1

Reverse Osmosis Training

PJB Academy

Gresik, 21 March 2018

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Topics
 RO Fundamental
 RO Configuration
 Membrane Fouling
 RO Monitoring
 Membrane Cleaning
 Membrane Degradation
 Membrane Autopsy
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RO Fundamental
 4

Filtration and Particle Size

Proteins

Bacteria
Granular Media Filtration

Viruses

Sand
Ions
10+ Filtration

1.0

0.1 Microfiltration
microns

0.01 Ultrafiltration

0.001 Nanofiltration

0.0001 Reverse Osmosis

What Membranes Will Do
 Reverse Osmosis
 0.1 – 5% of ions the size of Na+ and Cl- will pass through the
membrane
 0.01 – 1% of ions the size of Al3+ and SO42- will pass through
 Sucrose will not pass through
 Nano Filtration
 25% of ions the size of Na+ and Cl- will bass through the
membrane
 0.1 – 5% of ions the size of Al3+ and SO42- will pass through
 Small amounts of sucrose will pass through
 Microfiltration and Ultra Filtration
 Na+ , Cl- , Al3+ , SO42- , sucrose will all pass through
Where Membranes are Used
 Reverse Osmosis and Nano Filtration
 Remove low molecular weight dissolved organics and ions
from water
 Concentration of some process streams
 Ultra Filtration
 Remove organics (TOC) from water
 Concentrate process streams
 Bacteria / virus removal
 Micro Filtration
 Remove suspended solids
 Clarification of water and other fluids
 7

Reverse Osmosis (RO) Overview

OSMOSIS OSMOSIS REVERSE

INITIAL CONDITION OSMOSIS
Applied
Osmotic Pressure
Pressure

High Low High Low

Semi-permeable
Semi-permeable membrane
membrane
 Thin Film Composite
Polyamide Membrane Polyamide
Ultra-thin
Barrier Layer

0.2 micron
Microporous
40 micron Polysulfone

Reinforcing
120 micron Fabric
 Thin Film Composite Membrane
Barrier Layer

Polysulfone

Support Layer
Thin Film Composite (TFC) Surfaces
Membrane Modules

Most TFC modules are Spiral Wound

Membrane Element Principle
Glue line

Brine spacer or
Feed spacer

Product spacer or
Permeate spacer
Product tube
Membrane Element Principle

Feed spacer

Permeate spacer

Membrane leaf

Courtesy of The Dow Chemical Company

Membrane Modules

Spiral wound module

Pressure Vessel

Pressure vessels hold the membrane modules.

 Designed to contain pressurized feed water and reject

 Pressure Housing Materials
 Fiberglass or stainless steel
Pressure Vessel

MULTI-MODULE PRESSURE VESSEL

Product
[Permeate]

Feed Concentrate
[Reject]

Contains 1, 3, 4, 6, or 7 modules in series

 17

Interconnector
 Function : to connect permeate (product) water from the one membrane
to another membrane without contamination from feedwater or reject
water
Interconnector

Concentrate
Sliding Sliding
Seal Seal

Permeate

Concentrate

O – ring
 18

Interlocking End Caps

A single axial seal with rotational connection
replaces two sliding seals and eliminates the
possibility of o-ring damage.

Normal interconnector iLEC™

interlocking
 19

Interlocking End Caps

No reduction in the diameter of the permeate tube means less resistance
to permeate flow.

Standard Coupler iLEC Interlocking Endcaps

Concentrate
Sliding Sliding
Seal Seal

Standard Coupler Permeate

iLEC Connection

Fixed
Concentrate
Seal
 20

RO Pressure Vessel End Caps

Function of the end caps : to
maintain the membrane position
& prevent water leakage out of
pressure vessel
Key Terminology

Permeate
Feed
Water

Concentrate
Key Terminology
 Permeate, Product
 Water that has gone through the membrane
 Reject, Concentrate, Brine
 Water that did not go through the membrane
 Rejection (%)
 Measurement of how well the membrane prevents salt (NaCl)
from passing through the membrane
 Passage (%)
 1 - Rejection
Recovery

