Detailed Modeling and Optimization of a Membrane System for Anesthetic Gas Separation

Abstract

Inhalation anesthesia is delivered using partial rebreathing circuits. The anesthetic compounds are not metabolized, so they can be re-administered to the patient if excess carbon dioxide is removed. There are multiple drawbacks associated with the current carbon dioxide removal technology, including the production of toxic by-products, which may harm the patient. As a result, a membrane separation system has been to replace the current technology. The objective of this thesis project was to develop and experimentally validate a modeling approach to predict and optimize the membrane system performance with sufficient accuracy in a timely manner. To meet these objectives, a segmental model was developed, experimentally validated, and used to study the performance for different patient scenarios. The model is a useful tool for designing and optimizing the performance of a membrane system for a novel application and fulfills the criteria of predicting the dynamic membrane system with acceptable accuracy.