The modeling equations for predicting distillate flux in the flat-plate direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) module with inserting W-shaped carbon-fiber spacers of various hydrodynamic angles in flow channels were developed theoretical and experimentally. The pure water productivity and temperature distributions of both hot and cold feed streams are represented graphically with the volumetric flow rate, inlet saline temperature as parameters, and the experimental data was incorporated with the slot opening of the spacers and hydrodynamic angle as parameters to validate the theoretical predictions. A description of the average Nusselt number was made to evolve a correlation for a heat transfer coefficient correction factor in incorporating with experimental data. The effects of operating and design parameters such as volumetric flow rate, slot opening and hydrodynamic angle of the spacers, and fluid inlet temperature on pure water productivity and production energy efficiency were also delineated.
