The Effect of Membrane Topology on Separation Performance of Vacuum Membrane Distillation Module

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin Caspar ◽  
Guanyang Xue ◽  
Robert Krysko ◽  
Alparslan Oztekin

Abstract Computational fluid dynamics simulations were conducted to evaluate the effect of a wavy channel in a two-dimensional vacuum membrane distillation module. The curvature was induced using a sinusoidal profile along the membrane and bottom wall. Contour plots and line profiles provide a detailed view of the flow structure and the effect of the proposed configuration on the flux performance. Module averaged temperatures, concentrations, and flux values were calculated for two selected Reynolds numbers. Results indicate that at low Reynolds numbers, the wiggly module performs worse than the flat sheet module. Due to the channel’s curvature changing the direction of the bulk flow and the absence of secondary flows to promote mixing, the thermal boundary layer along the membrane surface can be more intense versus a flat sheet membrane, causing more intense temperature polarization and reduced flux performance. At Reynolds number 500, there was a 5% decrease in the flux for the curved versus flat case. However, in some curved channel areas, the local performance was superior to the flat channel. Increasing the Reynolds number could aid the performance of the wiggly channel immensely.

1999 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 558-568 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. B. Kang ◽  
A. Kohli ◽  
K. A. Thole

The leading edge region of a first-stage stator vane experiences high heat transfer rates, especially near the endwall, making it very important to get a better understanding of the formation of the leading edge vortex. In order to improve numerical predictions of the complex endwall flow, benchmark quality experimental data are required. To this purpose, this study documents the endwall heat transfer and static pressure coefficient distribution of a modern stator vane for two different exit Reynolds numbers (Reex = 6 × 105 and 1.2 × 106). In addition, laser-Doppler velocimeter measurements of all three components of the mean and fluctuating velocities are presented for a plane in the leading edge region. Results indicate that the endwall heat transfer, pressure distribution, and flowfield characteristics change with Reynolds number. The endwall pressure distributions show that lower pressure coefficients occur at higher Reynolds numbers due to secondary flows. The stronger secondary flows cause enhanced heat transfer near the trailing edge of the vane at the higher Reynolds number. On the other hand, the mean velocity, turbulent kinetic energy, and vorticity results indicate that leading edge vortex is stronger and more turbulent at the lower Reynolds number. The Reynolds number also has an effect on the location of the separation point, which moves closer to the stator vane at lower Reynolds numbers.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adnan Alhathal Alanezi ◽  
H. Abdallah ◽  
E. El-Zanati ◽  
Adnan Ahmad ◽  
Adel O. Sharif

A new O-ring flat sheet membrane module design was used to investigate the performance of Vacuum Membrane Distillation (VMD) for water desalination using two commercial polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) flat sheet hydrophobic membranes. The design of the membrane module proved its applicability for achieving a high heat transfer coefficient of the order of 103 (W/m2 K) and a high Reynolds number (Re). VMD experiments were conducted to measure the heat and mass transfer coefficients within the membrane module. The effects of the process parameters, such as the feed temperature, feed flow rate, vacuum degree, and feed concentration, on the permeate flux have been investigated. The feed temperature, feed flow rate, and vacuum degree play an important role in enhancing the performance of the VMD process; therefore, optimizing all of these parameters is the best way to achieve a high permeate flux. The PTFE membrane showed better performance than the PVDF membrane in VMD desalination. The obtained water flux is relatively high compared to that reported in the literature, reaching 43.8 and 52.6 (kg/m2 h) for PVDF and PTFE, respectively. The salt rejection of NaCl was higher than 99% for both membranes.


2012 ◽  
Vol 707 ◽  
pp. 37-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Sznitman ◽  
L. Guglielmini ◽  
D. Clifton ◽  
D. Scobee ◽  
H. A. Stone ◽  
...  

AbstractWe investigate experimentally the characteristics of the flow field that develops at low Reynolds numbers ($\mathit{Re}\ll 1$) around a sharp $9{0}^{\ensuremath{\circ} } $ corner bounded by channel walls. Two-dimensional planar velocity fields are obtained using particle image velocimetry (PIV) conducted in a towing tank filled with a silicone oil of high viscosity. We find that, in the vicinity of the corner, the steady-state flow patterns bear the signature of a three-dimensional secondary flow, characterized by counter-rotating pairs of streamwise vortical structures and identified by the presence of non-vanishing transverse velocities (${u}_{z} $). These results are compared to numerical solutions of the incompressible flow as well as to predictions obtained, for a similar geometry, from an asymptotic expansion solution (Guglielmini et al., J. Fluid Mech., vol. 668, 2011, pp. 33–57). Furthermore, we discuss the influence of both Reynolds number and aspect ratio of the channel cross-section on the resulting secondary flows. This work represents, to the best of our knowledge, the first experimental characterization of the three-dimensional flow features arising in a pressure-driven flow near a corner at low Reynolds number.


