The Effect of Operating Parameters on Total Cross-membrane Flux in a PVDF Flat Sheet Membrane

Abstract

Membrane distillation (MD) is an emerging thermal membrane technology that involves water vapor driven by a vapor pressure gradient over a hydrophobic membrane. MD faces several challenges, one of which is the flux of water vapor. The total cross-membrane flux in membrane distillation was investigated in this paper using the co-current PVDF flat sheet for direct contact. membrane distillation applications. The goal of this research is to improve total cross-membrane flux. The effect of various operational parameters is studied, including feed inlet temperature (333.15–358.15 K), feed flow rate (1–2.5 kg/s), permeate inlet temperature (288.15–313.15 K), and feed inlet NaCl concentration (0.035 to 0.485 kg/kg). To acquire a good value of total cross-membrane flux, their interactions with the total cross-membrane flux are studied in this work. The obtained results were computed during MATLAB-Simulations under several scenarios adopting the Trial-&-Error approach. This last inputs various parameters' values and thus draws the required curves to be discussed and analyzed. The results indicated that the PVDF flat sheet membranes provide a significantly higher total cross-membrane flux at higher feed input temperatures, producing a 73.2075 kg/(m2 h) at a feed inlet temperature of 358.15 K, a permeate inlet temperature of 293.15 K, and a flow rate of 2.5 kg/s, with a feed inlet NaCl concentration of 0.035 kg/kg. Feed inlet temperature significantly affected the total flux through the membrane; however, flow rate, permeate inlet temperature, and feed inlet NaCl concentration had a less significant effect.