Compared to monochannel membranes, multichannel membranes have the advantage of being able to generate higher permeate flux per unit volume of membrane elements by providing higher mechanical strength and larger filtration area within a given volume. However, the permeability of multichannel membranes is not directly proportional to the filtration area because the contributions of the middle and central channels and wall channels to the permeate flux are not the same. Since the permeated flow through the inner channels is not drained well towards the outer surface, proper placement of exit channels can increase permeate flux.
Through previous studies, it is found that permeate flux is mainly controlled by the permeability ratio of skin layer to porous support, and the geometry, and that proper arrangement of exit channels can increase permeate flux.
Kim Un Ok, a researcher at the Faculty of Applied Mathematics, has investigated the effect of exit channel placement on permeate flow in square 64-channel ceramic membranes which are now in wide use, and determined proper placement for various cases.
She assumed permeate flow to be two-dimensional potential flow and solved the mathematical model by finite element method.
The numerical simulation results show that the placement of exit channels affects permeate flux and it is possible to determine reasonable placement of exit channels according to the permeability ratio of skin layer to porous support.
For more information, you can refer to her paper “Effect of Exit Channel Placement on Permeate Flow in Square 64-Channel Ceramic Membrane” in “Proceedings of KUTIC-2025”.