HEM SERIES 20

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

1
Hydro electrique marine
150 rue de Goa, 06600 Antibes, France.
Tel: +33 493 742929 fax: +33 493 748062
FILE NAME :H20-TECH SPEC-ENG-R2 e-mail : info@[Link]
05/10//09
web site : [Link]
 INDEX
1. INTRODUCTION 3
1.1 REVERSE OSMOSIS (R.O) ............................................................................................................... 3
1.2 RECOVERY ........................................................................................................................................ 3
1.3 MEMBRANE ELEMENT DESIGN ...................................................................................................... 4
1.4 MEMBRANE STABILITY .................................................................................................................... 4
1.5 SALT REJECTION.............................................................................................................................. 4
1.6 FLUID PRESSURE ............................................................................................................................ 4
1.7 MEMBRANE FOULING ...................................................................................................................... 4
1.8 CHEMICAL FLUSHING ...................................................................................................................... 5
1.9 FRESHWATER FLUSHING ................................................................................................................ 5
1.10 MEMBRANE FOULING AUTOMATIC FLUSHING SYSTEM (OPTIONAL)...................................... 5

2. SPECIFICATIONS 6

3. SYSTEM SCHEMATIC 7

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
3.1 HEM 20 FRAME 1 - DIMENSIONS .................................................................................................... 7
3.2 HEM 20 FRAME 1 - FLOW SCHEMATIC........................................................................................... 8
3.3 HEM 20 FRAME 2 - DIMENSIONS .................................................................................................... 9
3.4 HEM 20 FRAME 2 - FLOW SCHEMATIC......................................................................................... 10
3.5 HEM 20 KIT - DIMENSION................................................................................................................11
3.6 HEM 20 KIT - FLOW SCHEMATIC................................................................................................... 12

4. OPERATION 13
4.1 SEAWATER INLET ............................................................................................................... 13
4.2 BOOSTERPUMP .................................................................................................................. 13
4.3 SANDFILTER (OPTIONAL) .................................................................................................. 13
4.4 CARTRIDGE FILTER ........................................................................................................... 13
4.5 LOW PRESSURE SWITCH.................................................................................................. 13
4.6 FEEDWATER FLOWMETER ............................................................................................... 14
4.7 HIGH PRESSURE PUMP..................................................................................................... 14
4.8 MEMBRANE VESSEL ASSEMBLY ...................................................................................... 14
4.9 HIGH PRESSURE SWITCH ................................................................................................. 14
4.10 HIGH PRESSURE REGULATING VALVE............................................................................ 14
4.11 PRODUCT WATER (PERMEATE) ....................................................................................... 15
4.12 PRODUCT FLOWMETER .................................................................................................... 15
4.13 PRODUCT QUALITY CONTROL SYSTEM ......................................................................... 15
4.14 POST TREATMENT OF THE PRODUCT WATER............................................................... 15

2
Hydro electrique marine
150 rue de Goa, 06600 Antibes, France.
Tel: +33 493 742929 fax: +33 493 748062
e-mail : info@[Link]
web site : [Link]
1. INTRODUCTION
The HEM series 20 desalination system is designed for the smaller yachts where space might be a
problem.

Proper operation of each item within the system is important to assure that the complete unit will
work satisfactorily.
A small anomaly in the feed section may cause severe damage to the high pressure assembly or
the membranes.
It is therefore very important that the operator of the HEM RO system is totally familiar with the unit,
and understands how and why it works.

1.1 REVERSE OSMOSIS (R.O)

Is an excellent process for the desalination of both seawater and brackish water, it combines
relatively low cost with simple plant operation, and the space requirement in relation to output
capacity, is excellent.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
In the R.O. process the pretreated feedwater is pressurized and forced along and through
the Reverse Osmosis membrane.
The R.O. membrane is an extremely thin film which allows water to pass, but rejects almost all
dissolved salts present in the feedwater.

The feedwater in the membrane is split into two separate streams :

- PERMEATE FLOW, which has passed through the membrane.

- CONCENTRATE FLOW, which did not pass the membrane and is now containing a higher
amounts of salt.

The concentrate is discharged while the permeate, after the required post-treatment, is routed into
the freshwater storage tanks.

1.2 RECOVERY

As previously mentioned the feedwater is split into a permeate and a concentrate flow.
The percentage of the feedwater obtained as permeate is called RECOVERY.
A high recovery is desired, but at the same time this implies that the concentrate will be highly
concentrated.
A too high concentration is likely to create fouling of the membrane surface, and since the permeate
is a percentage of the feedwater salinity, it also results in a higher permeate salinity.

The recovery is therefore determined either by feedwater composition or by system optimization.

For brackish plants a recovery of 50 - 80% is common and for seawater systems 25-30 % is
considered normal.

