Water Desalination & RO
RO Membrane Cleaning – Explaining The Science Behind The Art.
Credit to: https://idadesal.org/
Authors: Stephen P.Chesters
Matthew W. Armstrong
Introduction
Reverse Osmosis membrane cleaning is essential for efficient plant operation and yet there has been very little innovation or development in over 30 years. This paper reviews best practice on reverse osmosis (RO) membrane cleaning. It challenges preconceptions and describes novel approaches for the removal of foulants and scale deposits from membrane surfaces.
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Desalination At A Glance
Introduction:
By desalination, we will be referring to the production of a useful product water from a feed
water that is too high in inorganic materials (salts) to be useful. The feed water may be
seawater, brackish water, or other “impaired” water that cannot be used directly for potable
or general industrial purposes. Notice that this definition includes the treatment of certain
wastewaters for subsequent reuse.
The principal technologies used in desalination are based on concepts that are fairly easy to
grasp by those with a modest amount of scientific training and/or technical experience. In
practice, however, choices of technology and plant design are usually determined by factors
that might appear minor to the inexperienced. Similarly, new technologies that show great
promise in the laboratory frequently fail for reasons that were earlier overlooked or dismissed
as trivial. Indeed, professional fascination with specific technical elegance has, in some
cases, led researchers to remain oblivious to inherent limitations of a process. Nonetheless,
attention to detail over the past five decades has resulted in dramatic reductions in capital
and operating costs as well as greatly increased plant reliability and performance
Desalination At A Glance
Introduction:
By desalination, we will be referring to the production of a useful product water from a feed
water that is too high in inorganic materials (salts) to be useful. The feed water may be
seawater, brackish water, or other “impaired” water that cannot be used directly for potable
or general industrial purposes. Notice that this definition includes the treatment of certain
wastewaters for subsequent reuse.
The principal technologies used in desalination are based on concepts that are fairly easy to
grasp by those with a modest amount of scientific training and/or technical experience. In
practice, however, choices of technology and plant design are usually determined by factors
that might appear minor to the inexperienced. Similarly, new technologies that show great
promise in the laboratory frequently fail for reasons that were earlier overlooked or dismissed
as trivial. Indeed, professional fascination with specific technical elegance has, in some
cases, led researchers to remain oblivious to inherent limitations of a process. Nonetheless,
attention to detail over the past five decades has resulted in dramatic reductions in capital
and operating costs as well as greatly increased plant reliability and performance
Desalination Plant Basis Of Design
Overview:
The project potable water requirements will be provided using single desalination plant with the Grand Bahama Port Authority water supply serving as the backup source. The overall desalination treatment process will consist of feedwater pumping, bag filtration, optional media filtration, the addition of a scale
inhibitor, cartridge filtration, membrane separation, forced air degasification, re-pumping, and post treatment. Provisions have been included to bypass the post treatment systems for the production of irrigation water. The post aeration re-pump station will be designed to transfer either type of water to the
appropriate storage tanks located within the project. Membrane concentrate will be disposed via an injection well to be constructed as part of this project.
The desalination process will consist of a dual treatment units or “trains” each equipped with a positive displacement axial piston first pass membrane feed pump, first pass membrane array, energy recovery system, second pass membrane feed pump, second pass membrane array, high- and low-pressure
piping and instrumentation. The second pass system is designed to treat up to 60 percent of the first pass permeate. A membrane cleaning/flush system will be provided. The membrane post treatment will be designed to receive the flow from both units and consists of a forced air degasified, repumping, recarbonation, calcium carbonate up flow contactors to boost finished water hardness and alkalinity concentrations; and three chemical feed systems for the metering of a corrosion inhibitor, dilute hydrochloric acid for pH adjustment and sodium hypochlorite for residual disinfection. The final pH and chlorine residual will be controlled and recorded by a separate system. The following sections describe the various aspects of the facility in greater detail. Process flow
schematics are presented in Appendix A.
Desalination Plant Basis Of Design
Overview:
The project potable water requirements will be provided using single desalination plant with the Grand Bahama Port Authority water supply serving as the backup source. The overall desalination treatment process will consist of feedwater pumping, bag filtration, optional media filtration, the addition of a scale
inhibitor, cartridge filtration, membrane separation, forced air degasification, re-pumping, and post treatment. Provisions have been included to bypass the post treatment systems for the production of irrigation water. The post aeration re-pump station will be designed to transfer either type of water to the
appropriate storage tanks located within the project. Membrane concentrate will be disposed via an injection well to be constructed as part of this project.
The desalination process will consist of a dual treatment units or “trains” each equipped with a positive displacement axial piston first pass membrane feed pump, first pass membrane array, energy recovery system, second pass membrane feed pump, second pass membrane array, high- and low-pressure
piping and instrumentation. The second pass system is designed to treat up to 60 percent of the first pass permeate. A membrane cleaning/flush system will be provided. The membrane post treatment will be designed to receive the flow from both units and consists of a forced air degasified, repumping, recarbonation, calcium carbonate up flow contactors to boost finished water hardness and alkalinity concentrations; and three chemical feed systems for the metering of a corrosion inhibitor, dilute hydrochloric acid for pH adjustment and sodium hypochlorite for residual disinfection. The final pH and chlorine residual will be controlled and recorded by a separate system. The following sections describe the various aspects of the facility in greater detail. Process flow
schematics are presented in Appendix A.
