Performance assessment of specific retentate – side spacers of SWM membrane modules / Industrial funding Delstar S.A., USA

The scope of the project is i) To determine the effect of normal (compressive) stresses on the effective thickness of spacer and of the respective spacer-filled membrane channel. ii) To determine the pressure drop in the spacer-filled retentate channel as a function of cross-flow velocity. iii) To determine the average mass transfer coefficient at the membrane surface as a function of cross-flow velocity for the specific spacer geometry. iv) To assess the overall spacer performance in two types of applications, i.e. brackish and sea-water desalination.