PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION OF HOLLOW-FIBER REVERSE-OSMOSIS MEMBRANES .1. DEVELOPMENT OF THEORY

The overall performance of hollow fiber membranes can be engineered ba sed upon the interplay of fiber productivity and fiber selectivity. Fi ber length and diameter can be optimized to render the desired balance of fiber performance. Fundamental analytical models are developed for feed outside (concurrent and countercurrent flow configurations) and feed inside. Part II of this series of papers will evaluate the sensit ivity of fiber performance to such operating conditions as pressure, p acking density, and fiber diameter.