Modeling and Design of a Solar-Assisted High-Performance Direct Contact Membrane Distillation System

Mahdi Mohammadi Ghaleni, Abdullah Al Balushi, Mona Bavarian, Siamak Nejati

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hollow fiber membrane (HFM) modules have recently drawn considerable attention in membrane distillation (MD) because of their high packing density compared to other type of modules. In this work, a mathematical model is developed to study the impact of design and process parameters on both permeate flux and energy efficiency of hollow fiber membrane modules. The membrane module is integrated with a heat exchanger to utilize the heat of waste brine. Also, a solar collector is integrated in the system to increase the temperature of feed stream before entering the module. The simulation data were in good agreement with the experimental results. We found that the close-packed configuration provides the maximum permeate flux and energy efficiency for the module when the inter-spacing parameter, the ratio of the fiber radius to the center-to-center distance between neighboring fibers, is properly adjusted. The simulation results suggested that the permeate flux for this system can be enhanced as high as 18% by choosing the close-packed configuration and adjusting the inter-spacing parameter such that neighboring fibers are not in contact with each other.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationComputer Aided Chemical Engineering
PublisherElsevier B.V.
Pages1921-1926
Number of pages6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2018

Publication series

NameComputer Aided Chemical Engineering
Volume44
ISSN (Print)1570-7946

Keywords

  • hollow fiber membrane
  • membrane distillation
  • solar energy
  • water desalination, modeling and simulation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemical Engineering
  • Computer Science Applications

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