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Updated: May 21, 2026

Three-Dimensionally Printed Microfluidic Cross-flow System for Ultrafiltration/Nanofiltration Membrane Performance Testing
Published on: February 13, 2016
The importance of fluid dynamics for MBR fouling mitigation
Lutz Böhm1, Anja Drews, Helmut Prieske
1Technische Universität Berlin, Chair of Chemical and Process Engineering, Strasse des 17. Juni 135, Sekr. MA 5-7, 10623 Berlin, Germany. lutz.boehm@tu-berlin.de
Abstract:
The importance of the multiphase fluid dynamics for fouling mitigation in MBR systems has been widely acknowledged with air sparging having been applied commercially for about 20 years. However, the effects of air scouring are still not fully understood since the transient orthogonal and parallel flows as well as turbulent eddies created by bubbling generate complex hydrodynamic flow fields in the vicinity of a membrane. There is no generally valid model that describes the relationship between fouling rate and fluid dynamics. So, a reliable and universally applicable model to optimize membrane module and tank geometries, air scouring and filtration cycles is still pending. In addition to providing a discussion on the importance of multiphase fluid dynamics for fouling control, this review aims at developing guidelines to choose appropriate experimental and numerical methods for fluid dynamics investigations in MBR systems.
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