Scaling sets the limits of large scale membrane distillation modules for the treatment of high salinity feeds

In this study, the dynamics of scaled-up membrane distillation (MD) modules are tackled for treatment highly saline desalination brines. Physical phenomena occurring inside feed chamber during process scale-up including temperature evolution, species distribution and scaling likeliness were explored using a multicomponent computational fluid (CFD) model that couples momentum, heat, ions transport water permeation across membrane. The was calibrated with experiments carried out on lab-scale direct contact MD system fed concentrated seawater salinity 61 g/L. complete fall-off permeate flux occurred when reached 170 g/L from g/L, caused by mostly due to calcium sulfate (gypsum). order predict occurrence, an in-house code is embedded in CFD solve Pitzer’s equation at every cell domain, enabling calculation activity coefficients, ionic strength, effective concentration degree saturation solution respect gypsum. Results unveil brines, increases considerably vicinity while average outlet remains close inlet relatively high flow rate. Extrapolation longer revealed increase rates, especially range, did not significantly impact formation. drop performance module size shown 1 m long generic without use antiscalants.