Water Treatment Plant – Reverse Osmosis (Adeyemi Adedayo)

Process Selection

The main process of this treatment station is: deep well water - pre-treatment -
ultrafiltration equipment - reverse osmosis system - disinfection, and the treated clean
water is pumped to each water point.

Process Flow

Process Flow Description

The raw water from the deep well enters the original pool, and the raw water enters the
sand filter after the lifting pump. Sand filter is the pretreatment equipment of a water
treatment system, applicable to the incoming water with a turbidity of 1-10NTU; the
purpose is to remove suspended matter, particles, and colloids in the water, reduce the
turbidity and SDI value of the incoming water, and meet the incoming water
requirements of the subsequent equipment of desalination device. The sand filter can be
cleaned periodically by the raw water to restore its interception capacity.

The water from the sand filter enters the activated carbon filter. Activated carbon is
made of coal, charcoal, kernels, and shells, etc. It is processed by high-temperature
carbonization and activation and has a large specific surface area (1g of activated
carbon 800~2000m2). Therefore, activated carbon has a very high adsorption capacity.
Activated carbon can not only dechlorinate but also filter out the residual suspended
matter, humic acid, colloid, heavy metal, odor, etc. in tap water. Some harmful ions
leaked out of the raw water are adsorbed by the activated carbon and further oxidized
by the dissolved oxygen in the water, and the residual turbidity is also adsorbed by the
activated carbon at the same time to ensure the clean water quality of the effluent. The
activated carbon filter is back-washed with raw water regularly to ensure that the
adsorption function of the activated carbon does not decline.

The water from the activated carbon filter enters the 5-micron precision filter. Precision
filter adopts microporous membrane filtration, and its filtration mechanism is
mechanical interception, which can intercept particles larger than 5 microns, thus
protecting the ultrafiltration membrane from being harmed by large suspended
particles, and also reducing the possibility of the ultrafiltration membrane being
clogged, the filter is also known as security filter.

The water from the precision filter enters the ultrafiltration equipment, which is
composed of multiple ultrafiltration membranes and control parts. Ultrafiltration is a
low-pressure membrane separation technology. The filtration process is a purely
mechanical sieving process driven by the pressure difference between the two sides of
the membrane and the size of the membrane pore size, which has different retention
rates for different molecular weight substances in the feed liquid. The pressure used in
ultrafiltration is usually 0.01-0.3Mpa, and the sieving pore size is about 0.1-0.002
microns, with a retention molecular weight of about 1000-500,000 Daltons. The
separation mechanism of the ultrafiltration process is mainly the mechanical retention of
solutes with particle size larger than membrane pores on the membrane surface, i.e.
sieving. The dissolved substances and substances more minor than the membrane pore
size will pass through the ultrafiltration membrane with the permeate, and the
substances that cannot be passed through are gradually concentrated in the discharge
solution. Thus, the produced water (permeate) contains water, ions, and small molecules,
while the membrane removes colloidal substances, particles, bacteria, viruses, and
protozoa. Ultrafiltration membranes can be used repeatedly and can be cleaned with
chemical cleaning agents.

The water from the ultrafiltration equipment enters the water tank. The water from the
tank is pressurized by a vertical high-pressure pump and then enters the RO unit (also
known as the reverse osmosis system), which separates the solvent in the solution
(usually water) by passing through the reverse osmosis membrane (or semi-permeable
membrane) with sufficient pressure because the process is opposite to the direction of
natural osmosis, so it is also known as reverse osmosis. The separation pore size of
reverse osmosis membrane is less than 0.0001 micron, which can remove organic matter
(such as trihalomethanes intermediate, colloids, suspended matter, microorganisms,
bacteria, algae, molds, etc.), heat sources, viruses, and other substances in water. After
long-term operation, the RO membrane will accumulate certain fouling that is difficult
to flush, such as organic matter, inorganic salt scaling, etc., causing the performance of
the RO membrane to decline. This type of fouling must be removed by cleaning with
chemicals to restore the performance of the reverse osmosis membrane. Reverse
osmosis units and ultrafiltration equipment can share a chemical cleaning device. To
prevent the system from continuous operation for a long time, calcium and magnesium
plasma in the water will be continuously precipitated and attached to the surface of the
membrane and reverse osmosis membrane of the precision filter, forming a scale
blocking the membrane pores, affecting the efficiency of the whole system and
damaging the membrane of these devices, so a scale inhibitor dosing device is added in
front of the precision filter.

