What Is RO Unit
What Is RO Unit
Reverse osmosis is a method used to separate a high percentage of pollutants from water by
forcing it through a semi-permeable membrane.
Issues regarding freshwater production have persisted throughout human history. Several factors
such as location, contaminants, temperature, salinity, dissolved solids, and others have hampered
the distribution of clean water in many regions. Fortunately, the introduction of reverse osmosis
has provided an efficient solution to this problem. This article is intended for those who do not
have a clear understanding with reverse osmosis water and will illustrate the basics of reverse
osmosis technology and its applications.
Reverse osmosis operates by utilizing advanced filtration technology which removes dissolved
ions from water. Osmosis is an elemental force that draws water to water with higher salt
content. This is a process by which dissolved ions are removed from water. This elemental force
can be surmounted by applied pressure with the usage of pumps and semi-permeable
membranes, which forces water through the membrane and filters out dissolved salt from the
water.
Reverse osmosis is a hot topic in the water treatment industry. With the lowest energy
requirements, some of the highest recovery rates, and one of the best rejection rates on the
market, it's no wonder people are interested in learning more about it. What is the definition of
reverse osmosis, though? How does it work? Let's take a look into the heart of a Pure Aqua RO
system and break it down for you to understand all about RO.
As anyone could guess, it is the process of osmosis backwards. Osmosis is the passage of water
through a reverse osmosis membrane (like our skin, or the inside of a plant cell) to equalize the
concentration of particles dissolved in the water. As the diagram above shows, the semi-
permeable membrane allows water to pass through, but molecules larger than water (things like
minerals, salts, and bacteria) cannot. Water flows back and forth until the concentration is equal
on both sides of the membrane, and an equilibrium is formed.
Let's apply this knowledge to water purification. We want to drink water from a lake or stream,
but it contains too high concentration of contaminants like salt, minerals, and bacteria, that make
it undrinkable. By applying pressure to water as it passes through a membrane, the water can be
forced to move away from the membrane rather than attempting to form an equilibrium like
normal. This against-flow motion is where the "reverse" in "reverse osmosis" comes from. A
pump works well for this process. Water is forced through the membrane, which like a super-fine
particle filter, blocks an extreme majority of contaminants from coming through.
Now that we've answered the biggest question about membranes systems by Pure Aqua, let's take
a closer look at how we build our advanced water treatment systems and how reverse osmosis
works.
The purified water that is removed of its dissolved solids is now referred to as permeate or
product water. The concentrated stream of contaminants left behind in the brine is referred to as
reject water and is ultimately discharged.
The reverse osmosis membranes sole responsibility is to ensure efficient filtration of all
unwanted salts and minerals from the feed water as it passes through the system. Membranes
from top-branded manufacturers (Dupont Filmtec, Hydranautics) are capable of eliminating up
to 99% of dissolved solids from the water source. The rejected stream is not always thrown
away, it can be recycled through the reverse osmosis system for water conservation.
The reverse osmosis process is more similar to a cross-flow filtration method than a conventional
one. Cross-flow filtration is more effective since it consists of two outlets for the solution to go
in order to handle higher concentrations of pollutants. The flow of the permeate and concentrated
water in opposite directions allows the membrane surface to remain clean and greatly minimizes
buildup. This filtration method ensures a longer-life span of the system and components and
reduced the need for membrane cleaning.
Now that we know how reverse osmosis works, let's take that and apply it to a real, working
TWRO or BWRO system. If it only needed the membranes and a pump, it certainly wouldn't be
so big, right?
Here is the complete reverse osmosis process, including the pretreatment and post-treatment that
is generally required for highly contaminated water:
If the feed water contains traces of heavy metals or contaminated, it is highly recommended to
dose some chlorine to change the dissolved heavy metals to physical form, the media filter will
be able to filter most of it.
Although some RO Systems can draw water right out of a well or pipe feed, most reverse
osmosis systems start with a large tank that stores the contaminated water. Not having enough
feed water can damage a pump, so having a large storage tank for your intake water is an easy
way to make sure your pump lasts for as long as possible.