Basics of Reverse Osmosis
What is Reverse Osmosis?
Reverse Osmosis is a technology that is used to remove a large majority of contaminants from water by
pushing the water under pressure through a semi permeable membrane. This paper is aimed towards an audience that has little of no experience with Reverse Osmosis and will attempt to explain the basics
in simple terms that should leave the reader with a better overall understanding of Reverse Osmosis technology and its applications.
Basics of Reverse Osmosis
What is Reverse Osmosis?
Reverse Osmosis is a technology that is used to remove a large majority of contaminants from water by
pushing the water under pressure through a semi permeable membrane. This paper is aimed towards an audience that has little of no experience with Reverse Osmosis and will attempt to explain the basics
in simple terms that should leave the reader with a better overall understanding of Reverse Osmosis technology and its applications.
Advanced Reverse Osmosis System Design
Overview of Advanced RO Design
• RO system design guideline variables
• Drivers for RO system configuration selection
• Principles and benefits of RO array flux balancing
• Array selection criteria to achieve permeate quality target
• Energy recovery
Advanced Reverse Osmosis System Design
Overview of Advanced RO Design
• RO system design guideline variables
• Drivers for RO system configuration selection
• Principles and benefits of RO array flux balancing
• Array selection criteria to achieve permeate quality target
• Energy recovery
Chemical Cleaning Effects On Properties And Separation Efciency Of An RO Membrane
Abstract: This study aims to investigate the impacts of chemical cleaning on the performance of a reverse osmosis
membrane. Chemicals used for simulating membrane cleaning include a surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS), a
chelating agent (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, EDTA), and two proprietary cleaning formulations namely MC3
and MC11. The impact of sequential exposure to multiple membrane cleaning solutions was also examined. Water
permeability and the rejection of boron and sodium were investigated under various water fluxes, temperatures and
feedwater pH. Changes in the membrane performance were systematically explained based on the changes in the
charge density, hydrophobicity and chemical structure of the membrane surface. The experimental results show that
membrane cleaning can significantly alter the hydrophobicity and water permeability of the membrane; however, its
impacts on the rejections of boron and sodium are marginal. Although the presence of surfactant or chelating agent
may cause decreases in the rejection, solution pH is the key factor responsible for the loss of membrane separation
and changes in the surface properties. The impact of solution pH on the water permeability can be reversed by
applying a subsequent cleaning with the opposite pH condition. Nevertheless, the impacts of solution pH on boron
and sodium rejections are irreversible in most cases
Chemical Cleaning Effects On Properties And Separation Efciency Of An RO Membrane
Abstract: This study aims to investigate the impacts of chemical cleaning on the performance of a reverse osmosis
membrane. Chemicals used for simulating membrane cleaning include a surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS), a
chelating agent (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, EDTA), and two proprietary cleaning formulations namely MC3
and MC11. The impact of sequential exposure to multiple membrane cleaning solutions was also examined. Water
permeability and the rejection of boron and sodium were investigated under various water fluxes, temperatures and
feedwater pH. Changes in the membrane performance were systematically explained based on the changes in the
charge density, hydrophobicity and chemical structure of the membrane surface. The experimental results show that
membrane cleaning can significantly alter the hydrophobicity and water permeability of the membrane; however, its
impacts on the rejections of boron and sodium are marginal. Although the presence of surfactant or chelating agent
may cause decreases in the rejection, solution pH is the key factor responsible for the loss of membrane separation
and changes in the surface properties. The impact of solution pH on the water permeability can be reversed by
applying a subsequent cleaning with the opposite pH condition. Nevertheless, the impacts of solution pH on boron
and sodium rejections are irreversible in most cases
Desalination: A National Perspective
NOTICE:
The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the panel responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.
Support for this study was provided by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation under Grant No. 06CS811198. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided
support for the project.
Desalination: A National Perspective
NOTICE:
The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the panel responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.
Support for this study was provided by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation under Grant No. 06CS811198. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided
support for the project.
Cleaning Your RO
Eventually the day comes when your RO system will require cleaning. Cleaning is recommended when your RO shows evidence of fouling, just prior to a long term shutdown, or as a matter of scheduled routine maintenance. Fouling characteristics that signal you need to clean are a 10-15% decrease in normalized permeate flow, a 10-15% decrease in normalized permeate quality, or a 10-15% increase in normalized pressure drop as measured between the feed and concentrate headers
Cleaning Your RO
Eventually the day comes when your RO system will require cleaning. Cleaning is recommended when your RO shows evidence of fouling, just prior to a long term shutdown, or as a matter of scheduled routine maintenance. Fouling characteristics that signal you need to clean are a 10-15% decrease in normalized permeate flow, a 10-15% decrease in normalized permeate quality, or a 10-15% increase in normalized pressure drop as measured between the feed and concentrate headers
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