480 Tonne/Day Industrial Reverse Osmosis System – 20 m³/Hour

The 480 Tonne Industrial Reverse Osmosis System brings the main components that high-flow reverse osmosis requires together in a single package.

The 480 Tonne Industrial Reverse Osmosis System is designed for large sites that need low-conductivity process water at around 20 m³ an hour.

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The 480 Tonne Industrial Reverse Osmosis System is a membrane separation system: water is passed through semi-permeable membranes under high pressure, and the part that cannot pass through the membrane is separated as a concentrate stream carrying the retained substances. This working principle of reverse osmosis is also described in the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) overview of treatment technologies.

1. 1

   Pre-Treated Water and the Cartridge Filter

   Water that has passed through the sand, carbon and softening stages enters the system and first goes through the FRP-bodied cartridge filter. The cartridge filter protects the membrane surface by holding back fine particles; the low-pressure switch monitors the inlet pressure.

2. 2

   Fed Under High Pressure

   The AISI 304 stainless vertical centrifugal pump raises the water pressure to the level the membranes need. The system is designed for a maximum working pressure of 12 bar; the high-pressure switch monitors this side.

3. 3

   20 Membranes in Four Vessels

   The pressurised water passes through the twenty 8 inch spiral-wound membranes in the four FRP vessels. Water molecules pass through the membrane and reach the product water line; most of the dissolved salts stay on the feed side of the membrane.

4. 4

   Product Water and Concentrate Separate

   Three quarters of the feed water is separated as product water and the rest as concentrate. The pressure regulating valve on the reject line balances the recovery; the flow meters, pressure gauges and conductivity meter show the values in real time.

5. 5

   Automatic Control and Autoflush

   The control panel with its electronic board manages the pump and the valves with electric actuators; the autoflush system flushes the membrane surface automatically. The optional CIP unit carries out chemical cleaning of the membranes with a tank and pump sized for the system.

When choosing the 480 Tonne Industrial Reverse Osmosis System, the daily requirement, the raw water analysis, the pre-treatment line and the panel options should be assessed together.

The 480 Tonne Industrial Reverse Osmosis System runs steadily with regular monitoring and timely maintenance.

• The pressure difference between the inlet and outlet of the cartridge filter should be monitored; when the difference becomes noticeable, the cartridges should be replaced.
• On the 480 Tonne Industrial Reverse Osmosis System, the product water flow rate, conductivity and pressure readings should be recorded regularly; a fall in product flow or a rise in conductivity can point to build-up on the membrane surface and may call for a membrane clean.
• The feed water should be checked by periodic water analysis against its TDS, SDI, iron, silica and temperature limits.
• TFC membranes are sensitive to free chlorine; the carbon stage should be checked regularly, and no free chlorine should remain in the feed water.
• The antiscalant dosing system is not included in the package; it should be planned separately according to the water analysis, and the chemical level should be monitored.
• The backwash and regeneration settings of the pre-treatment units should not be neglected; a fault in pre-treatment is passed straight on to the membranes.