A commercial or industrial pump provides the initial pressure for the Treatment System. This
motor usually provides enough water pressure to get through any pretreatment as well as the RO
membranes, but if it doesn't a booster pump may be necessary farther down the line.
As much as we hate to admit it, there are some things that membranes can't purify. Nitrates, a
common contaminant found in fertilizers and animal waste, are a good example of particles that
dissolve too well in water for reverse osmosis to catch them. Things like foul odor and taste
usually aren't prevented by reverse osmosis, either. A Multi-Layer filter can be filled with media
that specifically targets the things your RO system can't catch. If you need to eliminate these
contaminants, a multi-layer filter is a must. An example of MMF or multi media filters is
our water media filters MF-1000 Series.
Activated carbon filters are a good solution to reduce organic, bad taste, smell and chlorine from
the water.
Automatic water softeners are designed to remove water hardness, calcium and magnesium ions,
for small RO systems, we usually recommend water softeners instead of the antiscalant chemical
dosing.
We finally have our reverse osmosis system. If a booster pump is necessary, it will typically be
just before this step. The reverse osmosis system can produce up to one million gallons of
product water a day from a steady intake, as well as a sizable amount of waste. Usually the
wastewater can be dumped down the drain, but check with your local water authorities in case it
needs to be handled with care.
The permeate from the reverse osmosis system will usually go to a large tank, where it is held for
use. If it didn't, the system would need to be running in order to have access to fresh water,
which can be inconvenient. Sometimes, a RO system pumps water directly into a well
or aquifer for recharging instead of being used in many of the normal industries or applications
it is used in.
If the permeate water is intended to be stored for more than one day, it is highly recommended to
dose some chlorine to maintain clean and non contaminated water.
This pump repressurizes the permeate water to the point of use ends. This is selected based on
the overall travelling distance and required head. This pump must be selected in stainless steel to
prevent any contamination to the permeate water.
The UV sterilizer is placed after the storage tank, and as a final disinfection device. Most of the
time, we either use post chlorination as a disinfectant agent, or ultraviolet sterilization.
Lastly, the reverse osmosis system has to be controlled by a human operator. At Pure Aqua, we
use advanced PLCs or a solid-state microprocessor depending on how advanced the controls
need to be. The controls can also be used to manage multiple systems simultaneously, effectively
making a one-man water production plant.
A reverse osmosis system can have a number of other components built onto or into it as extra
components as well. The entire skid can be built into a containerized system, for example, so
your Desalination by RO System is always on the go. There are a number of supplemental skids
that can be attached to an RO System as well, for tasks like membrane cleaning, pretreatment,
chemical dosing, and a number of other jobs as necessary.
Pretreatment of boilers
Food and beverage treatment
Industrial wastewater purification
Deionized water filters
Hotels and resorts
Ice making
Spot free car washes
Pure ethanol
Dairy industry
Maple syrup
Pharmaceuticals
Water bottling
Hospitals
Agriculture
Humidification
Underground reservoirs of water are often brackish or highly brackish, meaning they contain
large volumes of salt, but not enough to be considered salt water. Groundwater reverse osmosis
is very common, and one of the best uses of a reverse osmosis system to date. Groundwater is
most often purified for the agriculture industry, the mining industry, and for residential use.
Groundwater is also a prized target of the bottling industry, because the unique mineral
combinations often have an appealing taste. Brackish water usually has a TDS of 5,000 PPM or
less, but can come in concentrations of up to 12,000 PPM.
Reverse osmosis salt water (sometimes referred to simply as desalination) is the turning of salt
water into drinking water. Ocean water has up to 45,000 PPM TDS. Typically, for environmental
reasons, a bore hole is dug in the ocean for this kind of reverse osmosis water, but an open intake
is more cost effective. The biggest uses of desalination come in providing water in areas that lack
a regular supply of fresh water.
IS PRETREATMENT NECESSARY?
If you work with a reverse osmosis system, you understand that the feed water must be
preconditioned to protect the membranes from fouling and premature failure. An RO membrane
functions much like a cross flow filter. The membrane is constructed of a porous material that
allows water to pass through the membrane, but rejects up to 99% of the dissolved solids at the
membrane surface. The dissolved salts are concentrated in the reverse osmosis reject water, or
brine stream, where they are discharged to waste.
