Theoretical and experimental investigation of cylindrical air gap membrane distillation system and effect of the membrane support net on its performance

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2024-01, Vol.31 (5), p.7775-7792
• Main Authors: Shahu, Vandita Thantharate, Thombre, Shashikant B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air gaps; Air temperature; Aluminum; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Cold flow; Desalination; Design parameters; Distillation; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Energy consumption; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Flow rates; Flow velocity; Mathematical models; Membranes; Modules; Nets; Polypropylene; Research Article; Thermal energy; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-31239-4

In present study a cylindrical module is studied based on air gap membrane distillation configuration and studied for desalination purpose. A complete theoretical model was developed with consideration of design and operating parameters that enabled a Cylindrical Air Gap Membrane Distillation (CAGMD) module specific performance analysis. Theoretical model was verified with the literature as well as with the experimental results carried out on a lab scale CAGMD module. The effect of support nets which supports the membrane on the air gap side is also discussed on the performance. Support nets made up of four different thermal conductivities material- copper, aluminum, brass and polypropylene (PP) are considered for this study. The effect of feed temperature and flow rate, air gap width, cold flow rate, effect of thermal conductivities of support nets and height of the module was studied on the performance of CAGMD module. Permeate flux, Specific Thermal Energy Consumption (STEC) and the Gained output ratio (GOR) was selected as the performance indicators and the results for all the resulted parameters obtained from experimental and theoretical model falls in good agreement with only 6% deviation, that suggests that the proposed model is best suitable for predicting the behavior of any cylindrical AGMD module with great effectiveness. It is suggested that for better performance of the system feed flow rate, temperature and cold flow rate should be maintained at higher level. Maximum permeate flux achieved from the CAGMD module is 9.22 kg/m 2 h. Graphical Abstract