https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/30657/4/Final%20Revision_2_Unmarked%20without%20endnote%202014%2007%2028.pdf

Fouling and its control in membrane distillation-A review

Energy-efficient desalination and water treatment technologies play a critical role in augmenting freshwater resources without placing an excessive strain on limited energy supplies. By desalinating high-salinity waters using low-grade or waste heat, membrane distillation (MD) has the potential to increase sustainable water production, a key facet of the water-energy nexus. However, despite advances in membrane technology and the development of novel process configurations, the viability of MD as an energy-efficient desalination process remains uncertain. In this review, we examine the key challenges facing MD and explore the opportunities for improving MD membranes and system design. We begin by exploring how the energy efficiency of MD is limited by the thermal separation of water and dissolved solutes. We then assess the performance of MD relative to other desalination processes, including reverse osmosis and multi-effect distillation, comparing various metrics including energy efficiency, energy quality, and susceptibility to fouling. By analyzing the impact of membrane properties on the energy efficiency of an MD desalination system, we demonstrate the importance of maximizing porosity and optimizing thickness to minimize energy consumption. We also show how ineffective heat recovery and temperature polarization can limit the energetic performance of MD and how novel process variants seek to reduce these inefficiencies. Fouling, scaling, and wetting can have a significant detrimental impact on MD performance. We outline how novel membrane designs with special surface wettability and process-based fouling control strategies may bolster membrane and process robustness. Finally, we explore applications where MD may be able to outperform established desalination technologies, increasing water production without consuming large amounts of electrical or high-grade thermal energy. We conclude by discussing the outlook for MD desalination, highlighting challenges and key areas for future research and development.

https://par.nsf.gov/servlets/purl/10058665

Membrane distillation at the water-energy nexus: limits, opportunities, and challenges

Scaling and fouling in membrane distillation for desalination applications: A review

Water plays an important role in all our day to day activities and its consumption is increasing day by day because of increased living standards of mankind. Some regions of the globe are under severe stress due to water scarcity and pollution. The fresh water needs of mankind can be only satisfied if saline water which is available in plenty is converted to potable water by desalination. Desalination industry has shown increased threats of CO2 emissions and severe environmental impacts. Desalination industry can be made sustainable if they are integrated with renewable energy and if proper brine disposal methods are followed. In this review different desalination units integrated with renewable energy with special emphasis given to solar energy is discussed. The problems associated with desalination units and their remedies have been presented. Apart from this some novel methods of desalination process has also been explained. This review will allow the researchers to choose appropriate desalination technology for further development.

Tung-Wen Cheng

Papers

The influences of recycle on performance of baffled double-pass flat-plate solar air heaters with internal fins attached

Experimental and simulation study of a solar thermal driven membrane distillation desalination process

Simulation study of transfer characteristics for spacer-filled membrane distillation desalination modules

Influence of inclination on gas-sparged cross-flow ultrafiltration through an inorganic tubular membrane

Effects of gas slugs and inclination angle on the ultrafiltration flux in tubular membrane module