Breaking barriers with hybrid models

Breaking barriers with hybrid models:

towards low-fouling electrodialysis for bio-based processing

Bram De Jaegher

26/11/2021

30 min overview:

What is electrodialysis?
Why is electrodialysis important?
Why modelling?
What did you do?

Electrodialysis removes salt from water.

What is electrodialysis?

In reality, ED is much more complicated.

Why research on electrodialysis?

Fouling is a problem for ED.

⚡ 💣 💥

Fouling is a problem for ED.

⚡ 💣 💥

↑ energy consumption
↑ cleaning cost
↑ membrane replacement

Why modelling?

Pump speed

Salt concentration

Membranes

Current

Why modelling?

Pump speed ↑

Salt concentration

Membranes

Current

Why modelling?

Pump speed

Salt concentration

Membranes

Current ↑

Why modelling?

Pump speed

Salt concentration

Membranes

Current

Days of experiments:

0

What is the objective?

Process optimisation
Fouling reduction

How do you describe electrodialysis?

physics-based

Movement of ions
Movement of water

physics can be rather complicated

data-driven

No assumptions one physics
Learn a relationship

These models can be quite unintelligent.

My solutions to simulate electrodialysis fouling.

Simulation of pulsed-electric fields

Estimate fouling severity.
Estimate energy consumption.

→ Uncertainty on the physics of fouling.

Simulation of complex foulants

Quantify fouling severity.
Quantify energy consumption.
No assumptions on the physics of fouling.

→ Need for more experimental data.

Still not sure about this data-driven modelling thing...

Simulation of well-described foulants

Quantify fouling severity.
Quantify energy consumption.
Some physics are included

→ Need for less experimental data.

Take home message

Electrodialysis is an awesome technology.
Suffers from fouling.
Models help to improve electrodialysis and save costs.
More fundamental research needed to understand and simulate electrodialysis.

There is of course a lot more...

... but you will have to read my PhD.

Breaking barriers with hybrid models:

towards low-fouling electrodialysis for bio-based processing

Bram De Jaegher

26/11/2021