3
Hydro electrique marine
150 rue de Goa, 06600 Antibes, France.
Tel: +33 493 742929 fax: +33 493 748062
e-mail : info@[Link]
web site : [Link]
1.3 MEMBRANE ELEMENT DESIGN

Different membrane designs are available.

The spiral wound configuration; the hollow fine fibers; the tubular system; and the flat membrane in a
plate and frame construction are commercially available.
The last two mentioned are not widely used due to commercial considerations.
Between the spiral wound and hollow fine fiber, the spiral wound membrane element has a lower
tendency of fouling, due to the open feedwater channels and high flowrates.
It has also established itself as the industry standard and consequently prices are lower and
availablility better.
For these reasons, HEM use only the standard 2.5, 4 and 8 inch spiral wound membranes.

1.4 MEMBRANE STABILITY

Since about 1980, the TFC (Thin Film Composit) membranes are available.
These membranes have proven superior to the previous membrane materials in terms of chemical
resistance and temperature, which is important relative to the chemical cleaning cycles required for

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
general membrane maintenance.

1.5 SALT REJECTION

Reverse Osmosis membranes are manufactured with different salt rejection characteristics.
Membranes with a higher salt rejection have a lower waterflux.
Thus, membrane selection must be optimized in relation to the desired permeate quality and plant
production requirements.

1.6 FLUID PRESSURE

Permeate water flow through a membrane increases proportionally as the pressure increases.
The optimum pressure is determined according to the salinity and temperature of the raw water.
In practice brackish water plants operate between 30 and 40 bars, while for seawater desalination,
a range between 50 to 65 bars is used.
Higher pressures will permanently damage the membranes.

At system operating pressures, the seawater flow across the membrane is constant.
Consequently, the membrane area may be increased (by adding additional membranes)
whilst maintaining the same system pressure (within the limitations of the pump capacity), resulting
in increased permeate production.
In this context, the production output that can be obtained becomes a function of the capital costs of
the membranes.

1.7 MEMBRANE FOULING

Constituents present in the feedwater will result in scaling, or formation of a fouling layer on the
membrane surface.
The result is lowered productivity and/or lowered salt rejection. Proper pre-treatment membrane
maintenance can to a large extend diminish the membrane fouling.

4
Hydro electrique marine
150 rue de Goa, 06600 Antibes, France.
Tel: +33 493 742929 fax: +33 493 748062
e-mail : info@[Link]
web site : [Link]
1.8 CHEMICAL FLUSHING

It is recommended to install provision for a chemical flushing system to facilitate the cleaning and
sanitization of the membranes.
A 60 ltr plastic tank can be incorporated into the pipework with suitable valves etc. in order for chemical
solutions to be circulated in a closed loop configuration, to clean the membrane surface from fouling
layers, or to sterilize the system (See the attached schematic).

1.9 FRESHWATER FLUSHING

To minimize corrosion and algae growth in the system during shorter shutdown periods, when proper
storage with chemicals is not considered necessary, it is strongly recommended to make provision for a
fresh water flushing connection (See the attached schematic).
This enables fresh water from the ships hydrophore to be circulated through the membranes.
Note: To avoid damage to the membranes by chlorine, which may be present in the freshwater tanks,
the flush water must first pass through a charcoal filter to remove any chlorine present in the water
(Contact HEM for details).

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
1.10 MEMBRANE FOULING AUTOMATIC FLUSHING SYSTEM (OPTIONAL)

To facilitate the cleaning and maintenance operations, a semi-automatic flushing system is available as
an option, a “FLUSH” button on the front panel allows pressurized freshwater from the ships
hydrophore system to replace the seawater in the unit by means of an electric valve and a preset
timer.

5
Hydro electrique marine
150 rue de Goa, 06600 Antibes, France.
Tel: +33 493 742929 fax: +33 493 748062
e-mail : info@[Link]
web site : [Link]
2. SPECIFICATIONS
Covers frame units and modular units

HEM 20/500 1900 LPD / 79 LPH OR 500 GPD / 21.0 GPH

HEM 20/900 3400 LPD / 142 LPH OR 900 GPD / 37.5 GPH
HEM 20/1300 4800 LPD / 200 LPH OR 1300 GPD / 54.0 GPH

Feedwater flow .........................................................................13 LPM

Max recovery ............................................................................26 %
Operating pressure ( seawater ) ...............................................850 psi
Max feedwater pressure ..........................................................40 psi
Minimum salt rejection ..............................................................98.6 %
Power requirement in full operation .........................................2 KW
Standard voltage (other voltages available ) ...........................230/1/50
Max feedwater temperature ....................................................45 deg C

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Chlorine tolerance ...................................................................0.1 ppm
Membrane type .......................................................................TFC SW
High pressure pump type ........................................................3-Plunger
Total weight standard system dry ............................................58-72 Kg
Noise level .............................................................................±76 dB

System including :

* Bronze centrifugal feedwaterpump.

