Abstract:

Mass transfer coefficient is one of the main parameters to evaluate the performance of hollow fiber modules.With the help of Matlab software, the shell-side flow field was simulated numerically under the condition of well-developed fluid flow.The theoretical model considers the effects of both the inner wall of the module shell and the random distribution of the hollow fibers on the shell-side mass transfer performance.For different packing densities of hollow fibers, the concentration field and the shell-side mass transfer coefficients of dialyzers were obtained with the concentration boundary condition of constant wall flux.The results showed that the packing/distribution of hollow fibers had a great effect on the shell-side mass transfer coefficient.Within the range of packing density studied (10%—50%), when the packing density increased, the shell-side mass transfer coefficient firstly increased and then decreased, and its randomicity decreased in general.