Application of computational fluid dynamics technique in membrane distillation processes

Gurreri, Luigi; Cerva, Mariagiorgia La; Ciofalo, Michele; Cipollina, Andrea; Tamburini, Alessandro; Micale, Giorgio Domenico Maria

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-822294-2.00005-9

Cited by 1 publication

(2 citation statements)

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“…Membrane distillation (MD) is a separation process in which two currents at different temperatures, called the feed and the permeate, are separated by an interposed hydrophobic membrane [1][2][3]. The driving force for the separation is the trans-membrane vapor pressure difference, which is caused in its turn by the temperature difference between the feed (hot fluid) and the permeate (cold fluid).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Friction and Heat Transfer in Membrane Distillation Channels: An Experimental Study on Conventional and Novel Spacers

et al. 2022

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The results of an experimental investigation on pressure drop and heat transfer in spacer-filled plane channels, which are representative of Membrane Distillation units, are presented and discussed. Local and mean heat transfer coefficients were obtained by using Thermochromic Liquid Crystals and Digital Image Processing. The performances of a novel spacer geometry, consisting of spheres that are connected by cylindrical rods, and are hereafter named spheres spacers, were compared with those of more conventional woven and overlapped spacers at equal values of the Reynolds number Re (in the range ~150 to ~2500), the pitch-to-channel height ratio, the flow attack angle and the thermal boundary conditions (two-side heat transfer). For any flow rate, the novel spacer geometry provided the least friction coefficient and a mean Nusselt number intermediate between those of the overlapped and the woven spacers. For any pressure drop and for any pumping power, the novel spacer provided the highest mean Nusselt number over the whole Reynolds number range that was investigated. The influence of buoyancy was also assessed for the case of the horizontal channels. Under the experimental conditions (channel height H ≈ 1 cm, ΔT ≈ 10 °C), it was found to be large in empty (spacer-less) channels that were up to Re ≈ 1200 (corresponding to a Richardson number Ri of ~0.1), but it was much smaller and limited to the range Re < ~500 (Ri < ~0.5) in the spacer-filled channels.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several MD configurations exist, differing in the method that is used to process the permeate. The relative advantages and disadvantages of the various configurations have been discussed, for example, in a recent review study by Gurreri et al [3]. Here, only a brief synthesis of that review is reported.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%