RO SYSTEM

Fundamentals of RO
What is Osmosis?
The movement of a solvent (water in our case)
across a semi permeable membrane from a solution
of lower concentration to a solution of higher
concentration that tends to equalize the
concentrations of solute on the both sides of the
membrane.
Osmosis
Osmosis in Nature
Osmosis in Nature
Osmosis in Nature
Reverse Osmosis
Reverse Osmosis
What will Reverse Osmosis remove
from water?
 removing up to 99%+ of the dissolved salts (ions), particles,
colloids, organics and bacteria from the feed water
 remove 100% of bacteria and viruses).
 An RO membrane rejects contaminants based on their size and
charge. Any contaminant).
 RO system does not remove gases such as CO2 very well
 Reverse Osmosis is very effective in treating brackish, surface
and ground water for both large and small flows applications.
Some examples of industries that use RO water include
pharmaceutical, boiler feed water, food and beverage.
Benefits of Using RO
 Energy Savings.

 Water Savings via increased Boiler cycles.

 Chemical Savings in the 25 to 50% range.

 Water reclamation via RO for reject water.

Membrane Processes
Four common types of membranes:
 Reverse Osmosis

 Nano filtration

 Ultrafiltration

 Microfiltration
Pressure driven membrane processes
RO membrane
TYPES AND APPLICATIONS

Cellulose Acetate membranes

Polyamideand composite
membranes
Cellulose Acetate membranes
Dis-Advantage
- Limited temperature

- limitations PH (4-6)

- High operating pressures

- Silica rejection (80%)

Polyamide and composite
membranes
 composite membranes
- It consists of one polymer and has the advantage of obtaining less
operational pressure with higher permeability

 Composite polyamide membranes (Thin film)

- It consists of two polymer
TFC MEMBRANES
Advantage
- High temperature tolerance 45 digree
- lower operating pressures
- High PH range
- low salts & silica passage

Dis- advantage
- Rough surface
- Negative surface charge
- Low chlorine tolerance
TFC MEMBRANES TYPES

Seawater membranes.

Brackish water membranes

Seawater Membranes
Applications

1- High salinity : feed water TDS range (from 35,000 to

50,000 ppm)

2- Membranes Operation pressure: can go up to 1500 psi

Brackish Water Membranes
TYPES
1- brackish, low energy membranes.
Producing the same amount wit less pressure
2- brackish, high rejection membranes.
99.7 salt rejection which improve salt passage more than 67%
3- brackish low fouling membranes.
neutral charge and feed spacer 31mil instead of 28 mil
4- brackish low differential pressure membranes.
feed spacer reach to 34 mil
5- high productivity membrane modules
Membrane surface aria 440ft2 instead of 365ft2 manufacturing chlorine treatment
Brackish water membranes

Applications

1- Low salinity : feed water TDS range (from 4,000 to 5,000 ppm)

2- Membranes Operation pressure: can go up to 600 psi

R.O membrane modules
Plateand frame modules.
Tubular modules.
Spiral wound modules.
Hollow fine fiber modules
Spiral Wound
Spiral Wound
Spiral Wound
RO System Design

Introduction
 Customer Data
 Feed Water Type and Analysis
 Specify Water Quality and Quantity Needed
After RO Treatment
 Indoor Or Outdoor Plant
 Operation Hours Daily
 Application
MEMBRANE FOULING
CONSIDERATIONS
Depending On Feed Water Source
- Suspended solids

- Dissolved matter
 Suspended Solids
 Inorganic Particles
 Colloids
 Biological Debris Such as Microorganisms
and Algae

- The Turbidity and SDI should not exceed 1 NTU and 3 SDI units.
 Dissolved Matter
 HighlySoluble Salts, Such as Chlorides,
 Sparingly Soluble Salts, Such as
Carbonates, Sulfates, and Silica

- Positive values of LSI indicate the possibility of calcium carbonate

precipitation
 Company Offer
1- Process Description
2- Membrane Projection
3- Chemical Consumption
4- Equipment List
5- Power Consumption List
6- Instrumentation list
7- Cable List
8- Power Components List
 Company offer
9- Controller List
10- Process and Instrumentation Diagram (PID)
11- Mechanical Drawings
12- Electrical Drawings
13- Data Sheets
1- Process Description
 Water Problems
Water Problems Feed Water Media Treatment Chemical
Requirements Treatment
Suspend Solids NTU < 1 or Depth Filter Inject Coagulants/
SDI < 3 (5 max) Flocculants
(TSS)
Chlorine 0 ppm Carbon Filter Sodium Meta Bisulfite
(SBS)
(Oxidizers) (inject 2 x Cl conc.)
Hardness Softened Water Softener Antiscalant
(~ 5 ppm)