75% Recovery

FEED PRODUCT
100 gpm 75 gpm

25 gpm

REJECT
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Recovery Ratio (% Recovery)

A Single Membrane is capable of 15% recovery

10,000 gpd 1,500 gpd

1000 ppm TDS 10 ppm TDS

8,500 gpd
1,150 ppm TDS
 25

Recovery Ratio (% Recovery)

Typical Membrane housings have (6) membranes that are
concentrate-staged,
 26

RO Configuration
Stages – Single Stage RO System

TRAIN #1
FEED
PERMEATE
HIGH
PRESSURE
PUMP

TRAIN #2 BRINE

VESSEL

ELEMENTS
Stages – 2 Stages RO System

Stage 1 Stage 2

PRODUCT

FEED

REJECT
Array – 2 x 1 Array

STAGE 1 STAGE 2

PRODUCT

FEED

REJECT
2 Stages RO System

STAGE 1 STAGE 2

PRODUCT

FEED

REJECT
Feed is divided evenly among
all the pressure vessels in Stage 1
2 Stages RO System

STAGE 1 STAGE 2

PRODUCT

FEED

REJECT

The reject from Stage 1 becomes the feed stage 2

2 Stages RO System

STAGE 1 STAGE 2

PRODUCT

FEED

REJECT

Product from the First Stage is Combined

2 Stages RO System
STAGE 1 STAGE 2

PRODUCT

FEED

REJECT
Product from the First Stage is combined with Product
from the Second Stage
2 Stages RO System

STAGE 1 STAGE 2

PRODUCT

FEED

REJECT
Reject from the Second Stage becomes Total Overall
Reject from the system
2 Stages RO System
STAGE 1 STAGE 2

PRODUCT

FEED

REJECT

Additional Stages Increase the Recovery of the System

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2 Stages RO System

Vessel

Stage 1
Stage 2
Train
Recovery
STAGE 1 STAGE 2
75 gpm
50 gpm
PRODUCT

25 gpm
FEED 50
gpm
100
gpm

25 gpm
REJECT
50% RECOVERY
PER STAGE
Rejection
STAGE 1 STAGE 2
50 75
2.67 ppm
2 ppm PRODUCT
25
FEED 4 ppm
50
100
200
ppm 25
100ppm
400 ppm
REJECT
98%
REJECTION
Recycle
STAGE 1 STAGE 2

PRODUCT

FEED

REJECT RECYCLE REJECT

Recycle
 Recycle Advantages
 Maintains high cross-flow velocity when flow rates are low
 Minimized fouling and scaling potentials
 Recycle Disadvantages
 Brings “Dirty,” high-concentration reject in contact with relatively
“Clean,” low-concentration lead membranes
 Lowers overall product quality
 Increases operating pressure
Multiple Passes – 2 Pass System

The Permeate from Pass 1 becomes the Feed of Pass 2

The reject from Pass 2 is usually Recycled
 42

Membrane Fouling
Membrane Fouling
The special material & structure of membrane
increase the fouling opportunities

Tight Spacing Rough Surfaces

Limited Fouling Tolerance Rough Surface is easily Fouled

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Membrane Fouling
 It is the major issue of membrane system.
 It causes less product, more energy & poor quality.
 It can be minimized by mechanical, operation and chemical
aspects.
 Those aspects should be closely monitored, controlled and
analyzed to take timely actions and avoid system failure.
Membrane Fouling

Feed water
spacer
Microbio
Organic fouling
Colloid fouling
Feed water
Membrane
surface
XXXXXXXXXXX
 When Membrane Fouling Happens…

 Pressure drop increase

 Feed pressure changes
 Normalized product water
flux changes
 Salt reject rate changes
 Common Issues (1)
 Colloid and Particle Fouling
 Suspended particle
 Colloid silica
 Carbon powder
 Metal oxide (e.g. Fe)

