REVERSE OSMOSIS (RO) BEST

PRACTICES TRAINING
 2

Membrane Part
Membrane Brand & Type
Anti Telescoping Device (ATD)
Membrane O-ring

Hydranautics Dow Filmtec

CSM Membrane Toray

Outer Casing Wrap Membrane

(Fiberglass)
LG Membrane Lewabrane
 3

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

Interconnector for SWRO Membrane

Interconnector for BWRO Membrane

 Retaining Ring
Sticker (Detail
Specification for
Pressure Vessel)

Port Nut
RO Pressure Vessel

Bearng Plate

Sealing Plate

Retaining Ring

Head Seal

Thrust Cone

Permeate Port Seal

Permeate Port
Adapter
Adapter Seal
PWT Seal

FC Port
FC Port Seal

Shell Pressure Vessel

4
 5

RO Pressure Vessel
 6

Case Study – Wrong Installation of Thrust Cone

 Failure Type : broken

ATD & push the
membrane.
 Causes : Wrong
Correct Installation of Thrust Cone Wrong Installation of Thrust Cone
installation of Thrust
Cone.
 Recommendation :
Correct membrane &
End Caps (Thrust
Cone) installation.

Impact of Wrong Installation of Thrust Cone

 7

Victaulic Coupling/Joint

Victaulic Coupling/Joint
Style 75
- Recommended for service up to
500 psi/3450 kPa
- Housing : Ductile iron
conforming to ASTM A-536,
grade 65-45-12 or Ductile iron
conforming to ASTM A-395,
grade 65-45-15
- Housing coating : Hot-dip
galvanized and special coatings.
- Gasket : Grade “E” EPDM or
Grade “T” Nitrile.
- Bolt & Nuts : Heat-treated plated
carbon steel, trackhead meeting
the physical and chemical
requirements of ASTM A-449
and physical requirements of
ASTM A-183 or Type 316
stainless steel, Grade B-8M,
Class 2.
Style 77
- Pressure up to 1000 psi/6900
kPa
- Housing : Ductile iron
conforming to ASTM A-536,
grade 65-45-12 or Ductile iron
conforming to ASTM A-395,
grade 65-45-15 or stainless
steel.
- Housing coating : Hot-dip
galvanized and special coatings.
- Gasket : Grade “E” EPDM or
Grade “T” Nitrile.
- Bolt & Nuts : Heat-treated plated
carbon steel, trackhead meeting
the physical and chemical
requirements of ASTM A-449
and physical requirements of
ASTM A-183 or Type 316
stainless steel, Grade B-8M,
Class 2.
8
Style 77
- Designed for quick disconnect
service.
- Housing : Ductile iron
conforming to ASTM A-395,
grade 65-45-15, and ASTM A-
536, grade 65-45-12.
- Housing coating : Hot-dip
galvanized and special coatings.
- Gasket : Grade “E” EPDM or
Grade “T” Nitrile.
- Handle : Electroplated, heat
treated carbon steel, conforming
to ASTMA A-109 or
Electroplated, malleable iron
conforming to ASTM A-47 or
Painted malleable iron
conforming to ASTMA A-47.
 9

Factors influencing Victaulic Coupling

replacement
 Running Time.
 Media (Seawater or Brackish Water).
 Location.
 Installation.
 Material Selection.
 10

Case Study – Wrong Installation of Victaulic

Coupling
 Failure Type : leakage in
Victualic Coupling.
 Causes : Wrong installation.
 Recommendation : Correct
installation & regularly
replacement.
 11

Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO)

 12

Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) with

Turbocharger & Pressure Exchanger (PX)
TURBOCHARGER

PRESSURE EXCHANGER
 Duplex SS 2205 housing

Grooved end pipe joints

easy internal inspection
Flanged construction for

Precision leveling
foot 316 SS stage
Inlet rotatable in 90 o
increments
Easy shaft
316 SS shell allignment
support bracket

