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Pilot-scale membrane distillation modeling : validation, comparison, and consensus

Martijn Bindels, Juan A. Andrés-Mañas, Weijian Ding, Ivaylo Plamenov Hitsov (UGent) , Oyku Mutlu-Salmanli, Mukta Hardikar, Tzahi Y. Cath, Johan Vanneste, Radisav D. Vidic, Andrea Achilli, et al.
(2026) DESALINATION. 620.
Author
Organization
Abstract
Pilot-scale air-gap membrane distillation (AGMD) models have shown inconsistent predictive performance due to the lack of modeling consensus and validation across diverse systems. This study presents the first robust, cross-system validation and refinement of four pilot-scale AGMD models using an aggregated experimental dataset of 2716 datapoints that cover a wide range of feed salinities, module sizes, membrane and spacer configurations, and both AGMD and vacuum-assisted AGMD (V-AGMD) systems. Modeling consensus was achieved under real-world operating conditions by (i) using empirical correlations for the Nusselt number, (ii) applying a resistance-in-series approach for the thermal conductivity of the membrane, (iii) incorporating the ePTFE support layer into the air gap, and (iv) accounting for entrapped distillate in the air gap. The adjustments were guided by measurements, imaging, and literature, and were analyzed using root-mean-square error and mean error. The resulting modeling consensus and aggregated dataset provide a reliable foundation for AGMD system design, model calibration, and performance optimization across the broader range of operating conditions for which MD is being applied. This work also provides additional insight into how entrapped distillate influences the performance of AGMD.
Keywords
Desalination, Pilot-scale membrane distillation, Vacuum-assisted air gap membrane distillation, AGMD, Heat and mass transfer, Modeling and simulation, Performance evaluation, SEA-WATER SOLUTIONS, DIRECT-CONTACT, PHYSICAL-PROPERTIES, TEMPERATURE, TRANSPORT, LAB

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MLA
Bindels, Martijn, et al. “Pilot-Scale Membrane Distillation Modeling : Validation, Comparison, and Consensus.” DESALINATION, vol. 620, 2026, doi:10.1016/j.desal.2025.119674.
APA
Bindels, M., Andrés-Mañas, J. A., Ding, W., Hitsov, I. P., Mutlu-Salmanli, O., Hardikar, M., … Childress, A. E. (2026). Pilot-scale membrane distillation modeling : validation, comparison, and consensus. DESALINATION, 620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2025.119674
Chicago author-date
Bindels, Martijn, Juan A. Andrés-Mañas, Weijian Ding, Ivaylo Plamenov Hitsov, Oyku Mutlu-Salmanli, Mukta Hardikar, Tzahi Y. Cath, et al. 2026. “Pilot-Scale Membrane Distillation Modeling : Validation, Comparison, and Consensus.” DESALINATION 620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2025.119674.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Bindels, Martijn, Juan A. Andrés-Mañas, Weijian Ding, Ivaylo Plamenov Hitsov, Oyku Mutlu-Salmanli, Mukta Hardikar, Tzahi Y. Cath, Johan Vanneste, Radisav D. Vidic, Andrea Achilli, Ritesh Pawar, Ismail Koyuncu, Kerri L. Hickenbottom, Bart Nelemans, Guillermo Zaragoza, and Amy E. Childress. 2026. “Pilot-Scale Membrane Distillation Modeling : Validation, Comparison, and Consensus.” DESALINATION 620. doi:10.1016/j.desal.2025.119674.
Vancouver
1.
Bindels M, Andrés-Mañas JA, Ding W, Hitsov IP, Mutlu-Salmanli O, Hardikar M, et al. Pilot-scale membrane distillation modeling : validation, comparison, and consensus. DESALINATION. 2026;620.
IEEE
[1]
M. Bindels et al., “Pilot-scale membrane distillation modeling : validation, comparison, and consensus,” DESALINATION, vol. 620, 2026.
@article{01KAX50FYWCX4MPAGFQ9E5AKZR,
  abstract     = {{Pilot-scale air-gap membrane distillation (AGMD) models have shown inconsistent predictive performance due to the lack of modeling consensus and validation across diverse systems. This study presents the first robust, cross-system validation and refinement of four pilot-scale AGMD models using an aggregated experimental dataset of 2716 datapoints that cover a wide range of feed salinities, module sizes, membrane and spacer configurations, and both AGMD and vacuum-assisted AGMD (V-AGMD) systems. Modeling consensus was achieved under real-world operating conditions by (i) using empirical correlations for the Nusselt number, (ii) applying a resistance-in-series approach for the thermal conductivity of the membrane, (iii) incorporating the ePTFE support layer into the air gap, and (iv) accounting for entrapped distillate in the air gap. The adjustments were guided by measurements, imaging, and literature, and were analyzed using root-mean-square error and mean error. The resulting modeling consensus and aggregated dataset provide a reliable foundation for AGMD system design, model calibration, and performance optimization across the broader range of operating conditions for which MD is being applied. This work also provides additional insight into how entrapped distillate influences the performance of AGMD.}},
  articleno    = {{119674}},
  author       = {{Bindels, Martijn and Andrés-Mañas, Juan A. and Ding, Weijian and Hitsov, Ivaylo Plamenov and Mutlu-Salmanli, Oyku and Hardikar, Mukta and Cath, Tzahi Y. and Vanneste, Johan and Vidic, Radisav D. and Achilli, Andrea and Pawar, Ritesh and Koyuncu, Ismail and Hickenbottom, Kerri L. and Nelemans, Bart and Zaragoza, Guillermo and Childress, Amy E.}},
  issn         = {{0011-9164}},
  journal      = {{DESALINATION}},
  keywords     = {{Desalination,Pilot-scale membrane distillation,Vacuum-assisted air gap membrane distillation,AGMD,Heat and mass transfer,Modeling and simulation,Performance evaluation,SEA-WATER SOLUTIONS,DIRECT-CONTACT,PHYSICAL-PROPERTIES,TEMPERATURE,TRANSPORT,LAB}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{12}},
  title        = {{Pilot-scale membrane distillation modeling : validation, comparison, and consensus}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2025.119674}},
  volume       = {{620}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}
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