USE OF TRANSVERSE FLOW HOLLOW FIBERS FOR BUBBLELESS MEMBRANE AERATION

A novel sealed-end transverse how hollow fiber membrane module was eva luated for aeration of water. In this process the scaled-end fibers we re held vertically from the bottom of a channel. Purr oxygen under hig h pressure was maintained in the fiber, The water to be aerated was pu mped over the outside of the fibers. Due to the concentration gradient , oxygen transferred through the air-filled pores and dissolved direct ly into the water without forming bubbles, Since the primary orientati on of the fiber is perpendicular to the liquid Row, a high mass transf er coefficient was achieved at low liquid velocities compared to paral lel flow modules. Measured mass transfer coefficients for hollow fiber s held at different angles arf:presented in this paper. In addition, t he design equations for transverse-flow aerators are developed. The ma ss transfer behavior of a small scale transverse-flow bubblesless holl ow fiber membrane module was measured experimentally and the results w ere compared with the theoretical predictions.