Mathematical and numerical modelling of a circular cross-flow filtration module

We present a computational modelling framework to assess the fluid dynamic behaviour of a circular cross-flow filtration module for water purification. We study two modelling approaches, namely, the Navier-Stokes-Darcy and the one-domain models, that provide a different characterization of the flow in the interfacial region between the feed domain and the membrane surface. Extensive comparison of the numerical results obtained by the two approaches highlights significant differences in the predicted fluid tangential velocity on the membrane surface. Numerical modelling permits to gain a deeper understanding of the flow behaviour than the sole experimental work, e.g., by identifying Dean vortices inside the feed domain and by relating them to geometrical and flow characteristics. This study lays the basis for the optimization of the circular cross-flow filtration module.