Vapor Permeate Characteristics of Membrane Distillation

Abstract To study the permeate characteristics of membrane distillation considering heat and mass transfers and concentration polarization, theoretical and experimental studies were performed. To understand the effect of concentration polarization, concentrated solutions of LiBr and H2SO4 were used as feed. The permeate flux was found to be proportional to the vapor pressure difference between the feed and cooled surface and decreased with increasing concentration because of the concentration and temperature polarization. Furthermore, when considering the heat and mass transfers and concentration polarization, the permeate flux could be estimated accurately.