Performance enhancement of a submerged vacuum membrane distillation (S-VMD) system using low-power ultrasound

Submerged vacuum membrane distillation (S-VMD) is a thermally driven separation process capable of desalinating water with high salt concentration. Agitation techniques such as aeration and circulation have been used to enhance the permeate flux mitigate effect temperature concentration polarizations, major drawback in S-VMD. In this study, an S-VMD system that uses ultrasonic energy agitation technique proposed. The effects power frequency under different feed temperatures concentrations were investigated experimentally. Results show applying low-power ultrasound can improve up 24% compared same without operating conditions. ultrasound-assisted enhancement increases higher lower frequency, well Possible heat mass transfer mechanisms associated integration based on variation was mainly attributed acoustic cavitation. ultrasonic-assisted maintained stable excellent quality over relatively long-term operation, indicating promising safe method systems.