Author(s):  
F. E. Ames ◽  
J. D. Johnson ◽  
N. J. Fiala

Exit surveys detailing total pressure loss, turning angle, and secondary velocities have been acquired for a fully loaded vane profile in a large scale low speed cascade facility. Exit surveys have been taken over a four-to-one range in Reynolds numbers based on exit conditions and for both a low turbulence condition and a high turbulence condition. The high turbulence condition was generated using a mock aero-derivative combustor. Exit loss, angle, and secondary velocity measurements were acquired in the facility using a five-hole cone probe at two stations representing axial chord spacings of 0.25 and 0.50. Substantial differences in the level of losses, distribution of losses, and secondary flow vectors are seen with the different turbulence conditions and at the different Reynolds numbers. The higher turbulence condition produces a significantly broader wake than the low turbulence case and shows a measurable total pressure loss in the region outside the wakes. Generally, total pressure losses are about 0.02 greater for the high turbulence case compared with the low turbulence case primarily due to the state of the suction surface boundary layers. Losses decrease moderately with increasing Reynolds number. Cascade inlet velocity distributions have been previously documented in an endwall heat transfer study of this same geometry. These exit survey measurements support our understanding of the endwall heat transfer distributions, the secondary flows in the passage, and the origin of losses.


Desalination ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 373 ◽  
pp. 47-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johnson E. Efome ◽  
Mohammadali Baghbanzadeh ◽  
Dipak Rana ◽  
Takeshi Matsuura ◽  
Christopher Q. Lan

Author(s):  
S. P. Vanka ◽  
C. M. Winkler ◽  
J. Coffman ◽  
E. Linderman ◽  
S. Mahjub ◽  
...  

We present two new designs of compact mixers that can provide good mixing at low Reynolds numbers encountered in many microfluidic devices. The new designs benefit from curvature induced cross-stream vortices to enhance mixing of two co-flowing streams of fluids arranged side by side. One of the designs is a spiral of rectangular cross-section, while the other is a series of concentric circular channels arranged as a labyrinth. Both utilize the formation of sustained secondary flows to enhance mixing between two streams. Currently, the devices are fabricated in aluminum using standard machining techniques. However, they can be reduced further in size using standard microfabrication techniques. Mixing experiments were conducted in these channels at a Reynolds number of 6.8 using two sucrose solutions, one of which was laced with Rhodamine 6G dye. Compared to a experiment in an equivalent straight channel, a significant enhancement in the mixing of the two streams, as indicated by the intensity of the second fluid’s color, was observed. The present designs provide a compact and easy-to-fabricate alternative to various other concepts proposed in literature.


Author(s):  
N. K. Burgess ◽  
P. M. Ligrani

Experimental results, measured on dimpled test surfaces placed on one wall of different channels, are given for a ratio of air inlet stagnation temperature to surface temperature of approximately 0.94, and Reynolds numbers based on channel height from 9,940 to 74,800. The data presented include friction factors, local Nusselt numbers, spatially-averaged Nusselt numbers, and globally-averaged Nusselt numbers. The ratios of dimple depth to dimple print diameter δ/D are 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 to provide information on the influences of dimple depth. The ratio of channel height to dimple print diameter is 1.00. At all Reynolds numbers considered, local and spatially-resolved Nusselt number augmentations increase as dimple depth increases (and all other experimental and geometric parameters are held approximately constant). These are attributed to: (i) increases in the strengths and intensity of vortices and associated secondary flows ejected from the dimples, as well as (ii) increases in the magnitudes of three-dimensional turbulence production and turbulence transport. The effects of these phenomena are especially apparent in local Nusselt number ratio distributions measured just inside of the dimples, and just downstream of the downstream edges of the dimples. Data are also presented to illustrate the effects of Reynolds number, and streamwise development for δ/D = 0.1 dimples. Significant local Nusselt number ratio variations are observed at different streamwise locations, whereas variations with Reynolds number are mostly apparent on flat surfaces just downstream of individual dimples.


Author(s):  
W. J. Solomon ◽  
G. J. Walker

A closely-spaced array of hot-film gages fully covering both suction and pressure surfaces on the outlet stator of a 1.5-stage axial compressor was used to obtain dynamic measurements of wall shear stress. Observations were made over a range of Reynolds numbers at an incidence close to the design value. Various methods of presnting the data, including time-space contour plots of ensemble-average intermittency from the film gages are analyzed: related problems of interpretation are discussed. Extensive regions of laminar flow were identified on the suction surface: at the highest Reynolds number, small laminar patches were still evident at 85% chord and transitional flow covered up to 70% of suction surface length. The influence of passing rotor wakes on transition varied markedly with Reynolds number. The behavior of wake-induced transitional strips on the suction and pressure surfaces of the compressor blade differed significantly; their propagation characteristics also varied in some respects from those observed on turbine airfoils.


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