 Pretreatment
Pretreatmentissue
issue：：High
HighSDI!
SDI!
 Cartridge
Cartridgefilter
filterbypassed
bypassed
 Active
ActiveCarbon
Carbonleakage
leakage
 Debris
Debrisininpipeline
pipeline
 Pipe
Pipecorrosion
corrosion
Common Issues (2)
 Microbio Fouling
 Alga
Bio-Slime Nematode
 Bacteria
 Bio-slime

 Organic Fouling
 Natural organic matter (humic acid)
 Oil (pump sealant, new pipeline ）
 Overdosage of antiscalant
 Overdosage cationic flocculants

 Microbio
Microbioout
outof
ofcontrol
controlin
inthe
the
pretreament
pretreamentandandRO
RO
 High
Highfeeding
feedingorganic,
organic,e.g.
e.g.COD,
COD,TOC
TOC
 Chemical
Chemicalissues
issues
Common Issues (3)

 Scaling
 CaCO3
 CaSO4
 Ca3(PO4)2
 SiO2

 Design
Design problem
problem
 Feed
Feed water
water variation,
variation, e.g.
e.g.
pH,
pH, alkalinity
alkalinity
 Chemical
Chemical issues
issues
 Common Issues (4)

 Membrane Performance
Decrease
 Hydrolysis (too high or low pH)
 Oxidization (Cl2, H2O2, KMnO4)
 Mechanical damage (back pressure,
impact, or particle scrub)
Membrane Fouling Mean COST !
Expensive Cost!
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Membrane Fouling and Its Location

Biofouling

Organic fouling
Metal oxide Inorganic
scaling
Colloid fouling
Metal silicate
How to Identify Fouling Type
Based on the positions of fouling happening
Fouling Start from
Scaling/Silica Last membrane
Metal oxide First membrane in first stage
Colloid First membrane in first stage
Organic First membrane in first stage
Biofouling (Quick ） First membrane in first stage
(Slow ） All membranes
Based on the changes of operation data
Normalized Pressur
Fouling e
Salt reject Position
Product flux rate
drop

Scaling ¯ ­ ß End

Metal oxide ß Ý ß Lead

Colloid/Silica ¯ ­ ¯ Lead/End

Organic ¯ ­ ­ Lead

Biofouling ß Ý ¯ Lead
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How to Prevent RO Fouling?

 Good Pretreatment
 Good Monitoring and Control
 Good Cleaning Implementation
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Pretreatment
 Type: Pre-filters, Multimedia, Softeners, Chemical Feed
Systems, others
 Effects of poor pretreatment…
 Cleaning more than 4 times per year
 Replacing membranes more than once every 3 years
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RO Monitoring
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System Monitoring is Critical

 % Salt Rejection & % Salt Passage
 Differential Pressure
 Permeate Flowrate
 % Recovery
 Silt Density Index (SDI)
 Water Analysis
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Normalized Permeate Flow

 Permeate Flow is drastically affected by:

Pressure

Temperature
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Normalized Permeate Flow

 It is necessary to normalize so that the effects of pressure,
temperature, and concentration are cancelled.
 As a result, any changes observed in the normalized
product flow are due to membrane fouling, scaling, or
degradation.
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Temperature Correction Factor

Example: Membrane Manufacturer’s Data
(normalizing to 25OC)
TFC Membrane
15OC TCF = 1.498
20OC TCF = 1.220
25OC TCF = 1.000
30OC TCF = 0.825
35OC TCF = 0.685
Normalized Permeate Flow

Normalized Flow 
AAPs   s  x TCFs x Actual Flow
AAPa   a  x TCFa
Where:
[AAPa-DPa] = Average Driving Force
TCFa = Temperature Correction Factor
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Raw Data vs Normalized Data

370 84.0

350 79.5

330 74.9

Product flow, M3 / h
Product flow, gpm

310 70.4

290 Raw data 65.9
 Normalized data

270  Membrane Cleaning 61.3

250 56.8
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Operating time (days)
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% Recovery