As the RO system continues to operate, the dissolved and suspended solids in the feed water
tend to accumulate along the membrane surface. If these solids are allowed to build up, they
eventually restrict the passage of the RO water through the membrane, resulting in a loss of
throughput. (The throughput capacity of the membranes is commonly referred to as the flux rate,
and is measured in gallons per square foot of membrane surface area per day.)
Early in the development of membrane systems, little was known about which impurities in
the reverse osmosis feed water are likely to cause fouling and a corresponding reduction in flux.
Today, many of these troublesome impurity treatments have been identified, and preventive
treatments have been devised that greatly reduce membranes fouling, thus prolonging the life of
the RO plant.
Autopsies of failed membranes modules have revealed a build-up of foulants caused by mineral
scales such as calcium carbonate; colloidal materials like clays and silica; dead and living
microorganisms; carbon particles; and chemical attached by oxidizing agents like chlorine,
ozone, or permanganate. Likewise, dissolved metals like iron and aluminum, whether naturally
occurring or added as a coagulant, can cause premature fouling and failure of the reverse
osmosis membrane.
For example, the Langelier Stability Index (LSI), a measure of the calcium carbonate scaling
tendency of the water, is computed from the water analysis to determine the maximum
permissible concentration of dissolved minerals in the reject stream before scale deposition
becomes a problem. Because of the number of variables that must be considered, these
calculations are difficult to do with pencil and paper. Fortunately, the membranes manufacturers
have developed computer programs that make these computations fast and easy to perform
where the user can project the performance of membranes at actual feed conditions.
Although a water analysis is helpful in predicting the tendency of dissolved minerals to cause
problems in the RO System, it does not always forecast the fouling tendency of colloids and
other finely dispersed suspended solids. The Silt Density Index (SDI) is a useful tool for
quantifying the fouling tendency of the feed water. This test is conducted by filtering a sample
through a 0.45 micron (µm) filter and measuring the time required to collect a unit volume of
filtrate. An index number is calculated from this data. Traditionally, a SDI value of less than 3.0
is desirable for reverse osmosis feed waters. The SDI measurement has certain limitations in that
it does not model the cross flow design of an RO membrane.
Just as acidic solutions aren't good for membranes, caustic solutions are equally damaging
to reverse osmosis membrane elements. Acid injection may be incorporated into the RO
pretreatment system to control pH and minimize the scale-forming tendency of the feed water.
Acid injection is indicated if the scale-forming tendency of the brine stream is above +0.3 as
measured by the LSI. Either sulfuric or hydrochloric acid can be used for this purpose. However,
sulfuric acid is less costly, and is more commonly used.
Various chemical cleaning agents are available for maintaining RO membranes. The type and
amount of foulant will dictate the most effective cleaning agent. Acid cleaners’ best remove
mineral scale deposits. Hydrogen peroxide is commonly used to clean and sanitize membranes to
correct or prevent biofouling problems. In some cases, a mild solvent such as methanol is used.
Because of the number of variables involved in the selection and application of these cleaning
agents, contact the membrane manufacturer, equipment supplier, or a qualified chemical
consultant for specific advice and recommendations on how to accomplish an effective cleaning.
The operation of the RO System should be carefully monitored to predict when the membranes
would require cleaning. As a rule of thumb, cleaning is indicated when the normalized flux rate
decreases by 10%. Under ideal condition, assuming that the RO pretreatment system is properly
designed and operated, the frequency between membrane cleanings should be 3 months or more.
Cleaning every 1 to 3 months is considered a fair performance, and suggests that some
improvements in the pretreatment system should be considered. Cleaning frequencies every
month or more indicate a change in raw water quality, a problem with the pretreatment system,
or a problem with the operation of the RO unit.
SUMMARY
Reverse osmosis is a reliable method for producing high-purity water. However, most water
supplies require some form of RO pretreatment such as softening, media filtration, activated
carbon, or chemical injection to protect the reverse osmosis membranes from premature fouling
or failure. The pretreatment requirements will vary from location to location, but the overall
objective remains the same: to maintain the design flux rates, minimize the membranes cleaning
frequency, and prolong the useful life of the RO equipment.