Concentration Polarization in Reverse Osmosis Membranes: Effect of Membrane Splitting

Abstract

We propose a simulation study in order to evaluate the effects of concentration polarization damping by splitting a single spiral-wound membrane module in two units connected in series inside the same shell. The reverse osmosis process in each unit is described by the advection-diffusion equation in two dimensions which is solved by a finite difference technique. Several feed regimes and operating conditions are investigated and their influence on the permeate flow rate is assessed for a single and double cell assembly. Finally, optimal operating maps are traced for different configurations of feed flow rate and pressure.