Flow rate influence on direct contact membrane distillation experiments: Different empirical correlations for Nusselt number

Direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) experiments using distilled water are reported. Influence on the process of feed and permeate flow rates through the cell has been investigated in a wide flow range, from 2 to 8 l/min. Two main effects have been studied, its effect on the heat transfer coefficient and on the effective membrane thickness. An empiric dependence of the membrane thickness with linear velocity through the cell has been included in the equation for mass flux through the membrane obtained from the “Dusty-Gas” model with satisfactory results.