Numerical Modelling and Performance Evaluation of Vacuum Membrane Distillation for Energy-Efficient Seawater Desalination: Towards Energy-Efficient Solutions
Vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) is a compelling technique for desalinating water because it exhibits superior pure water permeability at lower operating temperatures compared to other membrane distillation technologies. This leads to reduced energy consumption, lower heat loss via conduction acro...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/20/3612 |
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| author | Zakaria Triki Zineb Fergani Sabrina Lekmine Hichem Tahraoui Abdeltif Amrane Meriem Zamouche Mohammed Kebir Amin Aymen Assadi Lotfi Khezami Jie Zhang |
| author_facet | Zakaria Triki Zineb Fergani Sabrina Lekmine Hichem Tahraoui Abdeltif Amrane Meriem Zamouche Mohammed Kebir Amin Aymen Assadi Lotfi Khezami Jie Zhang |
| author_sort | Zakaria Triki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) is a compelling technique for desalinating water because it exhibits superior pure water permeability at lower operating temperatures compared to other membrane distillation technologies. This leads to reduced energy consumption, lower heat loss via conduction across the membrane surface, and minimal heat transfer through conduction due to the low pressure on the permeate side. Detailed modelling of heat and mass transfer in VMD is essential for optimizing the process as it provides valuable insights that contribute to the advancement and successful implementation of seawater desalination using VMD technology. The aim of this study is to establish a comprehensive numerical model that describes the water vapor transfer across a hydrophobic micro-porous membrane in single-stage and multi-stage VMD processes for seawater desalination. The numerical predictions were compared to experimental data in addition to numerical computations based on an existing literature database, and good agreement has been found. The investigation also conducted a sensitivity analysis of process variables and membrane specifications on the VMD performance, as well as an assessment of the impact of temperature and concentration polarization. The obtained results showed that the permeation flux reached 18.42 kg/m<sup>2</sup>·h at 35 g/L feed concentration, 65 °C feed temperature, 50 L/h feed flow rate, and 3 kPa vacuum pressure. Moreover, the findings revealed that the feed temperature was the most significant factor, while the feed flow rate was the least important in determining the permeation flux. Additionally, the findings suggested that the effectiveness of the VMD process heavily relies on the composition and permeability of the support materials. Finally, the results confirmed that temperature polarization had a more significant effect on the reduction of the permeate flux than the concentration polarization. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:48:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5a66863d4c064a0782b266256a1beeb6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:48:47Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-5a66863d4c064a0782b266256a1beeb62023-11-19T18:30:15ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412023-10-011520361210.3390/w15203612Numerical Modelling and Performance Evaluation of Vacuum Membrane Distillation for Energy-Efficient Seawater Desalination: Towards Energy-Efficient SolutionsZakaria Triki0Zineb Fergani1Sabrina Lekmine2Hichem Tahraoui3Abdeltif Amrane4Meriem Zamouche5Mohammed Kebir6Amin Aymen Assadi7Lotfi Khezami8Jie Zhang9Laboratory of Biomaterials and Transport Phenomena, University of Medea, Medea 26000, AlgeriaLaboratory of Biomaterials and Transport Phenomena, University of Medea, Medea 26000, AlgeriaBiotechnology, Water, Environment and Health Laboratory, Abbes Laghrour University, Khenchela 40000, AlgeriaLaboratory of Biomaterials and Transport Phenomena, University of Medea, Medea 26000, AlgeriaUniv Rennes, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Rennes, CNRS, ISCR—UMR6226, 35000 Rennes, FranceLaboratoire de Recherche sur le Médicament et le Développement Durable (ReMeDD), Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Salah Boubnider Constantine 3, El Khroub 25012, AlgeriaResearch Unit on Analysis and Technological Development in Environment (URADTE-CRAPC), BP 384, Bou-Ismail Tipaza 42004, AlgeriaCollege of Engineering, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, IMSIU, Riyadh 11432, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Chemistry, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMISIU), P.O. Box 5701, Riyadh 11432, Saudi ArabiaSchool of Engineering, Merz Court, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UKVacuum membrane distillation (VMD) is a compelling technique for desalinating water because it exhibits superior pure water permeability at lower operating temperatures compared to other membrane distillation technologies. This leads to reduced energy consumption, lower heat loss via conduction across the membrane surface, and minimal heat transfer through conduction due to the low pressure on the permeate side. Detailed modelling of heat and mass transfer in VMD is essential for optimizing the process as it provides valuable insights that contribute to the advancement and successful implementation of seawater desalination using VMD technology. The aim of this study is to establish a comprehensive numerical model that describes the water vapor transfer across a hydrophobic micro-porous membrane in single-stage and multi-stage VMD processes for seawater desalination. The numerical predictions were compared to experimental data in addition to numerical computations based on an existing literature database, and good agreement has been found. The investigation also conducted a sensitivity analysis of process variables and membrane specifications on the VMD performance, as well as an assessment of the impact of temperature and concentration polarization. The obtained results showed that the permeation flux reached 18.42 kg/m<sup>2</sup>·h at 35 g/L feed concentration, 65 °C feed temperature, 50 L/h feed flow rate, and 3 kPa vacuum pressure. Moreover, the findings revealed that the feed temperature was the most significant factor, while the feed flow rate was the least important in determining the permeation flux. Additionally, the findings suggested that the effectiveness of the VMD process heavily relies on the composition and permeability of the support materials. Finally, the results confirmed that temperature polarization had a more significant effect on the reduction of the permeate flux than the concentration polarization.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/20/3612seawater desalinationvacuum membrane distillationheat and mass transportmodelingperformance |
| spellingShingle | Zakaria Triki Zineb Fergani Sabrina Lekmine Hichem Tahraoui Abdeltif Amrane Meriem Zamouche Mohammed Kebir Amin Aymen Assadi Lotfi Khezami Jie Zhang Numerical Modelling and Performance Evaluation of Vacuum Membrane Distillation for Energy-Efficient Seawater Desalination: Towards Energy-Efficient Solutions Water seawater desalination vacuum membrane distillation heat and mass transport modeling performance |
| title | Numerical Modelling and Performance Evaluation of Vacuum Membrane Distillation for Energy-Efficient Seawater Desalination: Towards Energy-Efficient Solutions |
| title_full | Numerical Modelling and Performance Evaluation of Vacuum Membrane Distillation for Energy-Efficient Seawater Desalination: Towards Energy-Efficient Solutions |
| title_fullStr | Numerical Modelling and Performance Evaluation of Vacuum Membrane Distillation for Energy-Efficient Seawater Desalination: Towards Energy-Efficient Solutions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Numerical Modelling and Performance Evaluation of Vacuum Membrane Distillation for Energy-Efficient Seawater Desalination: Towards Energy-Efficient Solutions |
| title_short | Numerical Modelling and Performance Evaluation of Vacuum Membrane Distillation for Energy-Efficient Seawater Desalination: Towards Energy-Efficient Solutions |
| title_sort | numerical modelling and performance evaluation of vacuum membrane distillation for energy efficient seawater desalination towards energy efficient solutions |
| topic | seawater desalination vacuum membrane distillation heat and mass transport modeling performance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/20/3612 |
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