% Recovery = (Permeate Flow) x 100 %

Feed/Inlet Flow
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% Salt Rejection & % Salt Passage

% Salt Rejection = (TDSfeed - TDSProduct) x 100

TDSfeed

% Salt Passage = TDSProduct x 100

TDSfeed

Common to use conductivity measurement as an indication of TDS

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% Salt Rejection & % Salt Passage

Conductivity Factor

TDSfeed = 0.6 x Conductivityfeed

TDSpermeate = 0.5 x Conductivitypermeate

TDSreject = 0.7 x Conductivityreject

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Differential Pressure

= Feed Pressure - Concentrate Pressure

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Silt Density Index (SDI15)

Measure the tendency of fouling (from the water) in the membranes

• Measure the amount of time required for

500 ml of feedwater to flow through a
0.45 micrometer Millipore filter (47 mm
in diameter) at a pressure of 30 psig
(2.1 bar)

• Allow the feedwater to continue flowing

at 30 psig (2.1 bar) applied pressure
and measure the time required for 500
ml to flow through the filter after 15
minutes.
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Silt Density Index (SDI15)

Calculating the SDI by using the equation below :

where :

SDI : Silt Density Index

Tt : Total elapsed test time (15 minutes)
Ti : Initial time in seconds required to collect the 500 ml sample
Tf : Time in seconds required to collect the second 500 ml sample after
test time Tt (normally after 15 minutes).
SDI15 sampling : after Cartridge Filter
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Silt Density Index (SDI15)

 70

SDI and Typical Cleaning Frequency

 SDI 3 -5 4 times /year
 SDI 1- 3 2 times /year
 SDI < 1 1 times /year
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High SDI Measurement

What should we do? Focus on Pre – Treatment

• Check Turbidity Outlet Clarifier

• Check Filtration Efficiency
• Check Coagulant & Flocculant dosage
• Check Organic Content (COD)
• Check Total Iron (it’s different method analysis with Fe – HL)
• Check Total Silica (it’s different method analysis with SiO2 HR)
• Check Total Manganese (it’s different method analysis with Mn)
 72

RO Required Water Quality

Item Measure Guideline
Suspended solids Turbidity < 1 NTU
Colloids SDI <3
Organics TOC < 3 ppm
Color Color < 3 APHA
Metals: Fe, Mn, Al ppm < 0.05
H2S ppm < 0.10
Silica (soluble) SiO2 200 ppm*
Ba, Sr ppm < 0.05
Chlorine, free ppm < 0.02
Microbes Dip slides < 1000 CFU/ml*
 73

Suggested RO Monitoring and Location

Parameter Feed Inter-stage Product Reject

Pressure X X X X

Flow Rate X X X

Conductivity X X X X

Temperature X

pH X X

Water Testing X

SDI X
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This is NOT what to do

 75

This is what to do
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RO Trouble Shooting Guide

No Permeate Salt DP Causes Actions
Flow Passage
• Oxidation/ • Check
degradation dechlorination
• Membrane break system/ ORP
1
• O-ring leak • Profiling & probing
• Product tube
leak
• Scaling • Check softener
• Colloidal fouling • Check antiscalant
• Metal oxide • Check SDI
2 fouling • Check media filter
(channeling)
• Check pipe for
corrosion
• Biofouling • Microbio analysis
3 • Natural Org in whole system
Matter (NOM) • Check chlorination
 77

Trouble Shooting Guide

No Permeate Salt DP Causes Actions
Flow Passage
• Organics fouling • Check
dechlorination
4
system/ ORP
• Profiling & probing
• Compaction • Check high
2 • Organic operating pressure
adsorption
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Profiling and Probing

 79

Profiling and Probing

 Use to pinpoint where in the RO unit membranes may be
leaking, either due to physical damage to the membrane or,
more commonly, due to damaged or missing O-rings
located on module interconnectors

Profiling Probing
Profiling & Probing
Profiling:
Find the pressure vessel with high conductivity
permeate

