Open-source predictive simulators for scale-up of direct contact membrane distillation modules for seawater desalination

Abstract

Proper industrial-scale module design for seawater desalination by means of direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) can be aided by module simulation. Accordingly, two open-source simulators (of flat sheet membranes and hollow fibre membranes) were developed on the Matlab GUI platform to supplement DCMD module scale-up. A coupled “tanks-in-series” and “black box” mathematical approach was developed not only to yield accurate simulation, but also to produce profiles of all the key parameters versus membrane length. Using laboratory-scale experimental results in one configuration as simulation inputs, the developed simulators were able to predict large-scale DCMD module performance in both co-current and counter-current configurations. These predictions exhibited good accuracy in both laboratory-scale and large-scale. Design considerations informing appropriate module scale-up for the DCMD process were demonstrated using the simulators. Key design criteria for industrial-scale module design were identified and evaluated. The results presented in this study offer general and practical guidance for proper module scale-up to deliver optimal pure water productivity for industrial-scale seawater desalination using the DCMD process. More importantly, the developed simulators are open-source, available for all researchers to develop specific DCMD module scale-up strategies for their own membranes.