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Water Treatment Process

Water Treatments Method :

Reverse Osmosis (RO) water treatment process involves water being forced under pressure ( Osmotic Pressure ) through a semipermeable  RO water treatments membrane. In this Reverse Osmosis water treatment process Temporary and permanent hardness, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Microorganisms and other bio germs contained in water are captured while the water is passed with high pressure through the Reverse Osmosis water treatment membrane.

The Reverse Osmosis water treatment Process is generally used for desalination of  Sea water treatment and  Brackish Water treatment for its conversion into potable water. In the whole  Water Treatments fields Reverse Osmosis water treatment Process usage in Industrial water treatment and Domestic  water treatment is huge. Reverse Osmosis water treatment is the main key of modern water treatments field to solve water requirements.

 

Simple flow diagram of Reverse Osmosis  water treatment systems is shown below.

Flow Diagram of a Reverse Osmosis System

Flow Diagram of a Reverse Osmosis System

In Reverse Osmosis water treatments, feed water is pumped at high pressure through permeable membranes, separating salts from the water. It is called Desalination of Reverse Osmosis (RO) water treatments. The feed water is pretreated to remove particles that would clog the membranes. The mechanism of Reverse Osmosis water treatment plant is shown below

Mechanism Of Reverse Osmosis Plant

Mechanism Of Reverse Osmosis Plant

The quality of the water produced depends on the pressure, the concentration of salts in the feed water, and the salt permeation constant of the membranes. Product water (permeate) quality can be improved by adding a second pass of membranes, whereby product water from the first pass is fed to the second pass.

Water Treatment Membrane Type and Materials

The water treatments membrane can be defined essentially as a barrier, which separates two phases and restricts transport of various chemicals in a selective manner. A membrane can be homogeneous or heterogeneous, symmetric or asymmetric in structure, solid or liquid, can carry a positive or negative charge or be neutral or bipolar. Transport through a water treatments membrane can be effected by convection or by diffusion of individual molecules, induced by an electric field or concentration, pressure or temperature gradient. In the Water treatment Membrane filtration are categorized according to their pore sizes as micro-filtration, ultra filtration, nano filtration and reverse osmosis. Micro filtration uses the largest pore size, reverse osmosis the smallest. Reverse Osmosis water treatment membranes have pore diameters ranging from 5 to 15 A degree (0.5 nm to 1.5 nm). The extremely small size of Reverse Osmosis  water treatments membrane pores allows only the smallest organic molecules and unchanged solutes to pass through the semi-permeable membrane along with the water. The water treatments membrane thickness for reverse osmosis may vary from as small as 100 micron to several millimeters. The first commercially available membranes, developed in the mid 1960s, were made of cellulose acetate (CA) manufactured in flat sheets. Modern Cellulose Acetate membranes are modifications of the cellulose acetate structure, including blends and different surface treatments, and are called cellulose or symmetric water treatments membrane.

water treatment RO membrane

Non-cellulose water treatments membranes, called thin-film composite membranes, have been developed since the 1970s. These include poly amide membranes with relatively thick asymmetric poly amide support structures and composite membranes with thin-film poly amide or other membrane materials on a porous support structure. Almost all water treatment Reverse Osmosis membranes are made of polymers, cellulose acetate and poly amide types rated at 96%-99+% salt rejection.

Water Treatment Reverse Osmosis membranes are generally of two types:

  •  Asymmetric or skinned water treatment membranes and
  •  Thin film composite (TFC) water treatment membranes.

The support material is commonly poly sulfones while the thin film is made from various types of poly amines, poly urea’s, etc.

Advantages and Disadvantages of  Water treatment Membrane.

