Numerical methodology and CFD simulations of a rotary vane energy recovery device for seawater reverse osmosis desalination systems

Energy recovery devices in Seawater Reverse Osmosis Systems (SWRO) reduce energy consumption and may facilitate the large-scale deployment of desalination systems. In this paper, a Rotary Vane Recovery Device (RVERD) is analysed optimised by aiming at weakening cavitation improving volumetric performance machine. An innovative analytical methodology based on user defined nodal displacement proposed to address need discretise rotating deforming computational domain double-acting vane machines. The generated grids are interfaced with ANSYS FLUENT solver for multi-phase fluid dynamics simulations. flow topology reveal features especially blade tip regions. A port optimisation then carried out followed sensitivity analysis design parameters improve RVERD performance. results show that delaying discharge angle high-pressure outlet 3° an optimal stator length ratio 70% helped prevent backflows eliminate torque peaks. has identified rotational speed clearance as two most influential factors affecting and, turn, efficiency With respect baseline configuration, 1000 RPM gap 50 ?m, volume-averaged vapour volume fraction core decreased from 20.6 × 10?3 0.6 while increased 85.7% 91.6%. axial 70 ?m contributed 2.9% losses.