A parametric study of recycle membrane separators

Abstract The performances of recycle membrane permeators with feed introduced to the high-pressure side (recycle stripper) and to the low-pressure side (enricher recycle) were compared by numerical simulation over a range of membrane area to feed flow rate ratios. The effect of permselectivity on the performance of the recycle permeator for either feed arrangement was also examined. The results showed that an enricher recycle always performed inferior to a recycle stripper both in terms of Rony's separation index and compressor requirements.