The development of a process simulator transport model for RO systems

Abstract

This paper introduces solute-solvent interactions onto a universal transport modeling approach that has been recently introduced for predicting RO membrane performance. The mathematical modeling framework utilizes chemical potential calculations rather than concentrations, and is based on the standard solution diffusion theory. Accounting for solute-solvent interactions were all based on a Maxwell-Stefan approach for reduced motion of particles in membrane pores. Overall, the proposed model is very effective in generating all the necessary parameters, especially for estimating the water permeability, as well as the various permeabilities associated with both, monovalent and divalent types of ion in the solution. Moreover, the effects of osmotic pressure on the respective species and water flux can be estimated. The proposed RO model was found to be very efficient in predicting the performance of various types of membranes, and its performance has been validated against available membrane performance data obtained from various sources. Since the attained model predictions are in very good agreement with actual membrane performance data, the proposed model can be considered as a very effective tool for use in commercial process simulator platforms.