Applications of membrane distillation technology in energy transformation process-basis and prospect

Membrane distillation technology is a new type of efficient separation technology that combines traditional distillation technology and membrane separation technology. In the study, applications of membrane distillation technology in thermal engineering and refrigerating engineering with typical energy transformation process were presented. Desorption and regeneration process of saline solution by vacuum membrane distillation was proposed on the basis of the concentration and separation properties of membrane distillation. Membrane distillation technology could be used in lithium bromide absorption refrigeration system, energy storage system, and the regeneration process of liquid desiccant solution in temperature-humidity independent control air-conditioning system. The aim of the applications was to use the low-grade energy such as waste heat, solar energy and geothermal energy adequately and to improve the available temperature difference of heat source. According to latent heat transfer and thermal conduction across the membrane in direct contact membrane distillation process, a novel membrane heat exchanger with both heat transfer and mass transfer processes was proposed. The heat exchanger could be used as the solution heat exchanger of lithium bromide absorption refrigeration system and as the special heat exchanger that recovered heat and pure water simultaneously. Some feasible process flows about the applications of membrane distillation technology to energy transformation process were listed and analyzed. Finally, future research emphases were indicated. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 59806010) and Shaanxi Science and Technique Foundation of China ((Grant No. 2005K05-G17)