Multiscale Analysis of Permeable and Impermeable Wall Models for Seawater Reverse Osmosis Desalination

In recent years, high permeability membranes (HPMs) have attracted wide attention in seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination. However, the limitation of hydrodynamics and mass transfer characteristics for conventional spiral wound modules defeats advantage HPMs. Feed spacer design is one effective ways to improve module performance by enhancing permeation flux mitigating membrane fouling. Herein, we propose a multiscale modeling framework that integrates three-dimensional multi-physics model with permeable wall an impermeable wall, respectively, at sub-millimeter scale system-level meter scale. Using proposed solution framework, thorough quantitative analysis different scales conducted it indicates average errors friction coefficient Sherwood number using are less than 2% 9%, commercial SWRO (water 1 L m−2 h−1 bar−1) HPMs (3 bar−1, 5 bar−1 10 systems, compared predictions model. both models, simulations, e.g., specific energy consumption, flux, maximum concentration polarization factor system inlet basically same (error < 2%), while has significant computational efficiency. The coupling can be used guide efficient accurate optimal using, machine learning approach.