTEF)
The membrane group is very active in the above
mentioned EU-project, contributing both with
development of hybrid facilitated membrane as well as
supported ionic liquid membranes. The project focus on
various technologies for CO2 capture from flue gas.
MEMBRANE AND MEMBRANE CONTACTOR FOR
SUBSEA SEPARATION
The petroleum industry has a goal to move oil and gas
production and processing to subsea when more
advantageous than top side solutions, and one of the
main processing step in natural gas processing is
dehydration. The objective for this project is to evaluate
a new membrane process design for subsea natural gas
dehydration to reach pipeline specifications and
simultaneously prevent problems caused by the
presence of water in natural gas such as hydrate
formation, slug flow, corrosion and erosion in pipes and
process equipment. To evaluate the membrane
dehydration process, modelling and process simulation
will be conducted. The two membrane modules will be
modelled and verified before they are implemented into
HYSYS for an overall process design evaluation and
optimization. With a verified and optimized process
simulation model a feasibility study of the membrane
dehydration process can be reported. In a later stage
there will be a need for verification of models through
experimental testing.
Preliminary process design for closed loop membrane
dehydration with glycol. Water from wet natural gas is
absorbed into the glycol in a membrane contactor, and glycol
regeneration with pervaporation where the water is removed
from the rich glycol.
INNOVATION PROJECTS ON PILOT SCALE
(GASSNOVA)