Taguchi-Based Optimization of Air-Gap Membrane Distillat

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6239-668-5_48How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Air-gap membrane distillation; orthogonal experimental design; Taguchi method; permeate; distillate; thermal desalination

Abstract

This study investigates the performance optimization of an air-gap membrane distillation (AGMD) system using Taguchi-based orthogonal experimental design (OED). Four key operational parameters feed temperature (T₁), coolant temperature (T₂), feed flow rate (V₁), and coolant flow rate (V₂) were examined at two levels each, following an L₈ fractional factorial array. Three performance indicators were evaluated: permeate flux, distillate mass, and product conductivity. Experiments were conducted under steady-state conditions with T₁ at 70 and 80 ℃, T₂ at 20/25 ℃, and flow rates between 100–150 L/h. Results showed permeate flux ranging from 36.72 to 122.11 L/h, distillate mass from 0.158 to 1.328 kg, and conductivity from 1.23 to 3.69 µS cm⁻1. Taguchi analysis identified feed temperature (T₁) as the most influential factor, contributing 56.4% to flux variation and 69.8% to distillate mass. Contrary to conventional expectations, raising T₁ from 70 ℃ to 80 ℃ reduced both flux and yield by over 60%, likely due to boundary-layer polarization and partial membrane wetting. Conductivity increased with higher T₁ and T₂ but was unaffected by V₁, suggesting temperature-driven membrane integrity loss. The optimal trade-off—maximizing flux 118 L/h while maintaining high product quality 1.3 µS cm⁻1 was achieved at T₁ = 70 ℃, T₂ = 20 ℃, V₁ = 150 L/h, and V₂ = 100 L/h. The OED approach cut experimental effort by 50% versus full factorial design, demonstrating its efficiency and reliability for optimizing AGMD systems powered by low-grade or renewable thermal energy.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Jasurjon Akhatov
AU  - Murodbek Kuralov
AU  - Akbar Halimov
AU  - Abdurauf Usmanov
AU  - Tukhtamurod Juraev
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/14
TI  - Taguchi-Based Optimization of Air-Gap Membrane Distillat
BT  - Proceedings of the International Conference on Current Problems in Engineering and Applied Sciences (ICCPEAS 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 468
EP  - 477
SN  - 2352-5401
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6239-668-5_48
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6239-668-5_48
ID  - Akhatov2026
ER  -