Numerical study of fluid behavior on protruding shapes within the inlet part of pressurized membrane module using computational fluid dynamics

Abstract

This study analyzes the velocity and pressure incurred by protruding shapes installed within the inlet part of a pressurized membrane module during operation to determine the fluid flow distribution. In this paper, to find the flow distribution within a module, it investigates the velocity and pressure values at cross-sectional and outlet planes, and 9 sections classified on outlet plane using computational fluid dynamics. From the Reynolds number (Re), the fluid flow was estimated to be turbulent when the Re exceeded 4,000. In the vertical cross-sectional plane, shape 4 and 6 (round-type protrusion) showed the relatively high velocity of 0.535 m/s and 0.558 m/s, respectively, indicating a uniform flow distribution. From the velocity and pressure at the outlet, shape 4 also displayed a relatively uniform fluid velocity and pressure, indicating that fluid from the inlet rapidly and uniformly reached the outlet, however, from detailed data of velocity, pressure and flowrate obtained from 9 sections at the outlet, shape 6 revealed the low standard deviations for each section. Therefore, shape 6 was deemed to induce the ideal flow, since it maintained a uniform pressure, velocity and flowrate distribution.