ANALYSIS OF PERMEATE FLUX BY HYPERBOLIC-TANGENT MODEL FOR ULTRAFILTRATION IN HOLLOW-FIBER MEMBRANE MODULES

A correlation equation of permeate flux for membrane ultrafiltration o f a dilute polymer solution in hollow-fiber membrane modules, has been derived based on the hyperbolic tangent model with consideration of t he declination of transmembrane pressure along the axial direction in the hollow fibers. The results show that the validity of correlation p rediction from the experimental data increases as the feed velocity de creases, or when the solute concentration increases. It is believed th at correlation prediction may be improved if the exact pressure distri bution is employed and more experimental data are used to correlate th e equation for the proportion constant in this model.