Publication
Title
Membrane deflection in a flat membrane microcontactor : experimental study of spacer features
Author
Abstract
In this work, the impact of the spacer features (interpillar distance and shape) on the membrane deflection, pressure difference across the membrane, and mass transfer was studied for a flat membrane microcontactor. It was demonstrated that decreasing the interpillar distance between the circular pillars reduced membrane deflection considerably. As a consequence, also the pressure difference across the membrane decreased, which lowers the possibility of breakthrough occurring. However, this was only the case until an interpillar distance of 836 µm was reached. Decreasing the interpillar distance further, the pressure difference across the membrane again increased. This was due to the smaller gap between the pillars, resulting in a higher hydraulic resistance. However, it was demonstrated that with the use of a channel filled with radially elongated (diamond shaped) pillars and wedges the pressure difference across the membrane remained minimal at small interpillar distances (i.e. 305 µm). Finally, the effect of the membrane deflection on the mass transfer was studied. It was shown that membrane deflection can have either a positive or negative impact on the mass transfer and solvent inside the pores instead of the feed is not always beneficial when membrane deflection is taken into account. Therefore, design rules for the spacer geometry are deduced, which allows maximizing mass transport.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Journal of membrane science. - Amsterdam
Publication
Amsterdam : 2016
ISSN
0376-7388
DOI
10.1016/J.MEMSCI.2016.01.015
Volume/pages
504 (2016) , p. 153-161
ISI
000369495700016
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 18.01.2016
Last edited 09.10.2023
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