Pattern flow dynamics over rectangular Sharklet patterned membrane surfaces

Abstract Development of biomimetic patterned surface is one of the promising antifouling strategies to the membrane systems for desalination and water treatment. Based on recent experimental observations, the features of laminar flow adjacent to various patterned surfaces were numerically investigated to suitably predict the physical pathway of contaminants around rectangular-patterned surfaces (lines, discontinuous lines, quasi-Sharklet, and Sharklet) under two flow conditions, i.e., perpendicular and parallel to the patterns. Streams flowing in the space between the patterns were found to be strongly dependent on the pattern configurations and bulk flow direction, reasonably enabling prediction of the possible motions of tiny fouling particles. Considering the flow characteristics including wall shear stress and vortex streamlines acquired in various patterned cases, rhombus-like Sharklet patterns are found to be optimal for suppressing the attachment of particles to the membrane walls.