80
Profiling & Probing
Probing :
Determines which interconnector, O-ring or membrane
module/element has high conductivity
1/4”
RO Vessel Containing 6 Elements Polypropylene
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Tubing
Case Study – Profiling & Probing
Membrane Damaged

Membrane Sheet

82
 83

Case Study – Profiling & Probing

Profilling Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) Train #B :

Probing Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) Train #B Pressure Vessel B5 :

Conclusion :
 Please check O-ring/interconnector between end caps with the membrane no. 1 or
check membrane no. 1.
 O-ring/interconnector between membrane no. 3 & membrane no. 4 or check membrane
no. 3.
 84

Membrane Cleaning
 85

When to Clean the Membranes

 Decreasing permeate flow 10 – 15 % from the last cleaning
 Decreasing % Salt Rejection 10 – 15 % from the last
cleaning
 Increasing ∆P 10 – 15 % from the last cleaning
 After 3 month operation
 Before long time shutdown
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When to Clean the Membrane ?

 Normal Cleaning

Normalized Cleaning at
Permeate flow 10-15% decrease
could make RO
performance
Clean at 10-15% decrease restored

Time
 Abnormal Cleaning

Normalized
Permeate flow RO performance
would be
decreased when
cleaning after a
Clean after decrease >15% decrease > 15%
Time occurs
 87

Cleaning – Design (Mechanical)

FEED PRESSURE & FLOW

TEMPERATURE
 88

Cleaning – Design (Mechanical)

• Return line (green color) should be submerged in cleaning solution (below the level of
liquid in Storage Tank) to prevent excessive foaming.
• Return line should be far from the pump suction to prevent pump cavitation
 89

Cleaning – Chemicals
Solution pH Types Cleans Nalco Products

Alkaline pH Surfactants Organics PC-98

Oxidant (mild) Biofouling PC-40
Sequestrants PC-67
PC-33
Acidic pH Phosporic or Carbonate scale PC-77
Citric Acid Iron Oxide PC-87
Sulfate
Neutral pH Non Oxidizing Microbio PC-56
Biocides PC-11
 90

Cleaning Implementation – Alkaline Cleaning

 Remove organic & inorganic fouling
 Chemical : PC – 98, PC – 40 & NaOH for pH adjustment
 Please loading PC – 40 first for dilution
 Do not inject/dose antifoam in the cleaning system to
eliminate foam
 Record flow, pressure & temperature and maintain within
the range
 91

Cleaning Implementation – Acid Cleaning

 Remove scaling
 Chemical : PC – 77 & HCl for pH adjustment
 Maintain pH during acid cleaning
 Record flow, pressure & temperature and maintain within
the range
 92

Cleaning Implementation – Sanitation

 Sanitation
 Remove microbiological
 Chemical PC - 11
 93

Cleaning – Chemistry
 Record for water analysis (pH, conductivity, turbidity, T.
Iron, Silica & Manganese)
 Maintain pH within the range (11 – 11.5 for alkaline cleaning
& 2 – 3 for acid cleaning)
Case Study – Cleaning
 Plant has Pre-Treatment Clarifier, Multimedia Filter & Cartridge Filter
 High iron content in the feed water
 Cleaning never do @ the plant

MEMBRANE PHOTOGRAPH

94
Case Study – Cleaning
CHEMICAL FOR CLEANING

 Alkaline Cleaning :PC - 98 (4 %), PC - 40 (0.5 %) & N 8507 (as pH

adjustment)
 Acid Cleaning : PC – 77 (4 %) & N 6197 (as pH adjustment)
 Sanitation : PC – 11 (0.01 %)

95
 Case Study – Cleaning
TREND GRAPH DURING ALKALINE CLEANING – 1st STAGE
Turbidity (FAU) during Alkaline Clean-
pH during Alkaline Cleaning ing
12 140
11.5 120
11 100
80
10.5
60
10
40
9.5
20
9
0
12:00 12:15 12:30 12:45 13:00 14:00 14:15 14:30 14:45 15:00
12:00 12:15 12:30 12:45 13:00 14:00 14:15 14:30 14:45 15:00

