3D printing of feed channel spacers for spiral wound membrane modules

Abstract

Research in the field of 3D printing and water industry, in particular, on the fabrication and evaluation of feed spacers produced via 3D printing, rapid prototyping or additive manufacturing (AM) techniques is presented in this thesis. Feed spacer is a mesh-like structure placed between membrane sheets to create channels for fluid flow in a spiral wound membrane module (SWM). It has an important role in the hydrodynamic conditions of a SWM, which serves to facilitate mass transfer in the feed channel by generating vortex and promoting mixing. The mass transfer is critical in