Energy aspects and cost analysis in direct contact membrane distillation using commercial PTFE membranes

Abstract

Energy aspects and cost analysis in DCMD using different commercial PTFE membranes are experimentally examined under the impact of operating conditions and membrane pore sizes. Regarding energy efficiency (EE), gain output ratio (GOR), and specific energy consumption (SEC), feed inlet temperature is the most influential factor in comparison to feed concentration and volume flow rate. Regarding the membrane pore size, the DCMD system using a larger pore of membrane had a lower cost per cubic meter of freshwater production than the system using a smaller pore of membrane.