Evaluation of membrane distillation system

• Main Author: Bhindo Velaayudan.
• Other Authors: Wang Rong
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Environmental engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/39010
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Membrane distillation (MD) process has been considered as a promising alternative to these conventional separation methods over three decades. However, MD exhibits some potential disadvantages, such as flux decay and distillate contamination due to poor hydrodynamic flow conditions. In this report, one strategy to improve the MD performance has been implemented via optimizing the hollow fiber module configuration. Specifically, the characteristics of PVDF hollow fiber membranes used in this study have been characterized in terms of liquid entry pressure, porosity, contact angle, pore size and pore size distribution. The fluid dynamics, effects of module diameter, effective fiber length and packing density on the MD performance has also been investigated. It was found that operating variables such as feed temperature, velocity and permeate circulation rates do have significant effects on the flux. Varying module/fiber configurations such as packing densities, effective lengths and fiber geometries also proves to have effects on the transmembrane vapor pressure, thus influencing the permeate flux as well. It is expected that this study can help identify potential approaches to improve permeation flux and to facilitate the practical applications of MD process.