The water from the reverse osmosis system enters the water purification basin and is
sterilized with an ultraviolet sterilizer on the inlet. The water supply pump is installed in
the water purification tank, and the purified water is sent to each water point through
frequency-controlled constant pressure control.

I. Preparation Principle

Reverse osmosis water treatment equipment is usually composed of three parts: raw
water pretreatment system, reverse osmosis purification system and ultra-
purification post-treatment system. The purpose of pretreatment is mainly to make
the raw water meet the feed water requirements of the reverse osmosis membrane
separation components and ensure the stable operation of the reverse osmosis
purification system. The reverse osmosis membrane system is the most economical and
efficient purification method to remove more than 98% of ions, organic matter, and
100% of microorganisms (in theory) from the raw water at one time. The ultra-
purification post-treatment system further removes the remaining trace ions, organics,
and other impurities in the reverse osmosis-purified water through a variety of
integrated technologies to meet the final water quality index requirements for different
applications.

II. Working Principle

Reverse osmosis is the most sophisticated membrane liquid separation technology, the
operating pressure is applied on the incoming water (concentrated solution) side to
overcome the natural osmotic pressure, when the operating pressure higher than the
natural osmotic pressure is added to the concentrated solution side the natural
permeation of water molecules will reverse the flow direction, the water molecules in the
incoming water (concentrated solution) partly through the reverse osmosis membrane
to become a dilute solution side of the purified water; reverse osmosis equipment can
block all dissolved salts and molecular weight greater than They are widely used in
industrial pure water and electronic ultra-pure water preparation, drinking pure water
production, boiler feed water and other processes.

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III. Pretreatment System Introduction

A reverse osmosis water treatment system generally includes a pretreatment system,

reverse osmosis device, post-treatment system, cleaning system, and electrical
control system.

Pretreatment system generally includes quartz sand filter, activated carbon filter,
precision filter, etc. Its main function is to reduce the pollution index of raw water and
other impurities such as residual chlorine to achieve the feed water requirements of
reverse osmosis.

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Detailed classification of the pretreatment system is described as follows:

1.Quartz sand filter mainly removes suspended matter, colloid, sediment, clay, rotten
plants, granules, and other impurities in water. It can reduce the turbidity of the water,
achieve the purpose of water clarification, and protect the reverse osmosis membrane.

2. Activated carbon filter mainly uses a large number of activated carbon surface
hydroxyl (hydroxy) and hydroxyl and other functional groups, chemical adsorption of
various substances to remove odors, organic matter, colloids, iron, and residual chlorine
in the water, while reducing the chromaticity and turbidity of the water, reducing the
pollution of the reverse osmosis system.
3. Softeners use sodium ions on the ion exchange resin to exchange calcium and
magnesium ions in the water, reducing the hardness of the water, while regenerating
the ion exchange resin with water-softening salt. Water-softening salt is also known as
an ion exchange resin regenerator.

4. Precision filter

The 5-micron PP melt-blown cartridge is mainly used to remove particles larger than 5
microns that have not been removed from the pre-treatment system and to retain the
filter material lost in the previous three filtration procedures, so as to protect the RO
membrane.

Whether the cartridge can reach normal use conditions will affect the normal working
conditions of the membrane, generally every 3-4 months to replace the cartridge.

IV. Introduction of Reverse Osmosis System

The reverse osmosis system mainly includes a multi-stage high-pressure pump,

reverse osmosis membrane element, membrane shell (pressure vessel), frame, and
other components.

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Its main role is to remove impurities in the water so that the output water meets the
requirements of use.

The high-pressure pump pressurizes the water from the security filter to the working
pressure of RO and then distributes it evenly to the pressure vessel, where the water
flow is separated by the reverse osmosis membrane and forms two water flows in the
pressure vessel. Part of the incoming water passes through the membrane to form pure
water, while the remaining inorganic salts and solid residues are retained and
concentrated to form concentrated water, thus realizing the separation of inorganic salts
and water.

Pure water flows from each pressure vessel with reverse osmosis membrane parts,
converges and passes through the flow meter, then flows out of the equipment outlet
into the pure water tank, and the concentrated water flows out from the concentrated
water outlet of the pressure vessel.
Reverse osmosis membrane desalination mechanism: the skin of the semi-permeable
membrane is covered with many very fine membrane pores, the surface of the
membrane selectively adsorbs a layer of water molecules, salt solutes are rejected by the
membrane, the higher the valence of ions are rejected farther, the water molecules
around the membrane pores in the reverse osmosis pressure, through the capillary
action of the membrane out of pure water and achieve the purpose of desalination.