Bacteria 0 counts Ultra Violet Light or Chlorine

Ozone
Water Problems
Other Problematic Minerals
Water Problems Feed Water Media Treatment Chemical
Requirements Treatment

Iron, Hydrogen Fe (2+), 4 ppm Manganese Green Sand 1) Chlorinate

Sulfide Fe (3+), 0.1 ppm 2) Filter
3) Dechlorinate
Silica Will precipitate at ~150 NA 1) Special Antiscalant
ppm Dispersant.
2) Reduce RO
Recovery
Equipment For Reverse Osmosis
Desalination Systems

•Pretreatment System
• Reverse Osmosis System

• Post Treatment System

Pretreatment Steps
- The Pretreatment Process May Consists Of All Or
Some Of The Following Treatment Steps:
 Removal Of Large Particles Using a Coarse Strainer.
 Water Disinfection With Chlorine.
 Clarification With Or Without Flocculation.
 Clarification and Hardness Reduction Using Lime Treatment.
 Media Filtration.
 Reduction Of Alkalinity By pH Adjustment.
 Addition Of Scale Inhibitor.
 Reduction Of Free Chlorine Using Sodium Bisulfite Or Activated Carbon Filters.
 Water Sterilization Using UV Radiation.
 Final Removal Of Suspended Particles Using Bag Filter and Cartridge Filters.
Pretreatment System
 Pumps
 Tanks
 Valves
 Filtration
 Chemicals
 Dosing Pumps
 Mechanical Mixer
 Pipe Size
 Instrumentation
Pretreatment Pumps
Intake pump
- VFD

Feed pump
- VFD

BW pump
- Suitable

Dosing pump
- Complete Dosing Set
Pretreatment Tanks
Raw Water Tank

Filtrated Sea Water Tank

Dosing Tank
 Pretreatment Valves
Low Pressure pipe and fittings shall be schedule 80 PVC

Butterfly Valves
Ball Valves
NR Valves
Pressure Relief Valves
Pretreatment Filtration
 Screen
- manual /auto
 Clarifier
- Lamella Settler, Dissolved Air Flotation , Polymer Preparation and Coagulant
Dosing Station
 Deep Filters
- Sand, Activated Carbon, Softener, Iron Removal and Re-mineralization Filter
 Fine Filters
- Bag and Cartridge
 Ultra-Filtration
- In-Out/Out In
Pretreatment Chemicals
 Disinfection
 Coagulation
 Coagulation and Flocculation
 De-Chlorination
 Scale Inhibitor
 Ph adjustment
Pretreatment Dosing-Set
Pretreatment Mechanical
Mixer
Pretreatment Pipe (Type/Size)
Low Pressure pipe and fittings shall be schedule 80 PVC
Pretreatment Instrumentation
 Level switch (Low/High) all tanks including dosing tank

 Conductivity Meter feed water

 pH Meter feed water

 ORP Meter feed water

 Pressure Switch (Low/High) all pumps

 Pressure Gauge (Mechanical /Transmitter)

 Diff Pressure Switch pre-filtration

 Flow Meter (Mechanical /Digital) feed water

Pretreatment Desalination Process
 Equipment for Reverse
Osmosis Desalination Systems
• Pretreatment System

•Reverse Osmosis System

• Post Treatment System
Reverse Osmosis System

 Membranes
 Pressure Vessel
 Pumps
 Tanks
 Valves
 Energy recovery
 Pipe (Type /Size)
 Instrumentation
 RO Membranes
Felmitec

