Performance of a forward osmosis mass exchanger based on detailed mass transfer boundary layer analysis

Abstract

Forward osmosis-based processes are low energy separation technology that can help in the recovery of fresh water. The design of such systems is approximated either from the simple mass conservations or using the analogy of heat exchanger design correlations. Such relationship has serious drawbacks, particularly at high recoveries, when the impact of mass transfer boundary layer is paramount. Unlike the reverse osmosis, the permeate flux (hence the recovery) is reduced with the convection (Peclet number, Pe). The membrane surface concentration and the thickness of concentration boundary layer on the draw side decreases with Pe. Since, permeate flux increases with the surface concentration, the recovery is dependent on Pe. Besides the relative concentration and flow-rates, the membrane area is influenced by the mass transfer boundary layer, manifested through Pe. The results reported in the Mondal and Field (2018) is a special case when Pe ≪ 1 (negligible convection), leading to maximum recovery. We evaluate the required membrane area and the performance of the forward-osmosis system as a function of the operating conditions, including the Pe. We have identified the range of operating conditions, for which the sizing of FO system is underpredicted in the case of negligible convection and the log-mean concentration difference.