Enhancement of membrane microfiltration by rotary tangential flow is a new technique, which is based on the hydrocyclone mechanism. It improved the structure of the general membrane separator and the form of the liquid suspension flowing into the separator, so as to increase membrane fluxes and decrease membrane fouling. In our research, a tubular membrane separator with rotary tangential flow was designed for the first time. The flow field characteristics of polypropylene tubular membrane microfiltration in this tubular separator were studied systematically by means of the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) test. Streamlines and velocity distributions of the meridian plane of the separator under different operating parameters were obtained. The velocity distribution characteristics of rotary circular tangential flow were analyzed quantitatively with the following conclusions being obtained: (1) In the non-vortex area, no matter how the operating parameters (flux, entry pressure) change, the velocity near the rotary tangential flow entrance is higher than the velocity far from the entrance at the same radial coordinates. In the vortex area, generally the flow velocity of the inner vortex is lower than that of the outer vortex. At the vortex center, the velocity is the lowest, the radial velocity being generally equal to zero. In the vortex zone, the radial velocity is less than the axial velocity. (2) Under test conditions, the radial velocity and the axial velocity of the vortexes' borders are 1-2 times the average axial velocity in the annular gap of the membrane module. The maximum radial velocity and axial velocity of Taylor vortexes are 2-5 times the average axial velocity in the annular gap of the membrane module. (3) In the vortexes that formed on the meridian plane, it was found that mass transfer occurred between the inner and outer parts of the fluid. Much fluid moved from the outer vortexes into the inner ones, which was able to prevent particles blocking the membrane tube. (C) 2004 Society of Chemical Industry.