Direct-contact membrane distillation (MD) process in a plate-and-frame
module with laminar flow is investigated. The performance of a MD pro
cess is strongly influenced by heat transfer taking place within the m
embrane modules. The present study is concerned mainly with heat trans
fer across membranes, and specifically with assessing the applicabilit
y of existing heat-transfer coefficient correlations to MD membrane mo
dules. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.