Increasing Performance of Spiral-Wound Modules (SWMs) by Improving Stability against Axial Pressure Drop and...

Area of Science:

• Membrane science and technology
• Bioprocess engineering
• Food science

Background:

• Microfiltration spiral-wound membranes (SWMs) face challenges in filtration performance and cleanability due to spacer-induced flow shadows and limited mechanical stability.
• Module construction and geometry impede optimal operation, particularly in applications like milk protein fractionation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance filtration performance and cleanability of SWMs using pulsed flow.
• To improve mechanical membrane stability against flow-induced deformation (membrane telescoping) via stabilization at the membrane inlet.

Main Methods:

• A modified pilot-scale filtration plant was utilized, incorporating an on/off bypass around the membrane module to achieve high-frequency flow variation and pulsed flow.
• Membrane layers and spacers were stabilized at the membrane inlet using glue connections to enhance mechanical stability.

Main Results:

• Pulsed flow increased target protein mass flow into the permeate by 26% and protein removal during cleaning by 28%.
• Feed-side glue connections increased mechanical membrane stability, allowing for ≥100% greater volume throughput compared to unmodified modules.
• Enhanced stability permitted operation with higher axial pressure drops, flow velocities, and pulsation amplitudes.

Conclusions:

• Pulsed flow is an effective strategy for improving both filtration performance and cleanability in SWMs for milk protein fractionation.
• Stabilizing membrane layers with glue connections significantly enhances mechanical integrity, enabling more robust operation and higher throughput.
• The combined approach offers a pathway to overcome key limitations in SWM technology for demanding bioprocessing applications.