The efficient use of energy in membrane distillation

In this paper the transport processes in Membrane Distillation (MD) are described by reformulation of the conventional theories of heat and mass transfer. This analysis highlights the sources of potential inefficiency in the MD process and provides a rationale for future developments. The theory is used to analyse pilot plant data and optimise the designs of larger scale systems. A preliminary economic analysis shows that under some conditions MD is competitive with RO for production of distilled or potable water for industrial or arid-zone use.