When the membrane pore is larger than the reverse osmosis membrane pore range, the
aqueous solution of salt will leak across the membrane, where the monovalent salt leaks
more, followed by the divalent salt, and the trivalent salt is even less. the pore size of RO
membrane is <1.0nm so that the RO membrane can filter out one of the least bacteria,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3000×10-10m); it can also filter out various viruses, such as
influenza virus (800×10-10m), meningitis virus (200×10-10m); and even heat sources
(10-500×10-10m). It can also filter out various viruses, such as influenza virus (800×10-
10m) and meningitis virus (200×10-10m); it can even filter out heat sources (10-500×10-
10m).

Reverse osmosis system of wastewater and pure water ratio, usually the ratio of small
household pure water machines is 3:1, small industrial reverse osmosis systems can
reach 1:1, large systems 0.3:0.7, and then want to reduce the wastewater discharge, the
cost will be relatively high, reverse osmosis membrane life will certainly be shortened.
Content Catalog

1. What is Reverse Osmosis?

2. What is Reverse Osmosis Membrane?
3. What is the Reverse Osmosis System?
4. How Does Reverse Osmosis Work？
5. What Contaminants Does Reverse Osmosis (RO) Remove?
6. What is Not Removed by Reverse Osmosis(RO)?
7. Water Testing Before Reverse Osmosis
8. What are the Types of Reverse Osmosis Systems?
9. Where is Reverse Osmosis Used? or What’s the Application for Reverse Osmosis
System?
10. What are the Components of Reverse Osmosis System?
11. What‘s the Process of Reverse Osmosis System?
12. What’s the Difference Between Passes and Stages in a Reverse Osmosis(RO)
System?
13. The Energy Consumption of Reverse Osmosis
14. Advantages and Disadvantages of Reverse Osmosis
15. Reverse Osmosis Performance & Design Calculations
16. Pre-treatment Methods Before Reverse Osmosis System
17. Water Quality Improvement Combined with Reverse Osmosis
18. What Kind of Chemicals Need to Use for Reverse Osmosis System?
19. What are the Types of Reverse Osmosis Membranes?
20. Reverse Osmosis Membrane Chemical Cleaning
21. Install and Maintain Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment System
1. Installation
2. Maintenance
3. Troubleshooting
22. 4 Factors Influence the Price of Reverse Osmosis
23. Things to Consider When Buying a Reverse Osmosis System
 24. Regulatory and Safety Standards of Reverse Osmosis System
25. The Reverse Osmosis Environmental and Sustainability Considerations
26. The Future Trends of Reverse Osmosis
27. FAQ
1. What Is Reverse Osmosis Water?
2. How is Reverse Osmosis Different from Filtration?
3. Is Reverse Osmosis Water Good(or Bad) for Us?
4. What is the Lifespan of a Reverse Osmosis System?
5. How Often Does the Reverse Osmosis Membrane Need to be Replaced?
6. How Much Space Do We Need for a Reverse Osmosis System?
7. Is RO Water “Pure” Water?
8. Is RO Water the Same as Distilled Water?
9. Can You Change the PH of RO Water?
10. Can You Use RO on All Water?
11. Do Reverse Osmosis Systems Waste Water?
28. Leave a Reply Cancel reply

When you need to carry out reverse osmosis treatment on raw water, whether it is for
industrial or domestic use, there are many factors to consider. These include the quality
of the raw water, the process flow, and the quality of the produced water, among others.
Therefore, it is necessary to have a comprehensive understanding of reverse osmosis to
make informed decisions. Let’s take a look at an overview of reverse osmosis.
What is Reverse Osmosis?
As you understand osmosis is a forward behavior, and reverse osmosis is relative to the
osmosis of reverse osmosis behavior, that is, in the concentrated solution on one side of
a pressure greater than the osmotic pressure to change the direction of natural osmosis,
through the difference in pressure so that the liquid of the concentrated solution
through the reverse osmosis membrane flow to the dilute solution on one side of the
process is known as reverse osmosis
What is Reverse Osmosis Membrane?
The reverse osmosis membrane is a membrane separation component based on the
principles of reverse osmosis, serving as the core element in reverse osmosis systems.
The main function is to separate the solution from the concentrated water by applying a
certain pressure through the reverse osmosis membrane. Certain components in the
water solution can selectively permeate through the reverse osmosis membrane,
achieving the goals of desalination, purification, or concentration.