Each Reverse osmosis water treatment membrane material has advantages and disadvantages. The CA-based Reverse Osmosis water treatment membranes are now generally the least expensive. Use of Cellulose Acetone  water treatments membranes generally requires chlorinated feed water and higher operating pressures than those needed by the composite water treatments membranes. Composite of Reverse Osmosis water treatment membranes generally operate over wider pH and temperature ranges than CA membranes. In some cases these operating characteristics of composite Reverse Osmosis water treatment membranes result in savings in electric power and chemical costs. Their greater pH tolerance provides additional advantages in cleaning for some applications. Sensitivity to chlorine and other strong oxidants in the feed water is a disadvantage of poly amide based membranes.

Water Treatment Membrane Configurations

Reverse Osmosis (RO) water treatment membranes are in several different configurations:

  1.  Hollow-Fiber Reverse Osmosis membrane
  2.  Spiral-Wound Reverse Osmosis Membrane
  3.  Tubular Reverse Osmosis Membrane  and
  4.  Plate and-Frame Reverse Osmosis Membrane

In the recent years, hollow-fiber and spiral-wound configurations have become the standard for Reverse Osmosis  (RO) water treatment. The predominance of the spiral wound configuration has resulted from recent advances in  water treatments membrane technology, which has been more easily translated into commercial flat-sheet membranes than into the hollow-fiber configuration.apes and structures, different types of membrane modules are available. The water treatments membrane and module development has lessened the effects of physical compaction and has brought forth spiral membrane modules capable of operating at pressures in excess of 50 bar (50 ksc.2 bar). The techno economic factors for the selection, design and operation of membrane modules include cost of supporting materials and enclosure (pressure vessels), power consumption in pumping and ease of replacing.

The Below Image shows the hollow fiber membrane

Hollow Fibre Membrane

Hollow Fiber Membrane

The Below Image shows the Spiral Membrane

Spiral Membrane

Spiral Membrane

Reverse Osmosis water treatment can meet most water standards with a single-pass system and the highest standards with a double-pass system. Reverse Osmosis rejects 99.9+% of viruses, bacteria and pyroxenes. Pressure, on the order of 14 to 70 bar, is the driving force of the Reverse Osmosis water treatment purification process. Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Process  is much more energy efficient compared to heat-driven distillation and more efficient than the strong chemicals required for ion exchange. No energy-intensive phase change is required.

Pretreatment Processes  in Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment

Pretreatment processes are needed to remove substances that would interfere with the desalting process. Algae and bacteria can grow in both Reverse Osmosis water treatment and distillation water treatment plants, so a biocide usually, less than 1 mg/ L chlorine is required to clean the system.

2000 m3/day Reverse Osmosis Plant

Reverse Osmosis Plant Capacity : 2000 m3/day

Some Reverse Osmosis water treatment membranes cannot tolerate chlorine, so de chlorination techniques are required to remove the residual chlorine. Ozone or ultraviolet light may also be used to remove marine organisms. If ozone is used, it must be removed with chemicals before reaching the membranes. The type of pretreatment required depends on the feed water characteristics, membrane type, and system design parameters. Pretreatment requirements can be minimal, such as cartridge filtration of well water, or extensive, such as conventional coagulation, sedimentation, and filtration of surface water supply to remove suspended solids. Scale inhibitors such as sodium hexa meta phosphate or proprietary chemicals are also added to reduce carbonate and sulphate scale potential.

RO High Pressure Pump System

ro_principles

Principle of Reverse Osmosis

The pump system raises the pressure of the pretreated feed water to the level required for operation of the desalting system. For Reverse Osmosis water treatment, the pump system discharge pressure typically is about 10 – 30 kg/cm2 for low- TDS and brackish-water systems and 60 to 90 kg/ cm2 for seawater systems. The pump system for Reverse Osmosis  water treatment might also include energy recovery devices, particularly for seawater systems. Post Treatment Removal of the gases is normally accomplished by stripping in a forced draft packed column. In the most cases, carbon dioxide must be removed to stabilize the Reverse Osmosis water treatment product water. If hydrogen sulphide is present, degassing of the product water is usually done to control odor and minimize the amount of disinfectant (e.g., chlorine).

