Performance prediction of membrane modules incorporating the effects of suction in the mass transfer coefficient under laminar and turbulent flow conditions for non-Newtonian fluids

Agarwal, S., Aggarwal, A. , Dasgupta, S. and De, S. (2009) Performance prediction of membrane modules incorporating the effects of suction in the mass transfer coefficient under laminar and turbulent flow conditions for non-Newtonian fluids. Journal of Food Process Engineering, 32(5), pp. 752-774. (doi: 10.1111/j.1745-4530.2008.00243.x)

Abstract

Design equations for spiral wound membrane modules in case of power law fluid are derived for the first time. The case is solved for both laminar and turbulent flow regimes considering orange juice as the model system. The governing equations are solved numerically and the profiles of transmembrane pressure drop, bulk velocity, concentration, permeate flux, membrane surface concentration and permeate concentration along the membrane module are obtained. A detailed parametric study is carried out to observe the effects of operating conditions on the permeate flux and permeate concentration. The present analysis is helpful to design and simulate the performance of the membrane modules adequately. For the model system, it is observed that the axial pressure drop is about 2 to 3% of the inlet transmembrane pressure drop for 1.0 m length of the module. The mass transfer coefficient increases by twofold when the flow regime becomes turbulent. In case of laminar flow, at 7,000‐kPa inlet transmembrane pressure drop, the average flux is about 22 L/m2·h and the flux value under turbulent flow condition becomes about 30 L/m2·h at the same pressure drop. For a slightly leaky membrane, at 7,000‐kPa pressure drop and 130 kg/m3 of feed soluble sugar concentration, the permeate stream contains about 10 kg/m3 of total sugar.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Aggarwal, Dr Ankush
• Authors: Agarwal, S., Aggarwal, A., Dasgupta, S., and De, S.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Infrastructure and Environment
• Journal Name: Journal of Food Process Engineering
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0145-8876
• ISSN (Online): 1745-4530
• Published Online: 28 September 2009