Total Iron (ppm Fe) during Alkaline

Cleaning
20

15

10

0
12:0012:1512:3012:4513:0014:0014:1514:3014:4515:00

96
 Case Study - Cleaning
TREND GRAPH DURING ACID CLEANING – 1st STAGE

pH during Acid Cleaning Turbidity (NTU) during Acid Cleaning

5 20
4.5 18
4 16
3.5 14
3 12
2.5 10
2 8
1.5 6
1 4
0.5 2
0 0
19:24 19:39 19:54 20:09 20:24 21:24 21:39 21:54 22:09 22:24 19:24 19:39 19:54 20:09 20:24 21:24 21:39 21:54 22:09 22:24

Total Iron (ppm Fe) during Acid

Cleaning
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
19:2419:3919:5420:0920:2421:2421:3921:5422:0922:24

97
 Case Study - Cleaning
TREND GRAPH DURING ALKALINE CLEANING – 2nd STAGE

pH during Alkaline Cleaning Turbidity (FAU) during Alkaline Cleaning

12 90
80
11.5
70
11 60
50
10.5
40
10 30
20
9.5
10
9 0
12:15 12:30 12:45 13:00 13:15 14:30 14:45 15:00 15:15 12:15 12:30 12:45 13:00 13:15 14:30 14:45 15:00 15:15

Total Iron (ppm Fe) during Alkaline

Cleaning
20

15

10

0
12:15 12:30 12:45 13:00 13:15 14:30 14:45 15:00 15:15

98
 Case Study - Cleaning
TREND GRAPH DURING ACID CLEANING – 2nd STAGE

pH during Acid Cleaning Turbidity (NTU) during Acid Cleaning

5 20

4 16

3 12

2 8

1 4

0 0
20:00 20:15 20:30 20:45 21:00 22:00 22:15 22:30 22:45 23:00 20:00 20:15 20:30 20:45 21:00 22:00 22:15 22:30 22:45 23:00

Total Iron (ppm Fe) during Acid Cleaning

35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
20:00 20:15 20:30 20:45 21:00 22:00 22:15 22:30 22:45 23:00
99
Case Study – Plant Performance

 Increased permeate flow 34.56 % (before cleaning : 56

m3/hr & after cleaning : 75.4 m3/hr).
 ∆P decrease 27.8 % (before cleaning : 11.5 bar & after
cleaning : 9 bar).
 % Salt Rejection cannot measure due to no record trend
conductivity before cleaning

10
 101

Case Study – Cleaning Technology

 It has been proved in customer (PT. Tanjung Jati B Power
Services, PT. Sumber Segara Primadaya & PT. Indonesia
Power UJP Adipala).
 Use special treatment after cleaning with Nalco Chemicals.
 Permeate conductivity decrease after cleaning.
 102

Case Study – Cleaning Technology

(PT. Tanjung Jati B Power Services)
Before Cleaning
13-Nov-14 14-Nov-14
Parameter Units
21:00 23:00 1:00 3:00 5:00 7:00 9:00 11:00 13:00
Feed Conductivity µS/cm 49,980 50,110 50,080 50,050 50,020 50,160 51,870 51,970 51,640
Permeate Conductivity µS/cm 608.5 588.3 579.3 575.4 569.8 561.7 580 562.2 559.1
Permeate Flow m3/hr 150 150 150.8 151.1 151.5 153.4 153.4 150.7 150
Reject Flow m3/hr 241 241 242.7 242.8 242.9 244.1 242.7 240.6 239.7
Differential Pressure Bar 1.108 1.105 1.095 1.096 1.089 1.095 1.107 1.082 1.079