Hydronatics
 The Steps to Design a
Membrane System
 Step 1: Consider feed source, feed quality, feed/product flow, and required
product quality
 Step 2: Select the flow configuration and number of passes
 Step 3: Select membrane element type
 Step 4: Select average membrane flux
 Step 5: Calculate the number of elements needed
 Step 6: Calculate number of pressure vessels needed
 Step 7: Select number of stages
 Step 8: Select the staging ratio
 Step 9: Balance the permeate flow rate
 Step 10: Analyze and optimize the membrane system
Projection
Understanding The Difference Between Stages
In a Reverse Osmosis (RO) System
Difference between a 1 and 2 stage RO System:
 In a one stage RO system, the feed water enters the RO system as one stream and exits the
RO as either concentrate or permeate water
 the second stage. The permeate water is collected from the first stage is combined with per
meate water from the second stage. Additional stages increase the recovery from the syste
m.
Notice: RO System with Concentrate Recycle
 With an RO system that can’t be properly staged and the feed water chemistry allows for it
, a concentrate recycle setup can be utilized where a portion of the concentrate stream is f
ed back to the feed water to the first stage to help increase the system recovery.
Understanding the difference between passes
in a Reverse Osmosis (RO) system

Single Pass RO vs Double Pass RO

 with a double pass RO, the permeate from the first pass becomes the feed water
to the second pass (or second RO) which ends up producing a much higher quali
ty permeate because it has essentially gone through two RO systems.
 a double pass system also allows the opportunity to remove carbon dioxide gas
from the permeate by injecting caustic between the first and second pass.
RO Pressure Vessels
Codeline (Pentair) pressure
vessel
Codeline (Pentair) pressure
vessel
 4" CodeLine Membrane Housings
- End Port / End Entry 20 bar - 41 bar - 68 bar
- Side Port / Side Entry 20 bar - 31 bar - 41 bar

 8" CodeLine Membrane Housings

- End Port / End Entry 20 bar - 31 bar - 41 bar - 68 bar - 82 bar
- Side Port / Side Entry 10 bar - 20 bar - 31 bar - 41 bar - 68 bar - 82 bar
RO System Pumps
 HP Pump
- VFD

 2nd Pass HP pump

- VFD

 Booster Pump
- VFD

 Flushing Pump
 Cleaning Pump
- VFD
The Different Between Soft
Starter and VFD
Soft Starters
 is a solid-state device that protects AC electric motors from damage caused
by sudden influxes of power by limiting the large initial inrush of current
associated with motor startup. They provide a gentle ramp up to full speed
and are used only at startup (and stop, if equipped).

Variable Frequency Drives

 (VFD) is a motor control device that protects and controls the speed of an AC
induction motor. A VFD can control the speed of the motor during the start
and stop cycle, as well as throughout the run cycle.
RO System Tanks
Suck Back Tank

Flushing Tank

Cleaning Tank
RO System Valves
 Butterfly Valves
- shall be of 316 stainless steel construction with Teflon seat, body seal and stem seal.

 3 Way Valves
 Ball Valves
 NR Valves
 Concentrate Valve
- The reject- control valve shall be a 300# rated stainless steel single seat globe valve, with
socket weld ends.
RO Energy Recovery
PX Turbocharger
Pressure Exchanger
How It Works?
Turbocharger
How It Works?
Post Treatment Summary
Post-Treatment Pipe (Type/Size)
Low Pressure pipe and fittings shall be schedule 80 PVC
Post-Treatment Instrumentation
 Level switch (Low/High) all tanks including dosing tank

 Conductivity Meter product line

 pH Meter product line

 Chlorine sensor product line

 Pressure Switch (Low/High) all pumps

 Pressure Gauge (Mechanical /Transmitter)

 Flow Meter (Mechanical /Digital) product line
RO Strategy Control
Electrical Control Panel
- The panel shall contain all the control logic circuitry for the R.O. system, wells, and post-treatment
and distribution systems, with all switches, indicators, etc. mounted on the door. The following
switches and indicator lights are required as a minimum:
 Main Power Breaker
 Main Power Indicator light
 Control Power Indicator Light
 Well Selector - ON/OFF/AUTO
 Plant Selector - ON/OFF/AUTO
 Distribution Pumps Selector - ON/OFF/AUTO
 RO Feed Pump Low Suction Pressure Indicator Light
 RO Pump High Discharge Pressure Indicator Light
 Low Feed pH Indicator Light
 Company Offer
1- Process Description
2- Membrane Projection

