Energy efficiency evaluation and economic analyses of direct contact membrane distillation system using Aspen Plus Original Research Article

A direct contact membrane distillation system (DCMD) was simulated by using Aspen Plus for the purpose of energy efficiency and economic analyses. A cross-flow membrane module was firstly modeled and then incorporated into the flowsheet for system simulation. Detailed investigations have been conducted to understand the relationships of the water flux/production, the gain output ratio (GOR) and the water production cost (WPC) with respect to various design and operation parameters of the DCMD system.