Analysis of Heat Transfer Coefficients in Direct Contact Membrane Distillation Modules Using CFD Simulation

Hsuan Chang; Chii-Dong Ho; Jian-An  Hsu

doi:10.6180/jase.2016.19.2.10

Analysis of Heat Transfer Coefficients in Direct Contact Membrane Distillation Modules Using CFD Simulation

Chemical Engineering Material Engineering

Hsuan Chang This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.¹, Chii-Dong Ho¹ and Jian-An Hsu¹

¹Energy and Opto-Electronic Materials Research Center, Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Tamkang University, Tamsui, Taiwan 251, R.O.C.

Received: October 27, 2015
Accepted: March 21, 2016
Publication Date: June 1, 2016

Download Citation: ||https://doi.org/10.6180/jase.2016.19.2.10

ABSTRACT

Membrane distillation (MD) isan emerging separation technology for desalination, solution concentration and waste water treatment. As a thermal driven device, heat transfer coefficients are critical to the MD performance. In this study, the transmembrane heat and mass transfers are rigorously accounted for in the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation. Flat plate direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) modules with smooth-surface and rough-surface channels as well as in co-flow and counter-flow configurations are analyzed for the desalination application. For different rough-surface channels, flow configurations and operation conditions, the simulated permeation fluxes are fairly close to the experimental results. The local distributions of heat transfer coefficients show very high values at fluid inlets. For the simulated flat plate modules, the local heat transfer coefficients fall between conventional correlations of heat exchangers with circular channels and parallel plates and the module average heat transfer coefficients are much higher than the conventional correlations. This study reveals the values and distribution characteristics of the heat transfer coefficients in DCMD modules, which is important for the design of DCMD modules.

Keywords: Computational Fluid Dynamics, Membrane Distillation, Mass Transfer, Heat Transfer, Rough Surface

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