Modeling and Optimization of Reverse Osmosis Desalination: An Industrial Case Study122

A fully-coupled three dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) model is developed to investigate hydrodynamics and mass transfer characteristics in a commercial reverse osmosis membrane. The effects of process parameters on pressure drop and concentration polarization are quantified, based on which a simplified and yet reliable one-dimensional system-level model is developed for industrial-scale analysis and optimization. The theoretical work is successfully validated in a local water plant, demonstrating reduced energy consumption and brine disposal cost.

Reference:

Li, M.; Bui, T.; Chao, S. Three-Dimensional CFD Analysis of Hydrodynamics and Concentration Polarization in an Industrial RO Feed Channel, under review.