Development and characterization of 3D-printed feed spacers for spiral wound membrane systems

Water Research
Amber SiddiquiJohannes S Vrouwenvelder

Abstract

Feed spacers are important for the impact of biofouling on the performance of spiral-wound reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) membrane systems. The objective of this study was to propose a strategy for developing, characterizing, and testing of feed spacers by numerical modeling, three-dimensional (3D) printing of feed spacers and experimental membrane fouling simulator (MFS) studies. The results of numerical modeling on the hydrodynamic behavior of various feed spacer geometries suggested that the impact of spacers on hydrodynamics and biofouling can be improved. A good agreement was found for the modeled and measured relationship between linear flow velocity and pressure drop for feed spacers with the same geometry, indicating that modeling can serve as the first step in spacer characterization. An experimental comparison study of a feed spacer currently applied in practice and a 3D printed feed spacer with the same geometry showed (i) similar hydrodynamic behavior, (ii) similar pressure drop development with time and (iii) similar biomass accumulation during MFS biofouling studies, indicating that 3D printing technology is an alternative strategy for development of thin feed spacers with a complex geometry. Based o...Continue Reading

References

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Citations

Mar 8, 2017·Biotechnology and Bioengineering·Michael Wagner, Harald Horn
Oct 20, 2020·Water Research·Jing Wee KooTzyy Haur Chong
Jan 7, 2021·Membranes·Peng XieDavid A Ladner
Jun 10, 2021·The Science of the Total Environment·Abdullah KhalilNidal Hilal

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