LTMEMBRANE (NO3.5b)

SINTEF LTMembrane in Tiller is dedicated to testing of membranes for separation of gases at realistic conditions for advanced stages of development, usually higher TRL (Technology Readiness Level) than lab scale.

Taking good advantage of SINTEF's infrastructure in Tiller, realistic flue gas from a gas burner or a biofuel/coal burner can be tested for CO₂ separation by membranes. The explosion proof facility can perform tests with high CO₂ or CH₄ content (up to 90%), high pressure (up to 60-90 bar), and high temperature (up to 90 °C).

The facility has also a compact and handy hollow fibre manufacturability testing installation which can screen or pick out the best from new or modified membrane candidate materials which may include organic or inorganic particles/fillers.

The LTMembrane facility is located in SINTEF Tiller where experienced scientists and highly skilled technicians are available with state-of-the-art installations (in-house real height solvent CO₂ absorption tower test facility with gas burner and biofuel/coal burner, explosion proof building with safety cells, high pressure gas reservoir tank (about max. 100 bar, 14 m³) to supply gases for pilot scale testing, etc.). Besides, more standard laboratories in SINTEF and NTNU are available where a number of GC, MS and IR gas analysers are available, if needed.

SINTEF has implemented and maintains a quality management system which fulfils the requirements of the standard NS-EN ISO 9001:2008 within research and development in materials technology, advanced materials and nanotechnology, applied chemistry and biotechnology, oil and gas, and green energy and process industry.

As explained above, all the installations have unique features. The LTMembrane facility provides advanced experimental techniques with automatic control and monitoring systems and offers a variety of experience and know-how from SINTEF experts. The permeation experiments can be conducted under realistic conditions at low to high temperatures, low to high pressures, and with various gas sources including synthetic mixtures and various real flue gases.

SINTEF experts, not only within the membrane technology field but also from various other fields, together with highly skilled technicians, offer cooperation for testing and analysis of membrane materials for gas permeation at various conditions to produce high quality data and discuss about results and plans.