The effects of natural convection instability flow (NCIF) on the permeate flux enhancement i.e. membrane fouling reduction are studied using the newly designed dead-end membrane module. NCIF is simply generated by changing the gravitational orientation (inclined angle) of membrane module. By changing the gravitational orientation of membrane module, the density inversion in which higher-density solution overlay lower-density solution is obtained. This density inversion may lead to induce NCIF and occurrence of NCIF in the membrane module may be effective to reduce membrane fouling.
The newly designed dead-end membrane module always keeps the angle of 90 degree. This designed module improves the difficulty of commercial dead-end module which has the disadvantage of handling as followings; It is necessary to adjust the angle of commercial module in order to get the effect of NCIF. And the bubble layer must be removed completely when there are more than 90 degree that is because the bubble layer interrupts the interaction of solution and membrane.
The newly designed dead-end membrane module considers these operational issues that designed to be affected by NCIF although it is not as much as 180 degree, do not care bubble layer and so usability is enhanced. Therefore, this experiment compare the designed module with the commercial module that test enhanced permeate flux by NCIF.
The experimental results show that the dead-end membrane module with enhanced permeate flux by NCIF is more higher as increasing the module angle and the designed dead-end membrane module is more effective, operates easily and don''t care bubble layer compare with commercial dead-end membrane module. In conclusion, the newly designed dead-end membrane module effectively controls the membrane fouling by NCIF occurrence.