3M liqui-Cel Inlet & sweep gas guideline

Summary

Product Identification

This document provides guidelines for inlet water and sweep gas quality for 3M™ Liqui-Cel™ Membrane Contactors.

General Recommendations

When operating a Liqui-Cel membrane contactor system, the following general recommendations and considerations apply:

• A comprehensive water quality analysis should be completed, taking into consideration changes in water quality such as seasonal variation.
• A softener or cation exchanger is highly recommended.
• Liquid and gas inlet streams should always be pre-filtered.
• The potential for a pH shift should be assessed (for CO₂ removal applications).
• The optimal filtration and pre-treatment arrangement depends on several variables including the water source, operating conditions, biological matter, organics, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), and other factors.

Inlet Water Quality Guidelines

A softener or cation exchanger followed by a 5 µm absolute pre-filter is a minimum requirement to prevent blocking or precipitation, particularly due to pH changes causing agglomeration or precipitation of certain dissolved compounds.

• *Note: pH shift due to degassing can contribute to precipitation.
• **Note: Consider using alternative non-oxidizing biocide like DBNPA.

Additional Inlet Water Requirements

• Feedwater should be free of surfactants/solvents or oxidants (e.g., ozone, chlorine) to prevent wet-out or oxidation of the hydrophobic membrane.
• Small amounts of chlorine and oil can be removed by activated carbon.
• Biological fouling can be reduced with regular, frequent chemical cleaning or sanitization procedures.
• For seawater, filtration to ≤ 5 microns is required, and depending upon the pH, further preventative action may be needed to prevent scaling. Placement downstream of a Sulphate Removal Unit (SRU) is highly recommended for seawater applications.

Gas-Side Inlet Guidelines

• Gas stream (lumenside) filtration:
  • 0.2 µm for high-purity applications
  • 1 - 3 µm is sufficient for industrial applications
• The gas stream must be oil- and aerosol-free.

Operating Limits

Physical operating limitations of 3M™ Liqui-Cel™ Membrane Contactors, such as maximum operating temperatures or pressures, should be considered. Refer to the 3M™ Liqui-Cel™ Membrane Contactor Design & Operating Guide for additional information.

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Disclaimer: This summary is based on the provided text extract. It may not include all figures, footnotes, or the latest revisions found in the official PDF. Contractual data must always match the OEM PDF revision used on the project.

Official datasheet (PDF)

PDF datasheet