1

MEMBRANE
TECHNOLOGY

1. MEMBRANE RO
2. SYSTEM DESIGN
3. SYSTEM MANAGEMENT
4. TROUBLESHOOTING

MEMBRANE RO

OSMOTIC PROCESSES

Concentrated
Solution

Pure
Water

OSMOTIC PROCESSES

Concentrated
Solution

Osmosis

Pure
Water

OSMOTIC PROCESSES

Concentrated
Solution

Purified
Water

OSMOTIC PROCESSES
Pressure

Concentrated
Solution

Purified
Water

Reverse Osmosis

REVERSE OSMOSIS PERFORMANCE

REVERSE OSMOSIS PERFORMANCE

Feed

REVERSE OSMOSIS PERFORMANCE

Feed

Permeate

REVERSE OSMOSIS PERFORMANCE

Feed

Permeate

Reject
(Brine)

WATER RECOVERY
SOLUTE REJECTION

Water Recovery =

Permeate Flow
Water Recovery =
x 100%
Feedwater Flow

REVERSE OSMOSIS PERFORMANCE

Feed

Permeate

Reject
(Brine)

REVERSE OSMOSIS PERFORMANCE

75% Recovery

Feed

Permeate

100 m3/hr

75 m3/hr

25 m3/hr

Reject
(Brine)

Rejection =

Rejection =

CF - C P
CF

x 100%

SALT PASSAGE
% Salt Passage = 100 - % Rejection

90% Rejection = 10% Salt Passage

Water Contaminants
Class

Typical Example

Suspended solids

Dirt, clay, colloidal materials

Dissolved organics

Trihalomethanes, synthetic organic

chemicals, humic acids, fulvic acids

Dissolved ionics (salts)

Heavy metals, silica, arsenic,

nitrate

Microorganisms

Bacteria, viruses, protozoan cysts,

fungi, algae

Gases

Hydrogen sulfide, methane, radon

Filtration Range

MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGIES
APPLICATION

Particle Size
Yeast Cell = 3.00
microns
Bacteria = 0.45
microns
Ferric Iron
Molecule = 0.001
microns

Human Hair ~ 75
microns

REVERSE OSMOSIS PERFORMANCE

75% Recovery

Feed

Permeate

100 m3/hr

75 m3/hr

Reject

25 m3/hr

REVERSE OSMOSIS PERFORMANCE

75% Recovery
90% Rejection

Feed

Permeate

100 m3/hr

75 m3/hr

Reject

25 m3/hr

REVERSE OSMOSIS PERFORMANCE

75% Recovery
90% Rejection

Feed

Permeate

100 m3/hr

75 m3/hr

100 mg/L Ca

10 mg/L Ca

Reject

25 m3/hr
370 mg/L Ca

REVERSE OSMOSIS PERFORMANCE

75% Recovery
90% Rejection

Feed

Permeate

100 m3/hr

75 m3/hr

100 mg/L Ca

10 mg/L Ca

Concentration
Factor

Feed Flow
Reject Flow

Reject

25 m3/hr
370 mg/L Ca

REVERSE OSMOSIS PERFORMANCE

75% Recovery
90% Rejection

Feed

Permeate

100 m3/hr

75 m3/hr

100 mg/L Ca

10 mg/L Ca

Concentration
Factor

Feed Flow
Reject Flow

Reject

25 m3/hr
370 mg/L Ca

400 mg/L Ca

SEMI-PERMEABLE
MEMBRANE

SEMI-PERMEABLE
MEMBRANE

Water

SEMI-PERMEABLE
MEMBRANE
Macromolecules

Water

SEMI-PERMEABLE
MEMBRANE
Dissolved
Solids

Water

Macromolecules

MEMBRANE MATERIALS
Cellulose Acetate (CA)
Polyamide (PA)

CA MEMBRANE
Non-Porous Region

Micro-Porous Region

FEED

REJECT

REJECT

FEED

PERMEATE

CROSS-FLOW FILTRATION
REJECT

FEED

PERMEATE

PA MEMBRANE
Non-Porous Layer (Polyamide)