Bearing drain line

Integrated
motor adapter

Flexible disc coupling

High Pressure Pump – Fedco Pump

low pressure
Shaft seal operates at
13
 14

High Pressure Pump – Fedco Pump

Characteristic
 15

Start Up for RO System

System Operation: Initial
Start-Up (Form No. 609-
02077-1208) page 2 :
 The feed pressure
increase to the
elements should be
less than 10 psi (0.07
MPa) per second to
achieve a soft start.
 16

Bearing Nomeclature
Basic Type & Series
R : Inch, single row
16 : Inch, single row
6 : Metric, single row, miniature
Extra Markings
618 : Metric, single row, extra thin
(Indicates special
619 : Metric, single row, extra thin
dimensions or
60 : Metric, sngle row, extra light
grease type and fill)
62 : Metric, single row, light
NR : Snap Ring
63 : Metric, single row, medium Seals & Shields PRX : Polyrex EM
52 : Metric, double row, light ZZ : Double shields Grease
53 : Metric, double row, medium ZRS : Double seals SRI2 : SRI-2 Grease

SS 62 03 ZZ C3 XX
SS : Stainless Steel Bore Size Internal Clearance
F : Flanged Above 04, multiply by 5 to get C2 : Tight
bore size in milimeters (shaft C0 : Standard
diameter) C3 : Loose
00 : 10 mm C4 : Extra loose
01 : 12 mm No symbol indicates
02 : 15 mm standard clearance
03 : 17 mm
04 : 20 mm
05 : 25 mm
 17

Turbocharger
 Center bearing
Brine (turbine)
18

lubricated by
Brine nozzle and

impeller
volute – custom

Rotor shaft
designed and

feed
machined

Feed (pump)
Can discharge brine at

impeller
higher pressure for easy
brine disposal

Thrust bearing – patent End Caps

pending design, allows
dry running
Name plate

Variable area in nozzle

(needle type for precise
control).

Victaulic-type pipe joints

(flanged joint optional)

Multi-vane diffuser – custom designed

and machined to ensure radial
Standard Duplex SS
pressure balance for long wearing
2205 MOC (Super
and bearing life, provides higher
Duplex SS 2507 optional) Mounting foot (varies by efficiency than volutes
model)
19
 20

Profiling and Probing

 21

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

22
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
Tubing
3 4 5 6 7
Case Study – Profiling & Probing
Membrane Damaged

Membrane Sheet

24
 25

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.
 26

Membrane Cleaning
 27

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
 28

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
 29

Cleaning – Design (Mechanical)

FEED PRESSURE & FLOW

TEMPERATURE
 30

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
 31

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
 32

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
 33

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
 34

Cleaning Implementation – Sanitation

 Sanitation

 Remove microbiological
 Chemical PC - 11
 35

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

36
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 %)

37
 Case Study – Cleaning
TREND GRAPH DURING ALKALINE CLEANING – 1st STAGE
Turbidity (FAU) during Alkaline
pH during Alkaline Cleaning Cleaning
12 140
11.5 120
100
11
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

38
 Case Study - Cleaning
TREND GRAPH DURING ACID CLEANING – 1st STAGE

pH during Acid Cleaning Turbidity (NTU) during Acid Cleaning

5 20

4
15
3
10
2
5
1

0 0
19:2419:3919:5420:0920:2421:2421:3921:5422:0922:24 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

30

20

10

39
 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

40
 Case Study - Cleaning
TREND GRAPH DURING ACID CLEANING – 2nd STAGE

pH during Acid Cleaning Turbidity (NTU) during Acid Cleaning

5 20

4
15
3
10
2
5
1

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
41
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

42
 43

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.
 44

How to Identify Membrane 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.
 45

Damage Fiberglass Outer Wrapping

 46

Protruding Feed Spacer

 47

Damage Feed Spacer Channel

 48

How to Prevent Membrane Telescoping

 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