Fundamental Modeling of Membrane Systems

Membrane and Process Performance

Patricia Luis

• Publisher: Elsevier
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN: 9780128134832
• eBook ISBN: 9780128134849
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Chemistry
• Index: Chemistry

Fundamental Modelling of Membrane Systems: Membrane and Process Performance summarizes the state-of-the-art modeling approaches for all significant membrane processes, from molecular transport, to process level, helping researchers and students who carry out experimental research save time and accurately interpret experimental data. The book provides an overview of the different membrane technologies, handling micro-, ultra-, and nanofiltration, reverse and forward osmosis, pervaporation, gas permeation, supported liquid membranes, membrane contactors, membrane bioreactors and ion-exchange membrane systems. Examples of hybrid membrane systems are also included.- Presents an accessible reference on how to model membranes and membrane processes- Provides a clear, mathematical description of mass transfer in membrane systems- Written by well-known, prominent authors in the field of membrane science

Chapter 1

Introduction

Patricia Luis Materials & Process Engineering (iMMC-IMAP), Catholic University of Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

Abstract

Membrane technology is certainly the alternative to conventional processes that are energy predators and do not fit anymore in a sustainable context. The number of applications and different systems is increasing day by day. It seems that there are no limitations but the imagination of the scientist/engineer. However, this fast development needs a strong fundamental understanding of how the technology works. The evaluation of mass (and heat) transfer through the membrane, caused by a driving force, is essential to design processes working under optimal conditions. The objective of this chapter is to introduce the membrane processes covered by this book and to show the general mathematical modeling that describe mass transfer in fluids and through a membrane. The difference between process performance and membrane performance is introduced, which is a central point of discussion in this book. Critical aspects on the membrane characteristics (material, structure) that will affect considerably the membrane performance are also discussed as well as polarization and fouling phenomena.

Keywords

Pressure-driven membrane processes; Pervaporation; Gas permeation; Supported liquid membranes; Membrane contactors; Membrane bioreactors; Electro-driven processes; Organic and inorganic membranes; Mass transfer; Polarization; Fouling

Chapter Outline

• 1.1 General Overview of Technologies
• 1.2 Kind of Membranes and the Implications in Modeling
  • 1.2.1 Polymeric Membranes
  • 1.2.2 Inorganic Membranes
• 1.3 Mass Transfer in Laminar and Turbulent Flow
  • 1.3.1 Laminar Flow or Stagnant Fluid Film
  • 1.3.2 Turbulent Flow
• 1.4 Mass Transfer Through Membranes
• 1.5 Polarization and Fouling Phenomena
  • 1.5.1 Concentration Polarization
  • 1.5.2 Temperature Polarization
  • 1.5.3 Membrane Fouling
  • 1.5.4 In Situ Monitoring Techniques for Concentration Polarization and Fouling Phenomena in Membrane Filtration
• References

1.1 General Overview of Technologies

Membrane technology has become a strong competitor of conventional separation processes. Membranes have experienced a dramatic increase in applications in the last years and it seems that they are ready to conquer the world. Membranes have been proposed for environmental purposes to clean gas or liquid waste streams, or because of economic reasons, normally related to the reduction of energy consumption that using membranes involve instead of other conventional separation systems, such as the multiple variations of distillation. Key membrane processes that are considered in this book are pressure-driven membrane processes, pervaporation, gas permeation, supported liquid membranes, membrane contactors, membrane bioreactors, and electro-driven processes. Each of them is characterized by a typical kind of membrane (dense or porous), present fluid phases (gas-gas, liquid-liquid, gas-liquid, or liquid-gas), and a specific driving force (concentration, temperature, pressure). Table 1.1 presents a brief description of each membrane process with some key characteristics.

Table 1.1

Summary of membrane processes described in this book

Membrane process	Membrane structure	Present fluid phases	Driving force	Basic description	Disposition in this book
Microfiltration	Porous	Liquid-liquid	Pressure gradient	Pressure-driven membrane process in which membranes are used in the micrometer range, down to c. 0.1 μm. It require pressures typically below 1 bar	Chapter 2
Ultrafiltration	Porous	Liquid-liquid	Pressure gradient	Pressure-driven membrane process in which membranes are used in the nanometer range (2 nm to 100 nm); working pressures in the range of 1–6 bar	Chapter 2
Nanofiltration	Nanoporous	Liquid-liquid	Pressure gradient	Pressure-driven membrane process in which membranes have a pore size of 1 nm and below; operational pressures are 5–15 bar	Chapter 2
Reverse osmosis	Dense	Liquid-liqu...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contributors
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, and forward osmosis
• Chapter 3: Pervaporation
• Chapter 4: Gas permeation and supported liquid membranes
• Chapter 5: Membrane contactors
• Chapter 6: Membrane bioreactors
• Chapter 7: Ion-exchange membrane systems—Electrodialysis and other electromembrane processes
• Chapter 8: Hybrid processes based on membrane technology
• Index