Novel hole-pillar spacer design for improved hydrodynamics and biofouling mitigation in membrane filtration

Abstract Feed spacers are the critical components of any spiral-wound filtration module, dictating performance. Three spacer designs, namely a non-woven commercial (varying filament cross-section), symmetric pillar spacer, and novel hole-pillar (constant diameter) were studied using Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS), 3-D printed subsequently experimentally tested in lab-scale ultrafiltration set-up with high biofouling potential feed water at various pressures. Independent applied pressure, showed initially lowest channel pressure drop, shear stress, highest permeate flux compared to spacers. Furthermore, less biofilm thickness development on membrane surface was visualized by Optical Coherent Tomography (OCT) imaging for proposed spacer. At higher thicker developed all designs explaining stronger decrease pressure. The findings systematically demonstrated role performance pre-treatment process, while identifying specific stress distribution guidelines engineering new design different techniques.