LAUSR

Abstract A hexagonal parallel-plate membrane contactor (HPMC) has been applied for liquid desiccant air dehumidification. The air and the solution streams are separated by selectively permeable membranes in a combined cross-flow and counter flow arrangement. A three-dimensional model describing the heat and mass transports in the HPMC is built based on an element. The momentum, energy, and mass conservation equations are simultaneously solved and experimentally validated. The basic data of the average friction factor, Nusselt number and Sherwood number under the conjugate heat mass transfer boundary conditions are obtained. Influences of the channel heights, inlet length ratios, and Reynolds numbers of the air and the solution streams on the basic data are analyzed. Further, they are compared with those under uniform temperature/heat flux boundary conditions. It can be found that the channel heights and the Reynolds number for the air stream have larger effects on the air side basic data.