article · Desalination
Membrane distillation has advanced substantially since its introduction in 1961, with emerging process configurations, membrane designs, and pilot-scale trials exploring its viability. However, high energy consumption continues to hinder broader commercialisation. To address this barrier, research has concentrated on developing more energy-efficient membrane modules. Investigators have created diverse hollow fibre and flat sheet module configurations that improve thermal energy efficiency. These designs achieve gains by reducing thermal polarisation, accelerating mass transfer across the membrane, and enhancing heat recovery from condensed vapour. Recent progress covers both novel module architectures and advances in fabrication techniques, though further research is still required to refine these systems.
Membrane distillation offers a viable pathway for purifying water, but its heavy energy requirements have restricted its practical adoption. Refining the design of membrane modules enables better heat recovery and improves fluid transfer during treatment. Addressing these engineering bottlenecks makes the process far more energy-efficient, bringing sustainable and cost-effective desalination closer to reality for water-stressed regions.
The work targets industrial water purification and desalination sectors. While pilot-scale studies have already evaluated the commercial viability of membrane distillation, the technology remains short of widespread market adoption due to energy costs. Advanced module designs bring the process closer to economic viability by reducing operational energy needs, although the underlying research indicates that module fabrication and design still require further development before reaching full market readiness.
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There have been tremendous advances in membrane distillation (MD) since the concept was introduced in 1961: new membrane designs and process configurations have emerged, and its commercial viability has been evaluated in several pilot-scale studies. However, its high energy consumption has hindered its commercialization. One of the most promising ways to overcome this obstacle is to develop more energy-efficient membrane modules. The MD research community has therefore developed diverse new module configurations for hollow fiber and flat sheet membranes that increase the thermal energy efficiency of MD by minimizing thermal polarization, increasing mass transfer across the membrane, and improving heat recovery from the condensed vapor. This review summarizes the progress that has been made in the design of hollow fiber and flat sheet membrane modules for MD applications. It begins with a brief introduction to MD and its configurations before describing developments in module fabrication and highlighting key areas where further research is needed.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2024.117584
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