ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the performance maps and their practical use in the preliminary design of a membrane separation system for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture, taking into account a wide range of feed and operation conditions, as well as membranes and membrane module separation properties. It summarizes some of the most significant studies of people group on the engineering approach that in their opinion can be followed for the design of membrane gas separation in CO2 processing. The results achieved by the simulations are described in terms of general maps of CO2 permeate concentration versus CO2 recovery. The large flows tend to be treated, and the absence of added value in the product to be recovered limits the availability of extra-pressure supplied to the stream by means of compressors. In general, at low CO2 recovery, the permeate stream purity is strongly affected by the membrane selectivity: a high selectivity allows high CO2 purity to be achieved.