The final product-water pH is often adjusted by caustic soda, soda ash, or lime. A non-corrosive water can be produced by using these alkaline chemicals and, in some cases, other chemicals and blending with raw or other water supplies that may also feed the distribution system.

Maintenance

The following are the maintenance requirements of RO plants:

  • The filters for pretreatment of feed-water at Reverse Osmosis water treatment plants must be cleaned every few days (back washed) to clear accumulated sand and solids.
  • The Reverse Osmosis water treatment  membranes must be cleaned approximately four times a year and must be replaced every three to five years.
osmosis

Osmosis

Reverse Osmosis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advantages of Reverse Osmosis Plants  water  treatment plants

  • Reverse Osmosis water treatment plant feed-water generally does not require heating, so the thermal impacts of discharges are lower;
  • Reverse Osmosis water treatment plants have fewer problems with corrosion;
  • Reverse Osmosis water treatment plants usually have lower energy requirements;
  • Reverse Osmosis water treatment plants tend to have higher recovery rates-about 45% for seawater;
  • Reverse Osmosis water treatment process can remove unwanted contaminants, such as tri halo methane precursors, pesticides, and bacteria; and
  • Reverse Osmosis water treatment plants take up less surface area than distillation plants for the same amount of water production.

Some Standard Reverse Osmosis water treatment Membranes:

  • Filmtec RO Water Treatment Membrane,
  • Hydronatics RO Water Treatment Membrane,
  • Torry RO Water Treatment Membrane and
  • Koch RO Water Treatment Membrane.



40 Responses to “Water Treatment Process”

  1. BulleT says:

    Очень хорошая информация о обратного осмоса вода.

  2. WATER TREATMENT PROCESS says:

    Reverse Osmosis Process, ion-exchange Process ( Deionized Process ) , Distillation Process, sedimentation process. http://www.watertreatmentprocess.net

  3. Michael Griffin says:

    I found this page via google, and it explains what I was trying to figure out. Thanks!

  4. Sharita Hedeen says:

    Thanks again for the post.Really thank you! Want more.

  5. Kenneth says:

    Is it possible to achieve Total Hardness 0.1 ppm? I feel from my calculation’s that 1.1 – 1.14 is the best case. What are your thoughts?

    Ken

  6. Pure Aqua says:

    Pure Aqua, Inc. manufactures a full line of seawater desalination systems designed for heavy or continuous duty service in the marine applications where quality and dependable performance are keys.

  7. P.Ramakrishna says:

    plz send me flow daigram

  8. muthu kumar says:

    Thanks, we got very good knowledge in RO

  9. Mr Tân says:

    I’m Vienamese, I want to ask you representatives company DOW Filmtec in Vietnam? because I want buy SWRO (SW30-2540)and spare parts

  10. Water says:

    Ho Chi Minh City
    Dow Chemical International Ltd.
    Unit 501-502, 5th Floor, Saigon Riverside Office Center
    2A-4A Ton Duc Thang Street, District 1
    Ho Chi Minh City
    Vietnam Tel. 84 8 822 5808
    Fax 84 8 822 5809
    __________________________
    Dow AgroSciences B.V.
    Unit 501, 5th Floor, Saigon Riverside Office Center
    2A-4A Ton Duc Thang Street, District 1
    Ho Chi Minh City
    Vietnam
    Tel. 84 8 822 5808
    Fax 84 8 822 5809
    _____________________________________________
    Ho Chi Minh City
    Rohm and Haas Asia, Inc* – Rep Office
    31fl., Suite 35, Saigon Trade Center
    37 Ton Duc Thang Street, District 1
    Ho Chi Minh City
    Phone: 84-8-39105838
    Fax: 84-8-39105839

  11. Sanjay More says:

    I got lot of information about Reverse Osmosis Plant. Thanks

  12. mohammed says:

    I found this page via Google, have been working on operation maintenance on EDR (electro dialysis reversal)for more than 18 years. Which technology better to use Reverse Osmosis or electro dialysis reversal when we need to desalinate water with TDS 4000 ppm.?