Micro-Porous Support Layer (Polysulfone)

PA MEMBRANE

REJECT

FEED

PERMEATE

PA MEMBRANE

REJECT

FEED

Intl

PERMEATE

RO MEMBRANE PERFORMANCE

RO MEMBRANE
PERFORMANCE
Solute
Sodium
Chloride
Calcium
Magnesium
Sulfate
Carbonate
Conductivity
Silica
GASES

CA Membrane
85 - 99
85 - 99
90 - 99+
90 - 99+
90 - 99+
90 - 99+
85 - 99
80 - 90
0

PA Membrane
96 - 99
96 - 99
98 - 99+
98 - 99+
98 - 99+
98 - 99+
97 - 99
98
0

COMPARATIVE PROPERTIES COMMERCIAL RO MEMBRANES

Property

CA Membrane

PA Membrane

Surface Charge

Neutral

Negative

Pressure
(300 - 600 psi )

21 - 42 kgm/cm2
(150 - 400 psi)

10.5 - 28 kgm/cm2

Temperature

35oC (95F)

45oC (113F)

pH (operating)

4-6

Chlorine, free

up to 1.0 mg/L

None

Typical Lifetime

2 - 3 years

2 - 5 years

Cost (per module)

3 - 11

1.5X

COMPARATIVE PROPERTIES COMMERCIAL RO MEMBRANES

CA Membrane

PA Membrane

ADVANTAGE

Forgiving

High Rejection

DISADVANTAGE

High Pressure
pH Sensitive

Chlorine Sensitive
Fouling Prone

TYPICAL USE

Surface Water

Ground Water

SPIRAL WOUND MODULE

Permeate Spacer
Membrane
Feed Spacer
Membrane

SPIRAL WOUND MODULE

Concentrate Out

Feed Flow

Concentrate Out

Feed in

Feed Flow
Feed in

Permeate Spacer
Membrane
Feed Spacer
Membrane

SPIRAL WOUND MODULE

Concentrate Out

Feed Flow
Permeate

Concentrate Out

Feed in

Feed Flow
Feed in

Permeate Spacer
Membrane
Feed Spacer
Membrane

HOLLOW FIBER MODULE

REJECT

FEED

PERMEATE

Comparisons of RO System Types

System Costs :
Spiral equal to hollow fiber

Flexibility in Design :
Spiral >> hollow fiber

Cleaning Behaviour :
Spiral > hollow fiber

System Space Requirements :

Spiral > hollow fiber

Susceptibility to Fouling :
hollow fiber >> spiral

Energy Requirement :
Hollow fiber > spiral

2
RO SYSTEM DESIGN

RO SYSTEM DESIGN
Module (Element): Contains Membrane
Tube:

Modules in Series (4 - 6)

Stage:

Set of Tubes in Parallel

Array:

Arrangement of tubes; # Tubes/Stage

Train:

