Work

Pressure-drop reduction by oil-infused spacers

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The present study explores oil-infused polydimethylsiloxane (iPDMS) feed spacers as a strategy for reducing the pressure drop in spiral-wound membrane (SWM) modules. While crucial for structural support and mixing, conventional feed spacers result in an increased pressure drop, leading to higher energy demands. By infusing PDMS spacers with silicone oils of varying viscosities, a significant reduction in pressure drop is achieved — up to 52% compared to non-infused spacers. Lower-viscosity oils demonstrated the most pronounced improvement. Numerical simulations corroborate the experimental data, showing that the slippery surface of the oil-infused spacers minimizes flow resistance and reduces energy dissipation. These findings suggest that incorporating oil-infused spacers can enhance SWM module efficiency, offering a promising approach to lowering operational costs in membrane-based desalination.

Source: Journal of Membrane Science Letters

DOI: 10.1016/j.memlet.2025.100109

Authors: Arthur Boyko, Alina Lemster, Guy. Z Ramon

Institution: Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Membrane Separation Technologies

Subfield: Water Science and Technology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,310

Funder: Israel Science Foundation