Simple method for balancing direct contact membrane distillation

• Balancing leads to 50% higher GOR than equal inlet flow rates in DCMD. • DCMD balancing achieved by setting heat capacity rate ratio to one at end • Proposed method deviates by about 5% from absolute maximum GOR at high salinity. • Real-time balancing most useful for variations in inlet salinity

1. Direct contact membrane distillation can be balanced by setting the heat capacity rate ratio to 1 at one end of the module. Optimization in real-time can be achieved using a simple control system that sets the cold stream inlet flow rate as a function of the feed exit flow f c _ _ rate and salinity as: mc;in ¼ m f;out  cp . p Fig. 6. Comparison of balancing techniques with changes in feed salinity.