Feasibility Study of Using Membrane Exchanger Technology for CO2 Elimination in Functioning and Disabled Submarines

摘要

Membrane separation methodology has been tested as a means to eliminate CO2 from the atmosphere in submarines. One non-encapsulated (for out- board placement) and two commercial encapsulated exchangers (for inboard placement) equipped with different types of hollow micro-fiber materials were used. CO2-laden air entered the exchangers and well over 90% of the CO2 was eliminated by the encapsulated exchangers. The eliminators tested would have an unlimited endurance in terms of CO2 removal. However, O2, N2, and Ar are also lost. At a CO2 level of 1% the loss of those gases from the encapsulated exchangers was relatively high, but at higher levels of CO2 the amount lost may be acceptable. The ratio of CO2 eliminated to the total amount of gas lost can be adjusted and used to reduce pressure build-up in a submarine without raising the gas pressure above the surrounding water pressure. The non-encapsulated eliminator works best in flowing water but has good performance even in nearly still water. The most efficient encapsulated exchanger (exchange area 2Om2) would eliminate CO2 from one resting person; the non-encapsulated exchanger would eliminate at least the same amount per 15m2. The results appear to justify more field realistic tests.