Hollow-fibre membrane module design: comparison of different curved geometries with Dean vortices

The performance of several designs of curved membrane modules with Dean vortices was compared through experiments using a colloidal bentonite suspension and cellulose acetate hollow-fibre ultrafiltration (UF) membranes. The different module geometries were: straight, helically coiled, twisted and sinusoidal, or meander-shaped. The experiments show a remarkable increase in mass transfer in curved modules as compared to conventional straight ones. Comparisons were made for modules equipped with the same hollow fibres and the same Dean number (De) for a given Reynolds number (Re). At the same Dean number, all the curved geometries gave the same limiting permeate flux. A mass transfer correlation relating limiting UF flux with the mean wall shear stress has been obtained.