Computational fluid dynamics simulation and particle image velocimetry experimentation of hydrodynamic performance of flat-sheet membrane bioreactor equipped with micro-channel turbulence promoters with micro-pores

We propose a new type of micro-channel turbulence promoter with micro-pores (MCTP-MPs) which is configured on the flat-sheet membrane surface to decrease membrane fouling and reduce energy consumption. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation and particle image velocimetry (PIV) experiment are employed to predict turbulent flow in a flat-sheet membrane channel equipped with MCTP-MPs. Velocity profiles and wall shear stresses on membrane surface obtained from PIV were compared with the simulated data to validate the reliability of the CFD simulation. The CFD simulation results and PIV experiment results showed that the corrugated MCTP of 300 μm micro-pores crosswise placed on the membrane surface could increase velocity and wall shear stress on the flat-sheet membrane surface, which improved the filtration flux, reduced concentration polarization and mitigated membrane fouling in the meantime.