A new flux prediction model for laminar and turbulent flow regimes in constant pressure cross-flow microfiltration

Cross-flow filtration mode can greatly alleviate the membrane fouling due to the presence of shear stress. In this paper, a new flux prediction model for steady cross-flow microfiltration has been established by considering the effect of shear stress as function of the geometry of filtration module and the suspension properties in the particle mass balance. The results showed that this model possessed higher accuracy in both laminar and turbulent flow regime (relative error sigma = 4.43%/1.91%) than Glen Bolton's model (sigma = 11.88%/6.42%) and Makardij's model (sigma = 9.44%/12.92%). Meanwhile, the validity of the proposed model was approved by using other suspensions (yeast suspension and activated sludge suspension) (sigma < 3.43%) and other membranes (PVDF and PES microfiltration membrane) (sigma < 4.63%). Moreover, new criterion relationships between Sherwood number (Sh), Reynolds number (Re) and Schmidt number (Sc) in both laminar and turbulent flow regime were also established.

Automated summary

A new flux prediction model for steady cross-flow microfiltration was established in this paper, considering the effect of shear stress to alleviate membrane fouling. The model showed higher accuracy in both laminar and turbulent flow regimes, with new criterion relationships between Sherwood number, Reynolds number, and Schmidt number also being established. The validity of the proposed model was confirmed with different suspensions and membranes.