Validation and characterisation of mass transfer of 3D-CFD model for twisted feed spacer

3D-CFD simulations of a membrane channel with several variations of twisted feed spacer geometry are performed for a Reh range of 50–200 using a fine meshing approach. Although previous studies could not accurately simulate its performance, the current CFD model shows good agreement with previous ex...

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Main Authors: Chong, Y. K., Liang, Y. Y., Fimbres Weihs, G. A.
Format: Article
Language:English
English
Published: Elsevier 2023
Subjects:
Online Access:http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/37168/
http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/37168/1/Validation%20and%20characterisation%20of%20mass%20transfer%20of%203D-CFD%20model%20.pdf
http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/37168/2/Validation%20and%20characterisation%20of%20mass%20transfer%20of%203D-CFD%20model_FULL.pdf
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author Chong, Y. K.
Liang, Y. Y.
Fimbres Weihs, G. A.
author_facet Chong, Y. K.
Liang, Y. Y.
Fimbres Weihs, G. A.
author_sort Chong, Y. K.
building UMP Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description 3D-CFD simulations of a membrane channel with several variations of twisted feed spacer geometry are performed for a Reh range of 50–200 using a fine meshing approach. Although previous studies could not accurately simulate its performance, the current CFD model shows good agreement with previous experimental data. The validated model reveals that twisted spacers present higher Sherwood number (~55 %) and lower friction factor (~8 %) than conventional ladder-type spacers because the twisted features promote vortex generation and minimise the appearance of stagnant zones. Furthermore, the RR-twisted spacer outperforms the LL- and LR-twisted spacer types in terms of Sh because the concave surfaces of the spacers face towards the centre of channel, causing stronger vortices downstream of the filaments. With respect to the number of twists, Sh reaches a minimum at lm/ltwist = 3 due to relatively stagnant zones. However, Sh increases at lm/ltwist = 4 due to the formation of strong vortices in the region between the filaments. In terms of attack angle, Sh reaches a maximum at α = 45° due to the formation of stronger vortices behind the filament intersection. This paper shows that CFD modelling tools have evolved to a stage that they can be used to understand membrane phenomena with complex spacer designs.
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institution Universiti Malaysia Pahang
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spelling ump-371682023-03-02T02:23:27Z http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/37168/ Validation and characterisation of mass transfer of 3D-CFD model for twisted feed spacer Chong, Y. K. Liang, Y. Y. Fimbres Weihs, G. A. TP Chemical technology 3D-CFD simulations of a membrane channel with several variations of twisted feed spacer geometry are performed for a Reh range of 50–200 using a fine meshing approach. Although previous studies could not accurately simulate its performance, the current CFD model shows good agreement with previous experimental data. The validated model reveals that twisted spacers present higher Sherwood number (~55 %) and lower friction factor (~8 %) than conventional ladder-type spacers because the twisted features promote vortex generation and minimise the appearance of stagnant zones. Furthermore, the RR-twisted spacer outperforms the LL- and LR-twisted spacer types in terms of Sh because the concave surfaces of the spacers face towards the centre of channel, causing stronger vortices downstream of the filaments. With respect to the number of twists, Sh reaches a minimum at lm/ltwist = 3 due to relatively stagnant zones. However, Sh increases at lm/ltwist = 4 due to the formation of strong vortices in the region between the filaments. In terms of attack angle, Sh reaches a maximum at α = 45° due to the formation of stronger vortices behind the filament intersection. This paper shows that CFD modelling tools have evolved to a stage that they can be used to understand membrane phenomena with complex spacer designs. Elsevier 2023 Article PeerReviewed pdf en http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/37168/1/Validation%20and%20characterisation%20of%20mass%20transfer%20of%203D-CFD%20model%20.pdf pdf en http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/37168/2/Validation%20and%20characterisation%20of%20mass%20transfer%20of%203D-CFD%20model_FULL.pdf Chong, Y. K. and Liang, Y. Y. and Fimbres Weihs, G. A. (2023) Validation and characterisation of mass transfer of 3D-CFD model for twisted feed spacer. Desalination, 554. pp. 1-15. ISSN 0011-9164. (In Press / Online First) (In Press / Online First) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2023.116516 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2023.116516
spellingShingle TP Chemical technology
Chong, Y. K.
Liang, Y. Y.
Fimbres Weihs, G. A.
Validation and characterisation of mass transfer of 3D-CFD model for twisted feed spacer
title Validation and characterisation of mass transfer of 3D-CFD model for twisted feed spacer
title_full Validation and characterisation of mass transfer of 3D-CFD model for twisted feed spacer
title_fullStr Validation and characterisation of mass transfer of 3D-CFD model for twisted feed spacer
title_full_unstemmed Validation and characterisation of mass transfer of 3D-CFD model for twisted feed spacer
title_short Validation and characterisation of mass transfer of 3D-CFD model for twisted feed spacer
title_sort validation and characterisation of mass transfer of 3d-cfd model for twisted feed spacer
topic TP Chemical technology
url http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/37168/
http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/37168/
http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/37168/
http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/37168/1/Validation%20and%20characterisation%20of%20mass%20transfer%20of%203D-CFD%20model%20.pdf
http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/37168/2/Validation%20and%20characterisation%20of%20mass%20transfer%20of%203D-CFD%20model_FULL.pdf