Set of all of the Above

RO SYSTEM FLOW DIAGRAM

1st stage
4 tubes

2nd stage
2 tubes

RO SYSTEM FLOW DIAGRAM

1st stage
4 tubes

4 X 2 ARRAY

2nd stage
2 tubes

RO SYSTEM FLOW DIAGRAM

4 X 2 ARRAY

2 STAGES
1 TRAIN

RO SYSTEM FLOW DIAGRAM

FEED

1st stage

RO SYSTEM FLOW DIAGRAM

FEED

1st stage

2nd stage

RO SYSTEM FLOW DIAGRAM

PERMEATE

FEED

1st stage

2nd stage

RO SYSTEM FLOW DIAGRAM

PERMEATE

FEED

CONCENTRATE
1st stage

2nd stage

RO SYSTEM FLOW DIAGRAM

50% MAXIMUM RECOVERY per STAGE

PERMEATE

FEED

CONCENTRATE
1st stage

2nd stage

RO SYSTEM FLOW DIAGRAM

50% MAXIMUM RECOVERY per STAGE

75 m3/hr

50 m /hr
3

75% RECOVERY
PERMEATE

25 m3/hr
50
m3/hr

FEED
100 m3/hr

1st stage

2nd stage

CONCENTRATE
25 m3/hr

RO SYSTEM FLOW DIAGRAM

50% MAXIMUM RECOVERY per STAGE
90% REJECTION
75 m3/hr

50 m /hr
3

75% RECOVERY
PERMEATE

25 m3/hr
50
m3/hr

FEED
100 m3/hr
100 mg/L

CONCENTRATE
1st stage

2nd stage

RO SYSTEM FLOW DIAGRAM

50% MAXIMUM RECOVERY per STAGE
90% REJECTION
50 m /hr

75 m3/hr

10 mg/L

13 mg/L

75% RECOVERY
PERMEATE

25 m3/hr
19mg/L
50
m3/hr

FEED
100 m3/hr
100 mg/L

190 mg/L

1st stage

2nd stage

CONCENTRATE
25 m3/hr
361 mg/L

3
MEMBRANE SYSTEM
MANAGEMENT
Pretreatment
Monitoring

PRETREATMENT
PREVENT
SUSPENDED SOLIDS FOULING
ORGANIC / MB FOULING
DISSOLVED SOLIDS SCALE FORMATION
MEMBRANE DEGRADATION

Membrane Productivity as a
Function of Operating Time
Product
Flow
Rate

Operating Time
Properly Pretreated Feed

Membrane Productivity as a
Function of Operating Time
Product
Flow
Rate

Operating Time
Properly Pretreated Feed
Marginal Pretreatment, Periodic Cleaning

Membrane Productivity as a
Function of Operating Time
Product
Flow
Rate

Operating Time
Properly Pretreated Feed
Marginal Pretreatment, Periodic Cleaning
Inadequate Pretreatment, Frequent Cleaning

RO MEMBRANE FEEDWATER
QUALITY REQUIREMENTS
ITEM
Suspended
Solids

PARAMETER
VALUE
SDI
<5
Turbidity
< 1 NTU
Iron
<0.05 mg/L
Manganese
< 0.5 mg/L
____________________________________________________
Organics
TOC
10 -15 mg/L
____________________________________________________

Dissolved
Solids

* In Concentrate

LSI
Barium
Strontium

<1*
< 0.05 mg/L
<0.1 mg/L

SDI = Silt Density Index

The Standard Test Method has been described in ASTM Test D 4189-82
Calculation :

SDI = [ 1 to / t1 ] * 100 / 15
to = measured initial time, necessary to filter 500 ml of sample water
t1 = measured time, after 15 minutes feed pressure to be kept constant,
necessary to filter 500 ml sample water
t1 is four times as long as to SDI = 5
A water sample that totally blocks the membrane filter has an SDI = 6.7

Influent Iron Limits

Oxygen
(ppm)

pH

<0.50

<6.00

0.50-5.00
5.00-10.00

Maximum
Iron Level
(ppm)
4.00

6.00-7.00 0.50
>7.00

0.05

RO MEMBRANE - SPECIFIC
FEEDWATER QUALITY
REQUIREMENTS
PARAMETER

CA membrane

PA membrane

Chlorine, free, mg/L

<1.0

pH

4-6

3 - 11

Temperature

35C (95F)

45C (113F)

RO PRETREATMENT TECHNIQUES
PARAMETER
SDI, Turbidity
Iron, Manganese

PRETREATMENT
Clarification, Filtration, Filter Aids
Oxidation (KMnO4, H2O2, Cl2)
Aeration, pH, Greensand Filtration

___________________________________________________
Organics
Cl2, Nanofiltration, Activated Carbon
MB
Cl2, Biocides, Filtration
___________________________________________________

Hardness, Barium
Strontium

Softening, Sequestrants, pH

Reactive Silica
Lime Softening
___________________________________________________
Free Chlorine

