Theory 64/Engineering & infrastructure/Membrane fouling
Fouling Is Flux Against Crossflow
The claim
Membrane fouling rate is set by the ratio of permeate flux to crossflow velocity, so operating at high flux fouls a membrane faster than the same volume at low flux.
01Mechanism
Concentration polarisation builds a cake unless crossflow scours it.
02Prediction
Fouling should track the ratio.
03Refutation
Fouling tracking feed quality would remove hydrodynamics.