NET-TYPE SPACERS - EFFECT OF CONFIGURATION ON FLUID-FLOW PATH AND ULTRAFILTRATION FLUX

Ultrafiltration of dextran T-300 and T-500 solutions was performed in a flat channel fitted with various net-type spacers to examine the eff ect of spacer configuration on the fluid flow path and flux and to ide ntify optimal spacer configurations. It was found that the size and lo cation of filaments positioned transverse to flow is as important to f lux enhancement as angle of flow diversion induced by the spacers. Fur thermore, it has been established that spacers which induce no directi onal flow changes (theta = 0-degrees) and with transverse filaments pe rpendicular to flow, adjacent to the membrane, perform better than spa cers characterized by zigzag flow path (with the comparison based on t he same voidage).