After Cleaning
15-Nov-14 16-Nov-14
Parameter Units
9:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00 1:00 3:00 5:00 7:00 9:00
Feed Conductivity µS/cm 50,240 50,150 51,830 51,830 51,830 51,980 52,100 52,050 52,020 52,030 51,800 51,800 51,980
Permeate Conductivity µS/cm 459.8 426 415 419.9 418.5 406.1 397.6 388.5 387.4 384.2 384 383.1 381.8
Permeate Flow m3/hr 149 150 151 149 150 150 150 151 150 151 149 150 150
Reject Flow m3/hr 244 245 245 245 240 241 242 242 243 243 240 241 241
Differential Pressure Bar 1.083 1.103 1.091 1.102 1.088 1.087 1.088 1.098 1.094 1.097 1.081 1.079 1.084
 103

Case Study – Cleaning Technology

(PT. Indonesia Power UJP Adipala)
After Cleaning (hours)
Parameter Before cleaning
1 2 6 12 24
Di fferenti a l Pres s ure (ba r) 1.4 1.14 1.14 1.14 1.1 1.1
Feed Conducti vi ty (µS/cm) 36,200 36,600 36,600 36,800 36,400 37,600
Permea te Conducti vi ty (µS/cm) 1,128 1,044 892 912 779 715
Sa l t Rejecti on (%) 97.40% 97.62% 97.97% 97.93% 98.22% 98.42%
Permea te Fl ow (m 3/h) 177 171 174 172 172 174
 104

Chemicals for RO
 Chemicals (Antiscalant & RO Chemical Cleaning) has been
approved by Membrane Manufacture.
 Every Membrane Manufacture has the procedure to test
every chemicals (compatibility test in the laboratory).
 Approval letter should be mentioned “Compatibility”.
 105

Compatibility Letter
 106

Nalco RO Optimizer
 RO Optimizer software is a program
used in reverse osmosis scale
control program for product
selection and dosage calculations.
 The tool calculates the SCALING
POTENTIAL of the RO system
based on the water chemistry,
operating conditions, analysis type
and selects the most suitable Nalco
antiscalants product and its dosage.
107
108
109
110
111
 112

Membrane Autopsy
Membrane Autopsy & Cleaning

 Membrane Autopsy
- Cut the membrane to observe and make analysis to get
the real reason for the performance drop.
 Membrane cleaning test
 Find the best suitable cleaning chemical and procedure to
recover membrane performance
 Membrane cleaning
 Clean 8-inch Membrane element
 Address ： Nalco PermaCare Servide center
(Northwich, UK) 、 Singapore Analysis
center 、 Naperville (USA) and Leiden(Europe)
 Shanghai Technical center （ 2010-May ）
 114

Autopsy Procedure
 115

Membrane Autopsy
 Visual observations
 Deposit and biofouling analysis
 Chemical components analysis
 Microbio analysis
 Membrane integrity test
 Fujiwara test
 Dye test
 Cleaning test
 Service report including system operation optimization
suggestion & best cleaning procedures
 116

Membrane Integrity Test

Feed Side Permeate Side

 117

Best Cleaning Program

-6% SUMMARY OF FLAT SHEET CLEANING RESULTS

% Flux Increase +92% +94%

50
+91%
NORMALISED FLUX (l/m2h) 25C

45
+63%
40
35

30
25

20
15

10
5

0
DESIGN VALUE 1 2 3 4
BEFORE CLEAN AFTER CLEAN FOLLOW ON CLEAN
 118

Membrane Damage Test

-6%
FLAT SHEET RESULTS FOR OXIDATION DAMAGED MEMBRANE

100
99.5
99
98.5
Salt Rejection 25C
2000 ppm NaCl

98
97.5
97
96.5
96
95.5
95
Nominal 1 2 3 4
BEFORE CLEAN AFTER CLEAN FOLLOW ON CLEAN
 119

RO Membrane Failures
 120

RO Membrane Failures
 Premature membrane
replacement which is caused
by Mechanical (Design),
Operational & Chemical
Problems
 Premature membrane
replacement is costly.
 121

Membrane Telescoping
Telescoping of the membrane is
caused by excessive differentials
between the feed pressure and
the concentrate pressure.
The maximum differential pressure
for a single 40” long membrane is
10 psi. When the pressure is
exceed, damage the membrane
and its materials of construction
can occur.
 122

