Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of Hollow Membrane Filtration for Concentration Polarization

Abstract

Based on CFD and film theory, filtration’s two-dimensional CFD model of the hollow membrane was established by integrating the mass transformation and the hydrodynamic transportation. Parameters of concentration polarization in the membrane channel (i.e., solute mass concentration, concentration polarization factors, and concentration polarization layer thickness) were estimated under different hydraulic conditions. In addition, the algorithm for the thickness of the concentration polarization layer has been improved. The results showed that decreasing the feed Reynolds number or increasing the transmembrane pressure can enhance the concentration polarization phenomena. Concentration polarization parameters increased sharply at the initial place (X/H < 25, where H is the entrance width, X is the distance from entrance) and then flatten out (X/H > 25) along the membrane channel; solute concentration and concentration polarization factors were arranged in a U-shape in the membrane channel’s cross-section. The improved algorithm could match well with cross section data, δ2H at X/H = 1, 25, and 200 are 0.038, 0.11, and 0.25, respectively, which can reasonably reflect the distribution of the concentration polarization phenomenon in the membrane channel.