Abstract: Feed channel configuration within reverse osmosis (RO) membrane element greatly impacts the membrane fouling rate. Through analyzing four trending RO membrane, this paper summarized the membrane element with different feed channels. Computational fluid dynamics was used to simulate different flow channels, and their influences on parameters such as flow velocity, mass transfer efficiency and energy consumption were compared. The results showed that, when reducing water inlet and outlet widths, influent flow rate and wall shear stress was increased so that the membrane fouling rate was decreased.

Key words: Reverse osmosis membrane, Influent channel, Membrane fouling