Testing of high performance asymmetric tubular BSCF membranes under pressurized operation – A proof-of-concept study on a 7 tube module

Oxygen transport membranes are a possible low-cost alternative to cryogenic air separation units or pressure swing adsorption for oxygen production, and could facilitate carbon capture by oxy-fuel combustion processes. In this work, a proof-of-concept module with 7 ceramic tubular membranes was designed and tested in a high pressure test stand. To ensure high oxygen production rates, asymmetric membranes with a length of 70 cm consisting of a porous Ba0.5Sr0.5(Co0.8Fe0.2)0.97Zr0.03O3_-δ support and a dense Ba0.5Sr0.5(Co0.8Fe0.2)0.97Zr0.03O3_-δ thin separation layer were used. The module was successfully operated at up to 5.4 bar for 280 h in a temperature range from 650 °C to 850 °C. Oxygen purities up to 96.5% and flow rates up to 6.2 ml/cm²/min were measured, and a total maximum oxygen production of 227 NLPH was demonstrated.