  13. Manoranjan Syamal says:

    Easiest way to get pure water.

  14. Water says:

    Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Process is better to use for TDS 4000 ppm

  15. Woyahn says:

    It onerous to seek out educated folks on this subject, however you sound like you realize what you are talking about! Thanks

  16. Sosby says:

    I’ve been browsing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all site owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be much more useful than ever before.

  17. Graughard says:

    Best Article that you have written for the Water Treatment fields.

  18. Simhachalam Naidu G says:

    It gave basic enlightenment on the subject.Thank you for the level of content.

  19. Raghu says:

    i am the dealer of aqua grand water purifier for tumkur please send the animated working of reverse osmosis…….

  20. Mr.jnth says:

    Very interesting site. I’m Mr.janth from Philippines,I work in a desalination plant for almost ten years as plant head operator.I’m interested to work abroad.is there anyone who could recommend me.thanks

  21. Kaylea says:

    I read somewhere that the entire cleaning process takes up to seven years. Is this correct?

    Hi Kaylea.

    Technically this is not correct. We cant consider like this for RO chemical cleaning. We have to confirm with water analysis or any pressure drop or fouling.

    By Admin

  22. Laxman Shinde says:

    Realy thanks for information, i want be details of material selection for membrane, press, temp, for good recovery

  23. sourav says:

    we drained water from our works at temp. around 55 deg C. we are planning to install R.O. Water plant at our works. can this water be utilized. if so, is it beneficial to use water of that temp? if not, what are the other water treatment process where we can use this water?

  24. Manoj says:

    I have heard that RO system wastes big amount of water. Can you tell me or explain if there is any calculation for if drinking water requirement is 5m3.day then what must be the volume of feed water to RO system.

    Thanks
    Manoj

  25. Water Treatment says:

    As per the Feed water quality we can calculate product water and reject water.
    If suppose Feed water TDS – 2000 mg/l and Feed Press – 11.5 bar
    As per the Standard Brackish water Membrane designs Rejection range is 15 – 40 %
    If Our rejection set point is 25 % and also we need to get 5m3 per day
    Therefore we have to Feed at least 7.5 – 8.5 m3/day.

  26. Randhir kumar says:

    Thanks i got more information about R O Membrane.

  27. Gbur says:

    I prepared my project to my last semester maximum i taken from your site. Water treatment process and sewage treatment process are separately explained.

  28. william says:

    good article regarding water treatment process.

  29. Montag says:

    I assume you written about water treatment process and designs nice points in features also.

  30. Tracee Nono says:

    I’m so grateful for water treatment process post.Truly looking forward to read much more. Fantastic.

  31. gaurav says:

    really a very good article, its helping me in making a presentation on OSMOTIC ENERGY.

  32. Peters says:

    A person necessarily lend a hand to make critically posts I might state. That is the first time I frequented your website page and so far? I surprised with the analysis you made to make this particular post amazing. Great activity!

  33. Chin Motola says:

    Well I really liked studying it. This information provided by you is very practical for accurate planning.

  34. Darpan patel says:

    too good………….!!!
    and thanks.

  35. tauqeer iqbal says:

    dear sir,

    i wants to job in r o water plant

    for good career. if you have some post

    relate this .please contact me.

    thanks,

  36. kentpro water solutions says:

    vary gd article

  37. Umair Khan says:

    Thanks…. Admin Great description Of RO…

  38. rezonansvip says:

    After rapid mixing, the water flows into flocculation basins, where the flow of water is slowed and the floc has time to grow bigger.

  39. P.rajagopal says:

    Educative article. Is it possible to know the disadvantages of membrane desalination.how is it effective for high saline oil field produced water.
    Thnks
    P.Rajagopal

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