Gas–liquid mass transfer in a cross-flow hollow fiber module: Analytical model and experimental validation

The cross-flow operation of hollow fiber membrane contactors offers many advantages and is preferred over the parallel-flow contactors for gas–liquid mass transfer operations. However, the analysis of such a cross-flow membrane gas–liquid contactor is complicated due to the change in concentrations of both phases in the direction of flow as well as in the direction perpendicular to flow. In addition, changes in the volumetric flow rate of compressible fluid can also occur over the volume of membrane contactor. These hollow fiber membrane contactors resemble to the more conventional shell and tube cross-flow heat exchanges where a similar variation in the local driving force within the module occurs. Hence heat transfer analogy can be applied to predict the performance of these contactors.