review of computational fluid dynamics applications in pressure-driven membrane filtration

• Published in: Reviews in environmental science and biotechnology Vol. 13; no. 2; pp. 183 - 201
• Main Authors: Keir, Greg, Jegatheesan, Veeriah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer-Verlag 01.06.2014; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analysis; artificial membranes; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Boundary conditions; Computational fluid dynamics; Computational mathematics; Computer simulation; Dynamical systems; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Filtration; Fluid dynamics; Fluid flow; Fluid mechanics; hydrodynamics; mass transfer; Mathematical models; Membrane filters; Membranes; Microbiology; Osmosis; osmotic pressure; Partial differential equations; Reviews; Simulation; Studies; Turbulence models; Turbulent flow; Velocity; Viscosity; CFD; Concentration polarisation; Mass transfer; Membrane filtration
• ISSN: 1569-1705; 1572-9826
• DOI: 10.1007/s11157-013-9327-x

Ongoing advances in computational performance and numerics have led to computational fluid dynamics (CFD) becoming a ubiquitous modelling tool. However, CFD methods have only been adopted to simulate pressure-driven membrane filtration systems relatively recently. This paper reviews various approaches to describing the behaviour of these systems using CFD, beginning with the hydrodynamics of membrane channels, including discussion of laminar, turbulent, and transition flow regimes, with reference to the effects of osmotic pressure, concentration polarisation, and cake formation. The use of CFD in describing mass transfer through the membrane itself is then discussed, followed by some concluding comments on commercial membrane simulation packages and future research directions in membrane CFD.