Mass Transfer Coefficient Determination of a Two-Phase Flow for an UF Membrane in a Side-Stream MBR

The main drawback of Membrane Bioreactors (MBRs) is the fouling of the membrane. One way to reduce this fouling is through controlling the hydrodynamics of the two-phase sludge-air near the membrane surface. It has been proven in literature that the slug flow pattern has a higher scouring effect to remove particulates due to high shear rates and high mass transfer between the membrane surface and the bulk region. However, to calculate this coefficient in an efficient and accurate way is not straightforward. Indeed, to calculate this coefficient, numerous experimental measurements are required. Therefore, this work proposes an alternative method to use already existing hear transfer correlations for two phase flow and link them through dimensionless number to the mass transfer coefficient (Sherwood number) to obtain a more simplified and reliable correlation.