A simulation study of the effects of membrane structure parameters on dehumidification performance of membrane-based liquid dehumidifier

Abstract

Membrane-based liquid desiccant air dehumidification has been widely used due to its advantages of pollution-free operation, low energy consumption, and simple module structure. The characteristics of membrane materials play a vital role in the dehumidification performance of membrane modules. Aiming at improving the dehumidification performance and further optimizing membrane modules, this study simulated the wet air dehumidification process in the cross-flow parallel-plate membrane dehumidification module by using FLUENT software and studied the effects of structural parameters (porosity, thickness, and pore size) of the membrane materials on the dehumidification performance of the cross-flow parallel-plate membrane. The results show that with the increase of membrane porosity, pore size and the decrease of membrane thickness, the moisture content at the air outlet of the membrane module decreases, the dehumidification capacity and efficiency increase. Considering the mechanical strength of the membrane material comprehensively, it is concluded that the membrane material with porosity of 0.8, thickness of 0.1 mm, and pore size of 180 nm has the best dehumidification effect for cross-flow parallel-plate membrane dehumidification. This study comprehensively analyzed the structural parameters of dehumidification membrane materials for the first time, which provided a theoretical basis for the design and manufacture of membrane materials with high dehumidification performance.