* Aluminium bronze high pressure pump directly coupled to a 1.5 KW TEFC motor.
* 60 and 05 micron prefilters 10 inch long.
* Continuous salinity monitoring.
* Hourmeter.
* Automatic unpotable product dump valve.
* Automatic shutdown system by overpressure.
* Automatic shutdown when prefilters too clogged.
* Chlorine tolerant membranes (0.1 PPM).
* Charcoal filter on postfiltration.
* Separate thermal breakers for each motor.
* Powder epoxy coated panels and bases, white.

Ratings above are + 15% and based on feedwater 35 000 PPM at 25 deg. C.
Ratings and specs are subject to change without notice.

6
Hydro electrique marine
150 rue de Goa, 06600 Antibes, France.
Tel: +33 493 742929 fax: +33 493 748062
e-mail : info@[Link]
web site : [Link]
3. SYSTEM SCHEMATIC
3.1 HEM 20 FRAME 1 - DIMENSIONS

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

7
Hydro electrique marine
150 rue de Goa, 06600 Antibes, France.
Tel: +33 493 742929 fax: +33 493 748062
e-mail : info@[Link]
web site : [Link]
3.2 HEM 20 FRAME 1 - FLOW SCHEMATIC

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

8
Hydro electrique marine
150 rue de Goa, 06600 Antibes, France.
Tel: +33 493 742929 fax: +33 493 748062
e-mail : info@[Link]
web site : [Link]
3.3 HEM 20 FRAME 2 - DIMENSIONS

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

9
Hydro electrique marine
150 rue de Goa, 06600 Antibes, France.
Tel: +33 493 742929 fax: +33 493 748062
e-mail : info@[Link]
web site : [Link]
3.4 HEM 20 FRAME 2 - FLOW SCHEMATIC

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

10
Hydro electrique marine
150 rue de Goa, 06600 Antibes, France.
Tel: +33 493 742929 fax: +33 493 748062
e-mail : info@[Link]
web site : [Link]
3.5 HEM 20 KIT - DIMENSION

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

11
Hydro electrique marine
150 rue de Goa, 06600 Antibes, France.
Tel: +33 493 742929 fax: +33 493 748062
e-mail : info@[Link]
web site : [Link]
3.6 HEM 20 KIT - FLOW SCHEMATIC

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

12
Hydro electrique marine
150 rue de Goa, 06600 Antibes, France.
Tel: +33 493 742929 fax: +33 493 748062
e-mail : info@[Link]
web site : [Link]
4. OPERATION
4.1 SEAWATER INLET

Raw seawater enters the system through the ships seacock.

The through-hull fitting should be connected directly to a valve suitable for seawater with an
orifice of DN 20 mm minimum.

4.2 BOOSTERPUMP

The seawater now enters a centrifugal pump whose duty is to force the water across the downstream
prefilters and to deliver it to the high pressure pump with a positive pressure.

4.3 SANDFILTER (OPTIONAL)

Seawater contains a lot of suspended matter which would foul the membrane if it was to enter the very
narrow and small passages inside the spiralwound membrane package.
To eliminate most of the «dirt» in the seawater, a backwashable «multi media filter» can be included as

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
a first step in the prefiltration, this filter is an FRP tank containing special calibrated filter media.
The water has to pass through the filter media where most of the dirt get caught in the upper layer of
media.
The water flow can be reversed through the tank, and thereby the collected dirt is washed out through
a discard pipe back to the sea.
The sandfilter will considerably lower the consumption of disposable cartridge filter elements, and
requires hardly any maintenance except periodical backwashing.

4.4 CARTRIDGE FILTER

Two cartridge filters are mounted in series.

The selectivity of the elements is 60microns(µ) followed by 05 micron, the 60 micron filter is a washable
nylon screen and the 5 micron element is of the disposable type.
These cartridges create a barrier for all suspended solids bigger than 5 microns and thereby protect the
high pressure pump and the Reverse Osmosis membrane from damage.
To determine the degree of clogging of the filter elements, a pressure gauge is installed after the filter.
When the filters are new and clean, the water flow from the feedwater pump will pass the filters with
only a marginal pressure drop, but as the filters are collecting more and more dirt, the pressure reading
on the gauge will drop down towards zero.
When the pressure reading after the last filters has dropped to 3-5 psi, automatically the HEM RO
system will shut itself down, and the red alarm light will remain lit.

