Comparative assessment of the effects of 3D printed feed spacers on process performance in MD systems

In this study, process enhancements achieved by the use of 3D printed feed spacers based on triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS) were comparatively assessed using two most common membrane distillation (MD) configurations: air gap (AGMD) and direct contact (DCMD). The MD performance was impact spacer design (TPMS vs. commercial spacer) flux channel pressure drop, their consequent levelized cost water (COW). studied architectures led to a improvement (?17%) in AGMD flux, much lower than that DCMD (?57%). Consequently, for waste heat-operated process, spacer-induced drop became influential bottleneck COW. Generally, contribution pumping total operating found be greater AGMD. Thus, COW heat operated is more sensitive decrease an For with additional cost, TPMS reduces thermal energy component cost. Ultimately, predominantly contributes