3- Chemical Consumption
4- Equipment List
5- Power Consumption List
6- Instrumentation list
7- Cable List
8- Power Components List
 Company offer
9- Controller List
10- Process and Instrumentation Diagram (PID)
11- Mechanical Drawings
12- Electrical Drawings
13- Data Sheets
Chemical Consumption
Anti-Scalant
Equipment List
Power Consumption List
Instrumentation list
Cable List
Power Components List
Controller List
Process and Instrumentation
Diagram (PI&D)
Mechanical Drawings
Electrical Drawings
Data Sheets
Commissioning
& Start-up
What We Commission?
 Process Mechanical- Rotating equipment (pumps and motors), chemical
feed systems, tanks, and piping/piping accessories, valves

 Electrical- Switchgear, generators, motor controls, low voltage distribution

equipment

 Instrumentation and Controls for Process Equipment

 (HVAC/R is also commissioned but is outside the scope of this presentation)

Pre-Start-Up Checklist
 Corrosion resistant materials of construction are used for all equipment from the
supply source to the membrane including piping, vessels, instruments and wetted
parts of pumps
 All piping and equipment is compatible with designed pressure
 All piping and equipment is compatible with designed pH range (cleaning)
 All piping and equipment is protected against galvanic corrosion
 Media filters are backwashed and rinsed
 New/clean cartridge filter is installed directly upstream of the high pressure
pump
 Feed line, including RO feed manifold, is purged and flushed, before pressure
vessels are connected
 Chemical addition points are properly located
 Check/anti-siphon valves are properly installed in chemical addition lines
 Provisions exist for proper mixing of chemicals in the feed stream
 Dosage chemical tanks are filled with the right chemicals
 Provisions exist for preventing the RO system from operating when the dosage
pumps are shut down
 Provisions exist for preventing the dosage pumps from operating when the RO
system is shut down
 If chlorine is used, provisions exist to ensure complete chlorine removal prior to
the membranes
 Planned instrumentation allows proper operation and monitoring of the
pretreatment and RO system
 Planned instrumentation is installed and operative
 Instrument calibration is verified
 Pressure relief protection is Installed and correctly set
 Provisions exist for sampling raw water, feed, permeate and concentrate streams
from each stage and the total plant permeate stream
 Pressure vessels are properly piped both for operation and cleaning mode
 Pressure vessels are secured to the rack or frame per manufacturer’s instructions
 Precautions as given in Loading of Pressure Vessels (Section 4.1 & 4.2), are taken
 Membranes are protected from temperature extremes (freezing, direct sunlight, heater
exhaust, etc.)
 Pumps are ready for operation: aligned, lubricated, proper rotation
 Fittings are tight
 Cleaning system is installed and operative
 Permeate line is open
 Permeate flow is directed to drain (In double-pass systems, provisions exist to flush first
pass without permeate going through the second pass)
 Reject flow control valve is in open position
 Feed flow valve is throttled and/or pump bypass valve is partly open to limit feed flow to
less than 50% of operating feed flow
 RO
Troubleshooting
1- Common Failures - Reverse Osmosis Systems
Chemical Cleaning
2-Replacing Reverse Osmosis Membrane
Elements
 shut down and drained
 remove both of the vessel end-caps. The elements can then be removed in their normal
direction of flow.
 The U-Cup brine seals and the inter-connector O-Rings can be sparingly lubricated with
glycerin to aid fitting.
 After element replacement is completed, any gaps should be limited with shims. The end
caps can then be installed and the reverse osmosis system started.
 system should be filled with low-pressure water prior to starting the high-pressure pump.
 Any new elements should be rinsed to drain to remove any residual preservative
chemicals.
3- Replacing O-Rings - Reverse
Osmosis Systems
 Commonly Cause abrasion and Failure Of The O-Rings
That Seal The Inter-Connector To The Element Permeate
Tube.

 A sudden Increase In Permeate Conductivity.

4-Probing - Reverse Osmosis
Systems
 To help identify problems affecting reverse osmosis
systems.

 Probing involves inserting flexible tubing through one of

the vessel permeate connections as a means of diverting the
permeate from a specific area within the elements. This
water is then tested for conductivity with a portable meter.
5-Profiling a Reverse Osmosis Array

 the ability to isolate the problem to a particular location within

the system provides valuable information as to the precise
nature of the problem.

 This will help to determine the remedial action which may

include cleaning, O-ring replacement, RO membrane element
replacement etc.
6- Shimming - Reverse Osmosis
Systems
 This occurs because the pressure drop across the elements can cause
them to compress

 Fouling or high flow rates can also result in significant movement,

mostly when the reverse osmosis system starts-up.
RO Troubleshooting Matrix
Thank You