Mengual Cabezón, Juan IgnacioKhayet Souhaimi, MohamedGodino Gómez, María Paz2023-06-202023-06-202004-02-040017-931010.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2003.09.001https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/51013© 2003 Elsevier Ltd. Economical support from the CICYT is acknowledged.In the membrane distillation (MD) literature, the heat transfer coefficients of the boundary layers are usually estimated from well known heat transfer empirical correlations developed for non-porous and rigid heat exchangers. A difference between the mechanism of heat transfer in MD systems, which is coupled with transmembrane mass transfer, and the mechanism of heat transfer in "pure" heat exchangers is expected to exist. Vacuum membrane distillation has been experimentally studied in a capillary membrane module and the heat transfer coefficients have been evaluated in both the lumen and the shell side of the membrane module. A critical review of the most frequently used heat transfer empirical correlations in MD systems is presented. Finally, the experimental results obtained in this paper are compared to those of literature, in order to test their applicability in membrane distillation systems.engjournal articlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2003.09.001http://www.sciencedirect.com/restricted access536Vacuum membrane distillationHeat and mass transferTermodinámica2213 Termodinámica