Title: Possibility of nuclear desalination through various membrane distillation configurations: a comparative study

Authors: M. Khayet, M.P. Godino, J.I. Mengual

Addresses: Department of Applied Physics I, Faculty of Physics, University Complutense of Madrid, Avda. Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain. Department of Applied Physics I, Faculty of Physics, University Complutense of Madrid, Avda. Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain. Department of Applied Physics I, Faculty of Physics, University Complutense of Madrid, Avda. Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain

Abstract: Three membrane distillation processes, direct contact membrane distillation, sweeping gas membrane distillation and vacuum membrane distillation, have been experimentally studied in a shell-and-tube capillary membrane module. Preliminary experiments were conducted using distilled water and sodium chloride aqueous solutions as feed. The effects of the operating parameters - flow rate, temperature and salt concentration - have been investigated. A theoretical analysis that considers the heat and mass transfer through microporous hydrophobic membrane has been developed. A comparative study was made between the three membrane distillation configurations. Membrane distillation can be an alternative for liquid nuclear waste treatment.

Keywords: nuclear desalination; membrane distillation; heat and mass transfer.

DOI: 10.1504/IJND.2003.003441

International Journal of Nuclear Desalination, 2003 Vol.1 No.1, pp.30 - 46

Published online: 08 Sep 2003 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article