Journal of Membrane Science & Technology

Abstract

Performance Modeling and Analysis of a Hollow Fiber Membrane System

Shuang Liang, Haifeng Zhang, Yubo Zhao and Lianfa Song

A mathematical model was developed for performance of hollow fiber membrane filtration system by considering both frictional and kinetic pressure losses along the fiber. The model was solved numerically as a whole and analytically with the kinetic term omitted with constant driving pressure as the primary control parameter. Numerical simulations first deuctivity (exit velocity) of a hollow fiber was greatly affected by the radius of the fiber. The axial velocity reached a plateau value rapidly along a fiber of a small diameter while increased linearly along a fiber of sufficiently large radius. For given membrane materials (resistance) and fiber length, an optimal diameter of the fiber can be determined to maximize exit velocity.monstrated that the kinetic pressure loss in the hollow fiber was negligible compared to the frictional pressure loss for the current hollow fiber membranes. It was further demonstrated that the prod