The AGMD modules
The AGMD system consists of three commercial rectangular modules (i. e., Scarab development AB, Sweden) with twenty membranes each (2.3 m2 membrane per module).The membranes are fixed to polypropylene cassettes, each cassette consists of plastic frames containing two parallel membranes, feed channels, and two condensing plates, by stacking the cassettes the cold channels are created between the condensing plates of nearby cassettes. The membrane modules are then made up of nine feed channels and nine permeate channels, and the size of the module is 63 cm wide and 73 cm high, with a stack thickness of 17.5 cm. A view of the modules in the pilot plant is shown in fig.4. The membrane material is 100% expanded PTFE spun-bonded with polypropylene support (GoreTM MicroFiltration Media) with a porosity of 80% and a thickness of 0.2 mm. The width of the air gap is 2 mm. These modules have been improved to produce ultra pure water suitable for the semiconductor industry. The modules do not have internal heat recovery that is why the next step in MEDESOL project to be carried out is to evaluate different configurations combining the outlets and inlets of the three modules, to maximize heat recovery.
