전기 탈염 공정 효율 향상을 위한 유동 수치해석 주요인자 분석

Analysis of the major factors of flow numerical analysis to improve the efficiency of the electro-desalt process

Electrodeionization (EDI) is a technology that selectively removes ions from aqueous solutions using an external electric field and is widely applied in industries requiring high-purity water, such as semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and fine chemicals. This study aims to identify the key fluid dynamic factors that affect the performance of the electrodeionization process by analyzing the influence of process conditions on desalination efficiency through simulation-based flow analysis. In particular, numerical simulations were conducted focusing on how two key control variables— fluid temperature and applied voltage—alter flow characteristics and ion transport behavior within the system. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques and coupled electro-hydrodynamic models were employed to quantitatively evaluate ion concentration distribution, electroosmotic flow, and concentration polarization near the membrane surface. The analysis showed that increasing temperature tends to enhance ion removal efficiency by raising the ion diffusion coefficient, while higher voltage contributes to improved removal rates but may also induce concentration polarization beyond a certain threshold, thereby reducing efficiency. In addition, pressure conditions were found to influence the uniformity of fluid flow and membrane contact behavior, suggesting that maintaining stable velocity distribution is essential for sustained desalination performance. This study is significant in that it derives critical design parameters for the electrodeionization process through simulation rather than experimentation and is expected to provide a theoretical basis for process optimization and energy efficiency improvement.