Technology Manager – Eng. Patrick Bárcia – talks about SYSADVANCE Energy Division and its technologies.

This sample contains only 16 grams of a molecular sieve, but the surface area of the microporous network in this sample, is equivalent to 10 000 square meters – which is enough to cover the area of one football field.  

In fact, thanks to this special feature, molecular sieve materials can be used to selectively separate gas molecules such as N2 or O2… from atmospheric air. And that, on an very energy efficient way, producing pure gas that can be used on a myriad of industrial applications, or for instance, as oxygen for medical use.

But, molecular sieves can also be applied in the development of separation technologies for more complex mixtures, like  biogas, allowing for the production of biomethane, also known as renewable natural gas.

Small scale units, combined with Digital Process Design & Optimization, are often used by the SYSADVANCE Research Development team, to test new adsorbent materials, new concepts or process alternatives, resulting in the development of gas purification processes. 

Example of this hard work is:

– the METHAGEN AD process: A Vacuum Pressure Swing Adsorption technology build to offer to anaerobic digestion operators , a reliable and energy efficient way to upgrade their biogas, even when biomethane specification is quite strict.

– And the METHAGEN LF: a patent pending technology, especially conceived to address (in only two adsorption stages), the purification of landfill gas  with a power consumption ranging from 0,7 to 1,3 kWh per each m3 of renewable gas produced.

Both technologies achieve a high heating value enabling, either:

– the injection on the natural gas grid;

– or its use a renewable fuel for green mobility.