Currently, reverse osmosis membrane materials primarily include cellulose acetate,

polyamide, and composite materials. Additionally, it is recommended to consider
reputable brands such as DOW, Hydranautics, Vontron, Toary, etc.
What is the Reverse Osmosis System?
The reverse osmosis system is a set of water treatment processes based on the
principles of reverse osmosis. It involves selecting appropriate pre-treatment methods,
pressure pumps, and membrane quantities based on the characteristics of the raw
water, as well as the desired water production quantity and quality. The system aims to
achieve a series of processes, including the removal of organic substances, colloids,
dissolved salts, and microorganisms from the water. Ultimately, the goal is to obtain the
desired quality of treated water.

How Does Reverse Osmosis Work？

The process of reverse osmosis involves purifying water through reverse osmosis
membranes. It starts with pre-treatment (such as sand filtration, activated carbon filters,
ultrafiltration, etc.) to remove suspended solids and colloids, meeting the standards for
entering the reverse osmosis membrane components. Subsequently, the water is
elevated through a high-pressure pump into the membrane components for a more
thorough solution separation. The resulting concentrated water can be directly
discharged or, as designed, undergo secondary separation by returning to the
membrane system. The purified water then goes directly into the product water tank for
subsequent use.

What Contaminants Does Reverse Osmosis (RO) Remove?

When choosing reverse osmosis, it’s essential to understand the specific substances that
reverse osmosis can remove as part of the water purification and separation process.
Due to the varied nature of pollutants that reverse osmosis can eliminate from water,
the removal rates for different contaminants differ slightly. Here are some specifics:

1. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) (95% to 99.7%): TDS refers to the total dissolved
solids, including both inorganic and organic substances. It is often associated
with salinity levels.
2. Metal Ions: Lead (95% to 98%), Cadmium (95% to 98%), Arsenic (92% to 96%),
 3. Bacteria and Viruses (>99.9%): The small pore size of reverse osmosis membranes
prevents the passage of harmful substances like bacteria and viruses.
4. Nitrates and Sulfates: Removal rates for nitrates range from 60% to 75%. Removal
rates for sulfates can reach 96% to 98%.
5. Dissolved Gases (85% to 95%): It can reduce the concentration of dissolved gases
such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide.
6. Sediments and Tiny Particles (>95%): Due to the extremely small pore size of
reverse osmosis membranes, they can intercept and separate tiny particles that
were filtered out during pre-treatment.

What is Not Removed by Reverse Osmosis(RO)?

Although the reverse osmosis system is a water separation process, some pollutants can
not be filtered out and need to be processed through other water treatment processes,
then see the specific pollutants can not be removed as follows:

1. Oil and grease, the entry of oil and grease will lead to reverse osmosis service life
is greatly reduced, usually used in the way of precipitation and drug removal
2. Volatile organic compounds (VOC): mainly for low molecular weight, high
volatility of the specific VOC may not be completely removed
3. Certain inorganic compounds, like fluoride and silica, can pass through the RO
membrane and cannot be completely removed.

Water Testing Before Reverse Osmosis

Because reverse osmosis systems can handle various source waters, it is crucial to
conduct testing on the quality of the source water. This testing can help you determine
the specific process flow and choose the appropriate reverse osmosis membranes and
other components.

For instance, in the treatment of well water, you need to be aware of detailed
parameters such as pH, turbidity, conductivity, calcium and magnesium ions, bacterial
content, etc. This information is essential for deciding the types of pre-treatment and
dosing devices needed, as well as whether to use brackish water membranes or
seawater membranes. Additionally, consideration will be given to the selection of
materials for pipes, pumps, valves, and other components.

In the case of seawater desalination, the most crucial factor is to know the salinity level.
Information on the salinity and whether the seawater is turbid (i.e., turbidity) helps in
designing the specific process flow.
What are the Types of Reverse Osmosis Systems?
Based on the commercial model, reverse osmosis systems can be classified
into 3 types:

1. Residential Reverse Osmosis Pure Water Systems

Designed for household filtration of tap water to produce purified water. Typically, these
systems use a 5-stage process, including PP cotton fiber filter/Granular activated carbon
filter/Sintered activated carbon filter/Reverse osmosis membrane and Post-activated
carbon filter.