4.5 LOW PRESSURE SWITCH

If the feed pressure after the prefilter assembly has dropped down to zero or below zero, the risk for
damage to the high pressure pump through cavitation is dramatically increased.
To avoid this risk, the HEM RO system is equipped with a safety switch which will detect and shut down
the complete unit should the feedpressure not be acceptable.
The switch setting is adjustable, and factory preset.
However, the switch should be tested for proper adjustment once every months by the system operator,
this test is easily done by slowly closing the feed inlet valve and at the same time monitoring the low
pressure gauge. The system should cut out at 3-5 psi.

13
Hydro electrique marine
150 rue de Goa, 06600 Antibes, France.
Tel: +33 493 742929 fax: +33 493 748062
e-mail : info@[Link]
web site : [Link]
4.6 FEEDWATER FLOWMETER

One of the very important factors when designing an RO system is adequate flow across the
membrane elements.
By continually running along the membrane surface this flow will prevent minerals and other fouling
constituents from depositing on the semipermeable barrier causing a partial clogging and therefore
performance losses.
Through the Feed flowmeter, this operation can be monitored any loss in feedflow due to HP pump
seal wear or other causes, can be detected at an early stage,
before the low flow situation has caused permanent and irrevocable clogging of the RO membrane.

4.7 HIGH PRESSURE PUMP

Clean seawater is now flowing into the HIGH PRESSURE PUMP.

The pump used in the HEM RO system is a triplex plunger pump with ceramic plungers, special
corrosion resistant alloy manifold and 316 L SST internal parts.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
The plunger pump will build up the pressure required for the Reverse Osmosis process to take place
inside the MEMBRANE VESSEL ASSEMBLY.

4.8 MEMBRANE VESSEL ASSEMBLY

From the High pressure pump the water enters the Reverse Osmosis module enclosed in a pressure
vessel with endplugs.
Several modules may be installed in series depending on the model of the HEM RO system.
In the membrane vessel assembly the feedstream is separated into the permeate and the concentrate
flows.
To start with let us follow the concentrate flow.
The concentrate (also called BRINE) leaves the membrane vessel assembly through a high pressure
pipe, and will pass through the High Pressure Regulating Valve.

4.9 HIGH PRESSURE SWITCH

The high pressure switch is a safety devise with a closed contact that will open in case the pressure in
the system goes above a certain set point. The standard set point should be 950 psi, if the unit is
operated in normal ocean sea water.
The switch is adjustable, and should be tested from time to time.

4.10 HIGH PRESSURE REGULATING VALVE

Normal operating pressure for seawater is 850 psi.

To reach this pressure the feedwater flow through the membranes must be throttled so that a
backpressure is created.
This is done by means of a pressure regulating valve.

14
Hydro electrique marine
150 rue de Goa, 06600 Antibes, France.
Tel: +33 493 742929 fax: +33 493 748062
e-mail : info@[Link]
web site : [Link]
When the regulating valve is fully opened, the HP pump pushes the water through the membrane
vessel assembly and back to the sea without any pressure, but as the flow is slowly throttled with the
HP regulating valve, the pressure between pump and valve is increasing.
Since the pump is a «positive displacement» type, the flow will not decrease, but the pressure will
increase.
A pressure gauge is installed to monitor the operating pressure, and a safety switch will shut down the
system should the upper pressure limit be exceeded (Shut down pressure should be 950 psi).
After passing the regulating valve the concentrate is discharged overboard, back to the sea.

4.11 PRODUCT WATER (PERMEATE)

The product water with low salt content, is collected from the membrane vessel assembly, and passes
through a Product Flowmeter.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
4.12 PRODUCT FLOWMETER

The Product Flowmeter enables monitoring of the fresh water flow.

It consists of a transparent flow through acrylic body with a SST floater on a vertical guide rod.
From the position of the floater the flowrate can be read in litres per minute / or US Gallon per minute.

4.13 PRODUCT QUALITY CONTROL SYSTEM

After passing through the flowmeter, the quality of the produced water is checked by means of a con-
ductivity sensor.
A signal from the conductivity sensor gives indications to the central control system to either accept or
reject the produced water.
If the water is accepted by the salinity controller, a 3-way solenoid valve will open the port towards the
post treatment and freshwater storage tank.
If the water is rejected, the solenoid valve will close the port towards the tank, and open the port
towards the dump overboard pipe.
The solenoid valve is equipped with a manual pushbutton which can be operated manually should any
fault develop in the automatic control system.

4.14 POST TREATMENT OF THE PRODUCT WATER

A charcoal filter is installed in the freshwater line towards the tank.

The charcoal filter will remove any traces of odor or tastes which may be present in the product water.
The freshwater is now ready to be transferred to the ships storage tank.

15
Hydro electrique marine
150 rue de Goa, 06600 Antibes, France.
Tel: +33 493 742929 fax: +33 493 748062
e-mail : info@[Link]
web site : [Link]