Simulation and optimisation of direct contact membrane distillation for energy efficiency

Abstract This paper describes the formulation of a computational framework for simulating and optimising DCMD to minimise the consumed energy. A simulation procedure for DCMD was established on the basis of equating heat and mass fluxes through different domains in the process. Steady-state simulations for a wide range of operating conditions were carried out. It was revealed that the highest achievable energy efficiency of DCMD within the tested range was about 49.9%. A double loop optimisation problem was formulated in MATLAB to solve the highly nonlinear equations with unknown outlet and membrane surface conditions to implement the simulation procedure. An additional outer loop was also implemented to accommodate the dynamic condition of a real lab-scale DCMD system concentrating 1.5 kg glucose solution from 30 to 60% w/w. A pseudo-real-time dynamic optimisation was performed to minimise the energy expenses for the DCMD process. This energy accounted for the heat exchanged between the feed and permeate streams within the membrane module and the power for their pumping, while maintaining a minimum mass flux of 0.5 kg m − 2  h − 1 . The optimal operating conditions found in this study could save the total energy consumption by 26.3%.

[1]  J. Mengual,et al.  Osmotic distillation through porous hydrophobic membranes , 1993 .

[2]  Xiaojing Ren,et al.  Boron removal from aqueous solution by direct contact membrane distillation. , 2010, Journal of hazardous materials.

[3]  V. A. Bui,et al.  The Role of Operating Conditions in Osmotic Distillation and Direct Contact Membrane Distillation - A Comparative Study , 2006 .

[4]  M. C. García-Payo,et al.  Gas permeation and direct contact membrane distillation experiments and their analysis using different models , 2002 .

[5]  Anthony G. Fane,et al.  Gas and vapour transport through microporous membranes. II. Membrane distillation , 1990 .

[6]  Ho-Ming Yeh,et al.  Theoretical modeling and experimental analysis of direct contact membrane distillation , 2009 .

[7]  Eric M.V. Hoek,et al.  Pressure, flow, and concentration profiles in open and spacer-filled membrane channels , 2006 .

[8]  Noam Lior,et al.  Membrane-distillation desalination: Status and potential , 2005 .

[9]  F. J. Florido-Díaz,et al.  Theoretical and experimental studies on desalination using membrane distillation , 2001 .

[10]  M. Ozisik.  Heat Transfer: A Basic Approach , 1984 .

[11]  Minh H. Nguyen,et al.  Challenge and Opportunity of Direct Contact Membrane Distillation in Liquid Food Concentration , 2006 .

[12]  Peter Harriott,et al.  Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering , 2004 .

[13]  Anthony G. Fane,et al.  Heat and mass transfer in membrane distillation , 1987 .

[14]  Noam Lior,et al.  Comparative study of direct-contact and air-gap membrane distillation processes , 2007 .

[15]  Linh T. T. Vu,et al.  Modelling the simultaneous heat and mass transfer of direct contact membrane distillation in hollow fibre modules , 2010 .

[16]  H. M. Nguyen,et al.  Characterisation of the polarisations in osmotic distillation of glucose solutions in hollow fibre module , 2005 .

[17]  Mohamed Khayet,et al.  Possibility of nuclear desalination through various membrane distillation configurations: a comparative study , 2003 .

[18]  Enrico Drioli,et al.  Direct contact membrane distillation: modelling and concentration experiments , 2000 .

[19]  Parimal Pal,et al.  Removal of arsenic from contaminated groundwater by solar-driven membrane distillation. , 2010, Environmental pollution.

[20]  L. Martinez-diez,et al.  Study of Polarization Phenomena in Membrane Distillation of Aqueous Salt Solutions , 2000 .

[21]  L. Martinez-diez,et al.  Study of evaporation efficiency in membrane distillation , 1999 .

[22]  Mohamed Khayet,et al.  Study of Asymmetric Polarization in Direct Contact Membrane Distillation , 2005 .

[23]  Lianfa Song,et al.  A 2-D streamline upwind Petrov/Galerkin finite element model for concentration polarization in spiral wound reverse osmosis modules , 2004 .

[24]  Minh H. Nguyen,et al.  Shell-side mass transfer of hollow fibre modules in osmotic distillation process , 2007 .

[25]  Minh H. Nguyen,et al.  The energy challenge of direct contact membrane distillation in low temperature concentration , 2007 .

[26]  Mohamed Khayet,et al.  A framework for better understanding membrane distillation separation process , 2006 .

[27]  Noam Lior,et al.  Heat and mass transfer resistance analysis of membrane distillation , 2006 .

[28]  Isabel M. Coelhoso,et al.  Orange juice concentration by osmotic evaporation and membrane distillation: A comparative study , 2006 .