Effect of flow rates of feed and sweep gas on oxygen permeation properties of Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3-δ membrane

Dense ceramic membranes have been prepared using the commercial perovsikite Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3-δ, powders synthesized by the solid state reaction method. The as-synthesized powders were compressed into disks with 1.0 mm of thickness and the disk was sintered at 1,100 °C for 2 hr. The oxygen permeation flux of Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3-δ membrane increased with the increasing temperature and oxygen partial pressure. The activation energy for oxygen permeation was increased with the increasing oxygen partial pressure. Oxygen permeation flux at 950 oC were measured at various flow rates of feed and sweep gas. It has been demonstrated that oxygen permeability increased at elevated flow rates of both gases, but the sweep gas is more influential.