Sodium Metabisulfite

SYSTEM MONITORING
Data Collection
Normalization
Routine Cleaning

DATA COLLECTION
Temperature

SDI

pH

LSI

Pressure

Chlorine, Free

Flow Rate

Turbidity

TDS

MB Plate Counts

Data Collection
Inter
Inlet

Stage

Pressure
X
Flow Rate X
Conductivity
Temperature
pH
X
SDI X
Cl2, free
X

X
X
X
X

Turbidity
MB Plates

X
X

X
X

Brine
X
X
X
X

X
X
X

Permeate
X
X
X

RAW DATA

TIME

RAW DATA
PRODUCT FLOW

TIME

INCREASED FEED PRESSURE

RAW DATA
PRODUCT FLOW

TIME

INCREASED FEED PRESSURE

RAW DATA

Cooler Water Temp.

Higher Feed Conc.

PRODUCT FLOW

TIME

INCREASED FEED PRESSURE

RAW DATA

Cooler Water Temp.

Higher Feed Conc.
Fouling / Scaling

PRODUCT FLOW

TIME

NORMALIZED DATA
RAW DATA

INCREASED FEED PRESSURE

Cooler Water Temp.
Higher Feed Conc.
Fouling / Scaling

PRODUCT FLOW

NORMALIZED FLOW

TIME

NORMALIZED DATA
RAW DATA

INCREASED FEED PRESSURE

Cooler Water Temp.
Higher Feed Conc.
Fouling / Scaling

PRODUCT FLOW

NORMALIZED FLOW

SALT PASSAGE

TIME

4
TROUBLESHOOTING

TROUBLESHOOTING
Mechanical Problems
Performance Problems
Water Analysis
Profile/Probe
Autopsy

WATER ANALYSIS
Cations - Ba, Sr
Anions
Alkalinity
SiO2
Fe

TOC
MB
Temperature
pH
Water Source

RO Troubleshooting Guide
Problem

Product Flow

Salt Passage

Pressure Drop

Location

Scaling

Decreased

Increased

Increased

Last Stage

MB

Decreased

Normal/
Increased

Normal/
Increased

Any Stage

Colloidal

Decreased

Normal/
Increased

Normal/
Increased

First Stage

Degeneration

Increased

Increased

Decreased

First Stage

Abrasion

Increased

Increased

Decreased

First Stage

PROFILE / PROBE

Profiling
Conductivity of Permeate Measured at the End of Individual Tubes:
First Stage - Rows 2 & 3
Second Stage - Row 1
A
1
2
3

Profiling
Conductivity of Permeate Measured at the End of Individual Tubes:
First Stage - Rows 2 & 3
Second Stage - Row 1
A
1
2

15

18

16

150

16

12

14

13

14

12

15

95

14

13

12

Probing

Tube Identified by Profiling as High Conductivity Tube

Conductivity

Probing
15

16

111

105

98

Tube Identified by Profiling as High Conductivity Tube

Conductivity

AUTOPSY
Destructive Analysis of Membrane
Identification of Foulants and Scaling Agents
Identification of Microbiological Activity
Tools Used for Autopsy
MB Count
Photomicroscopy

APPLICATIONS OF REVERSE
OSMOSIS
Boiler Feedwater
Process Water
Potable Water
Ultrapure Water
Cooling Tower Blowdown
Water Reuse / Zero Discharge

When to Consider RO
DEMINERALIZED WATER SYSTEMS
High Cost Acid or Caustic
Regenerant Discharge Restrictions
Water with TDS greater than 150 mg/L

Treatment
Cost

Economics of Reverse Osmosis

and Ion Exchange

50

100

150

200

Feedwater TDS (mg/L as CaCO3 )

250

300

Economics of Reverse Osmosis

and Ion Exchange
Reverse Osmosis

Treatment
Cost

Ion Exchange

50

100

150

200

Feedwater TDS (mg/L as CaCO3 )

250

300

Economics of Reverse Osmosis

and Ion Exchange
Reverse Osmosis

Treatment
Cost

Ion Exchange

50

100

150

200

Feedwater TDS (mg/L as CaCO3 )

250

300

Questions & Answers !

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Thank You !

Wish those will be useful to you !