Consequences of Telescoping
 Damage to the fiberglass outer wrapping allows water to flow on the
outside of the element. This will reduce crossflow across the membrane
surface and increase the fouling potential.
 If the feed spacer (vexar) moves within the membrane area, it can
scratch the membrane surface and cause permanent damage.
 Glue lines can be stressed and fail.
 Flow patterns will be disrupted, resulting in channeling over the
membrane surface and uneven fouling.
 The membrane crease will be stressed. Failure can occur at these
points near the permeate tube.
 123

Telescoping Prevention
 Monitor Pressure Differentials across the entire system as well as
across each array.
 If the fiberglass is damaged, repair with vinyl tape or place the brine
seals on the opposite end if the fiberglass and ATD are not damaged
on that end.
 Clean the system before pressure exceed 10 psi per membrane
element and correct any excessive fouling problems.
 124

Telescoping – Crack FRP Outer Wrap

 125

Telescoping – Protruding Feed Spacer

Fouled Membrane
(yellow color
indicate membrane
has been fouled
with Iron)

Feed Spacer
 126

Telescoping – Damage Feed Spacer Channel

 127

Membrane Scaling
 Failure Type : Scaling of a reverse
osmosis membrane may occur
when sparingly soluble salts are
concentrated within the element
beyond their solubility limit. Most
common scale : CaSO4, BaSO4,
Silica, CaF2, BaSO4 & SrSO4.
 Causes : incorrect antiscalant
application, high % recovery, use
H2SO4 for reducing pH, etc.
 Recommendation : proper
antiscalant application (membrane
compatibility, dosage, injection,
etc), adjust % recovery & use HCl
for reducing pH.
 128

Membrane Fouling
 Failure Type : Membrane fouling,
the main cause of permanent flux
decline and loss of product quality
in RO systems.
 Causes : Fouling in membrane is
caused by carry over of suspended
solid (suspended particle, organic
& bio fouling) in RO system.
 Recommendation : proper
antiscalant application, (dosage,
injection, etc), adjust % recovery &
use HCl for reducing pH.
 129

Membrane Oxidation
 Failure Type : Membrane
Oxidation, effect of oxidation will
increasing permeate flow &
permeate conductivity.
 Causes : Membrane exposure with
oxidant (NaOCl, H2O2, etc).
 Recommendation : prevent the
membrane from oxidant chemical
(injection with oxidant scavenger,
such as sodium
metabisulfite/sodium bisulfite).
 130

Permeate Backpressure
 Failure Type : Permeate
Backpressure, the rupture of the
membrane occurs mostly in the
edges between the feed-side glue
line, the outer glue line, and the
concentrate-side glue line.
 Causes : Will happen when
permeate static pressure exceeds
concentrate static pressure
 Recommendation : don’t do
backwash the membranes, install
check valve in permeate line to the
tank.
 131

Wrong Installation of Thrust Cone

 Failure Type : broken
ATD & push the
membrane.
 Causes : Wrong
installation of Thrust
Cone.
Correct Installation of Thrust Cone Wrong Installation of Thrust Cone

 Recommendation :
Correct membrane &
End Caps (Thrust
Cone) installation.

Impact of Wrong Installation of Thrust Cone

 132

Membrane Degradation

 RO membranes can degrade or

hydrolyze when exposed to certain
oxidants, pH changes, and extreme
temperatures.
 Once hydrolysis or degradation
occurs, the permeate quality,
permeate flow, and membrane life are
adversely affected.
 133

Typical Limit to Membrane Degradation

Parameter Polyamide (PA) Cellulose Acetate (CA)

Membrane Memrbane
pH 2.0 – 11.0* 5.0-6.5*

Temperature < 45 0C < 35 0C

Total Chlorine Trace 0.2-1.0 ppm

Physical Stability Better Good

*Check with membrane manufacturer limit/ guide line

 134

Thank You