Numerical analysis of pressure field in rotating disk-membrane module

The local trans-membrane pressure and back pressure were simulated using computational fluid dynamics software FLUENT, taking two-dimensional unsteady N-S equation as a control equation, selecting of RNG k-ε model. The influent factors on the local trans-membrane pressure were investigated, such as rotation speed, disk radii, rotation disk length, support thicknesses and membrane permeability. The numerical results showed that the local trans-membrane pressure increased with rotation speed increased, and the back pressure in the disk tip reduced as the disk radius and membrane permeability were reduced or support thickness was increased. When the disk radius was 6.7 cm, support thickness was 0.45 cm, and membrane permeability was 2.9 × 10^-12 cm², the back pressure disappeared. The effects of other parameters on the back pressure were not significant.