Influence of hollow fiber membrane density on flow characteristic inside the membrane module in submerged MBRs

Abstract

 For elucidating cleaning mechanism of membrane surface by bubble flow in follow fiber membrane module used in MBR reactors, influence of hollow fiber density on water-phase velocity properties inside membrane modules was investigated using a PTV method. It was concluded that when the hollow fiber density is larger, frequent collisions between bubbles and hollow fibers results in collision of bubbles and smaller water phase velocity and turbulent intensity. However, it was also made clear that larger hollow fiber density resulted in larger eddy viscosity inside membrane modules suggesting necessity of further researches related to influence of hollow fiber density on strength of membrane cleaning.