Computational fluid dynamics simulations of desalination processes in vacuum membrane distillation

This study utilized computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to investigate the impact of operational variables on the performance of a two-dimensional Vacuum Membrane Distillation (VMD) module. The analysis focused on various feed flow rates and temperatures. Within the feed channel, mixing p...

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Main Authors: Anas M. Alwatban, Mohammed A. Alhazmi, Mustafa M. Aljumaily, Qusay F. Alsalhy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:Desalination and Water Treatment
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1944398625001900
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author Anas M. Alwatban
Mohammed A. Alhazmi
Mustafa M. Aljumaily
Qusay F. Alsalhy
author_facet Anas M. Alwatban
Mohammed A. Alhazmi
Mustafa M. Aljumaily
Qusay F. Alsalhy
author_sort Anas M. Alwatban
collection DOAJ
description This study utilized computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to investigate the impact of operational variables on the performance of a two-dimensional Vacuum Membrane Distillation (VMD) module. The analysis focused on various feed flow rates and temperatures. Within the feed channel, mixing promoters of three diameters (0.5 h, 0.3 h, and 0.1 h, where 'h' represents channel height) were employed to assess the effects of net-type spacers on reducing concentration and temperature polarizations while enhancing vapor flux. The findings revealed that higher feed water temperatures significantly increased vapor flux, concurrently reducing the temperature polarization coefficient (TPC) and raising the concentration polarization coefficient (CPC). This increase in vapor flux notably influenced CPC by exacerbating salt accumulation on the membrane surface. The incorporation of spacers consistently led to a decrease in both concentration and temperature polarizations throughout the module, with larger spacer diameters contributing to improved system performance. Notably, the use of spacers with a diameter of 0.5 h resulted in a 53 % increase in overall vapor flux.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Elsevier
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series Desalination and Water Treatment
spelling doaj-art-e718d0c75a794b96ac8e0c73e8a14de32025-08-20T03:24:45ZengElsevierDesalination and Water Treatment1944-39862025-04-0132210117410.1016/j.dwt.2025.101174Computational fluid dynamics simulations of desalination processes in vacuum membrane distillationAnas M. Alwatban0Mohammed A. Alhazmi1Mustafa M. Aljumaily2Qusay F. Alsalhy3Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Operation and Maintenance, The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, Madina 41471, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaCollege of Technical Engineering, University of Al Maarif, Al Anbar 31001, IraqMembrane Technology Research Unit, Chemical Engineering Department, University of Technology, Alsinaa Street 52, Baghdad 10066, Iraq; Corresponding author.This study utilized computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to investigate the impact of operational variables on the performance of a two-dimensional Vacuum Membrane Distillation (VMD) module. The analysis focused on various feed flow rates and temperatures. Within the feed channel, mixing promoters of three diameters (0.5 h, 0.3 h, and 0.1 h, where 'h' represents channel height) were employed to assess the effects of net-type spacers on reducing concentration and temperature polarizations while enhancing vapor flux. The findings revealed that higher feed water temperatures significantly increased vapor flux, concurrently reducing the temperature polarization coefficient (TPC) and raising the concentration polarization coefficient (CPC). This increase in vapor flux notably influenced CPC by exacerbating salt accumulation on the membrane surface. The incorporation of spacers consistently led to a decrease in both concentration and temperature polarizations throughout the module, with larger spacer diameters contributing to improved system performance. Notably, the use of spacers with a diameter of 0.5 h resulted in a 53 % increase in overall vapor flux.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1944398625001900Computational fluid dynamicsSimulationModelingVacuum Membrane DistillationDesalinationConcentration polarization
spellingShingle Anas M. Alwatban
Mohammed A. Alhazmi
Mustafa M. Aljumaily
Qusay F. Alsalhy
Computational fluid dynamics simulations of desalination processes in vacuum membrane distillation
Desalination and Water Treatment
Computational fluid dynamics
Simulation
Modeling
Vacuum Membrane Distillation
Desalination
Concentration polarization
title Computational fluid dynamics simulations of desalination processes in vacuum membrane distillation
title_full Computational fluid dynamics simulations of desalination processes in vacuum membrane distillation
title_fullStr Computational fluid dynamics simulations of desalination processes in vacuum membrane distillation
title_full_unstemmed Computational fluid dynamics simulations of desalination processes in vacuum membrane distillation
title_short Computational fluid dynamics simulations of desalination processes in vacuum membrane distillation
title_sort computational fluid dynamics simulations of desalination processes in vacuum membrane distillation
topic Computational fluid dynamics
Simulation
Modeling
Vacuum Membrane Distillation
Desalination
Concentration polarization
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1944398625001900
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AT mustafamaljumaily computationalfluiddynamicssimulationsofdesalinationprocessesinvacuummembranedistillation
AT qusayfalsalhy computationalfluiddynamicssimulationsofdesalinationprocessesinvacuummembranedistillation