Sharif Digital Repository

Sweeping gas membrane distillation process was studied using flat sheet hydrophobic PTFE membrane. The effects of operating parameters, including feed temperature, feed flow rate, sweeping gas flow rate, and feed concentration on the permeate flux, were determined. The feed temperature significantly influenced the permeate flux. Increasing the feed temperature increased the permeate flux. The increase of feed concentration caused to reduce the permeate flux due to the increase of concentration polarization effect and reduction of vapor pressure difference. Sweeping gas flow rate led to increase the permeate flux due to reduction of vapor pressure in the permeate side. Higher air flow rate... 

In this work, desalination of saline brines using the sweeping gas membrane distillation (SGMD) process is investigated. The Taguchi method was applied for optimization of the operating parameters. An L9 orthogonal array was used to investigate the influence of pertinent variables, including feed temperature (Tf: 45°C, 55°C and 65°C), feed flow rate (Qf: 200, 400 and 600 mL/min), feed concentration (Cf: 10, 25 and 50 g/L) and sweeping gas flow rate (Qc: 4, 10, and 16 SCFH) on the distillate flux. Results of the experiments showed that maximum distillate flux, which was about 10 L/m2 h, obtained at 65°C feed temperature, 16 SCFH sweeping gas flow rate and brackish water with 10 g/L salt...