Using a high shear rotary membrane system to treat shipboard wastewaters: Experimental disc diameter, rotation and flux relationships

• Published in: Journal of membrane science Vol. 462; pp. 178 - 184
• Main Authors: Bendick, John, Reed, Brian, Morrow, Patrick, Carole, Tracy
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.07.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Diameter; Discs; Disks; Exact sciences and technology; Flux; General and physical chemistry; Membranes; Naval engineering; Rotating membrane; Rotation; Shear; Shear rate; Steady state; Waste water; Rotating membrane; Rotation; Diameter; Shear rate; Shear; Membrane; Waste water purification; Waste water
• ISSN: 0376-7388; 1873-3123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2014.02.015

The permeate flux (J) and volume throughput (Q) dependence on rotation (ω), diameter (D), Reynolds Number (Re) and shear rate (γ) for a high shear rotary membrane system (HSR-MS) was investigated to determine if larger, slower rotated discs could lead to a smaller system weight and foot/cube-print which is needed for US Navy shipboard placement. The HSR-MS steady state flux (Jss) was highly dependent on ω and D ranging from 10 to 433L/m2hr (LMH). For every 100rpm increase in ω, Jss increased on average by 26LMH. The outer membrane third provided ≥50% of the total flow, with the inner third providing about 15%. The Jss–γ relationship was extended to larger membranes (312 and 374mm) and predicted that Jss increased by about 15% for each increase in size. Qss was much more sensitive to increases in diameter and corresponding surface area – Q increased by 45% for D=267mm→312mm and 65% increased for D=312mm→374mm (≈1% increase in Q per mm increase in diameter). Collectively, the results show that larger discs, rotated at lower rotations, can produce similar or greater Q compared to smaller discs rotating faster. •Permeate flux and flow increased with radial distance.•Experimental flux–shear results can predict membrane rotation–diameter–flux performance.•Results show that larger, slower rotated discs can lead to a smaller system size.