Novel hole-pillar spacer design for improved hydrodynamics and biofouling mitigation in membrane filtration

Qamar, A; Kerdi, S; Ali, SM; Shon, HK; Vrouwenvelder, JS; Ghaffour, N

Novel hole-pillar spacer design for improved hydrodynamics and biofouling mitigation in membrane filtration

Qamar, A Kerdi, S Ali, SM Shon, HK Vrouwenvelder, JS Ghaffour, N

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Publisher:: Nature Publishing Group
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Scientific Reports, 2021, 11, (1), pp. 1-13
Issue Date:: 2021-03-26

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Qamar, A
dc.contributor.author	Kerdi, S
dc.contributor.author	Ali, SM
dc.contributor.author	Shon, HK
dc.contributor.author	Vrouwenvelder, JS
dc.contributor.author	Ghaffour, N
dc.date.accessioned	2022-04-29T05:39:33Z
dc.date.available	2021-03-16
dc.date.available	2022-04-29T05:39:33Z
dc.date.issued	2021-03-26
dc.identifier.citation	Scientific Reports, 2021, 11, (1), pp. 1-13
dc.identifier.issn	2045-2322
dc.identifier.issn	2045-2322
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/156817
dc.description.abstract	Feed spacers are the critical components of any spiral-wound filtration module, dictating the filtration performance. Three spacer designs, namely a non-woven commercial spacer (varying filament cross-section), a symmetric pillar spacer, and a novel hole-pillar spacer (constant filament diameter) were studied using Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS), 3-D printed and subsequently experimentally tested in a lab-scale ultrafiltration set-up with high biofouling potential feed water at various feed pressures. Independent of the applied pressure, the novel hole-pillar spacer showed initially the lowest feed channel pressure drop, the lowest shear stress, and the highest permeate flux compared to the commercial and pillar spacers. Furthermore, less biofilm thickness development on membrane surface was visualized by Optical Coherent Tomography (OCT) imaging for the proposed hole-pillar spacer. At higher feed pressure, a thicker biofilm developed on membrane surface for all spacer designs explaining the stronger decrease in permeate flux at high pressure. The findings systematically demonstrated the role of various spacer designs and applied pressure on the performance of pre-treatment process, while identifying specific shear stress distribution guidelines for engineering a new spacer design in different filtration techniques.
dc.format	Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Nature Publishing Group
dc.relation.ispartof	Scientific Reports
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1038/s41598-021-86459-w
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.title	Novel hole-pillar spacer design for improved hydrodynamics and biofouling mitigation in membrane filtration
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	11
utslib.location.activity	England
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CTWW - Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater Treatment
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2022-04-29T05:39:27Z
pubs.issue	1
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	11
utslib.citation.issue	1

Abstract:

Feed spacers are the critical components of any spiral-wound filtration module, dictating the filtration performance. Three spacer designs, namely a non-woven commercial spacer (varying filament cross-section), a symmetric pillar spacer, and a novel hole-pillar spacer (constant filament diameter) were studied using Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS), 3-D printed and subsequently experimentally tested in a lab-scale ultrafiltration set-up with high biofouling potential feed water at various feed pressures. Independent of the applied pressure, the novel hole-pillar spacer showed initially the lowest feed channel pressure drop, the lowest shear stress, and the highest permeate flux compared to the commercial and pillar spacers. Furthermore, less biofilm thickness development on membrane surface was visualized by Optical Coherent Tomography (OCT) imaging for the proposed hole-pillar spacer. At higher feed pressure, a thicker biofilm developed on membrane surface for all spacer designs explaining the stronger decrease in permeate flux at high pressure. The findings systematically demonstrated the role of various spacer designs and applied pressure on the performance of pre-treatment process, while identifying specific shear stress distribution guidelines for engineering a new spacer design in different filtration techniques.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/156817