2. Commercial Reverse Osmosis Systems

Primarily used in small-scale reverse osmosis systems for businesses such as hotels and
guesthouses. These systems cater to the demand for purified water and domestic water
through reverse osmosis.

3. Industrial Reverse Osmosis Systems

Tailored for applications such as boiler feedwater, agricultural irrigation, high-purity

water production, and seawater desalination.

Based on the source water quality, reverse osmosis systems can be categorized
into 5 types:

1. High Salinity Reverse Osmosis Systems

Typically used in fields like chemical and petroleum industries, where water with salt
concentrations exceeding 4 mg/l is considered high salinity water. These systems
undergo secondary treatment of high-salinity wastewater to meet discharge standards
or for secondary circulation.

2. Seawater Desalination Systems

Involves desalinating seawater through reverse osmosis systems to produce water

suitable for domestic or drinking purposes.

3. Brackish Water Desalination Systems

Primarily for low TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) water sources such as well water, river
water, and boiler feedwater. These systems can use brackish water membranes for
desalination.

4. Drinking Water Reverse Osmosis Systems

Typically refers to reverse osmosis systems used for municipal water or secondary
filtration of tap water.

5. High Purity Water Reverse Osmosis Systems

Designed for applications with extremely high water purity requirements, such as
biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. These systems often require water with a
conductivity of less than 1 μS/cm.

According to the arrangement of reverse osmosis, it can be categorized

into 4 types:

1. Single-Stage Single-Pass

In this configuration, the raw solution enters the membrane module, undergoes
separation, and the permeate and concentrate are continuously discharged.
Alternatively, some of the concentrate may be recirculated, mixed with the raw solution,
and then passed through the membrane module for separation.
 2. Single-Stage Multi-Pass

This involves using the concentrate from the previous stage as the feed for the next
stage, thereby improving the utilization of the feed solution. The concentrate from each
stage is sequentially used as the feed for the subsequent stage.

3. Double-Stage Single-Pass

In this method, the concentrate from the second stage, which has a lower concentration
than the original feed solution, is returned to the inlet of the first stage. It is then mixed
with the initial feed solution, serving as the feed for the first stage. Simultaneously, the
permeate from the first stage becomes the feed for the second stage, resulting in the
final permeate.
 4. Multi-Stage Multi-Pass

This design involves multiple stages and passes, where the permeate from one stage
becomes the feed for the next stage, and this process repeats until the final permeate is
obtained. Simultaneously, the concentrate from the later stages is returned to the earlier
stages, mixed with the feed, and then separated to improve water permeability and
water quality.
According to the installation method, reverse osmosis systems can be divided
into 3 types:

1. Containerized Reverse Osmosis Systems:

Refers to reverse osmosis systems installed within containers. Depending on the water
production requirements, these systems can be designed for 20-foot or 40-foot
containers.

2. Portable Reverse Osmosis Systems:

Includes vehicle-mounted reverse osmosis systems or small, mobile reverse osmosis

systems.

3. Skid-Mounted Reverse Osmosis Systems:

Currently, the majority of systems use skid-mounted designs. This approach not only
saves space but also facilitates ease of operation.

Where is Reverse Osmosis Used? or What’s the Application for

Reverse Osmosis System?
Currently, reverse osmosis systems and equipment are applied in various fields to meet
diverse water needs. Specific application areas include:

 Municipal Water Supply

 Beverage Manufacturing
 Agricultural Irrigation
 Marine Engineering
 Oil and Gas Industry
 Power Plants
 Biopharmaceuticals
 Semiconductor Manufacturing
 Seawater Desalination in Islands and Water-Scarce Areas
 Laboratory Water Supply
 Part of Wastewater Treatment:

Moreover, the same reverse osmosis water production system can be designed in
segments according to different water production requirements, catering to diverse
water needs in various sectors.

What are the Components of Reverse Osmosis System?

1. Raw water pump, primarily used to boost water pressure for entry into the
pretreatment system.

2. Quartz sand filter, is a crucial part of the reverse osmosis system’s pretreatment,
mainly removing large suspended solids, organic matter, colloidal particles, etc.,
to reduce turbidity and purify water quality to meet the next step’s inlet
requirements.

The control system comes in manual and automatic modes, with FRP/carbon steel or
stainless steel material

3. Activated carbon filter, is a vital component of pretreatment. It primarily uses the

adsorption function of activated carbon to eliminate odors, colloids, organic
matter, etc., reducing turbidity and purifying water quality to meet reverse
osmosis inlet standards.

The control system is available in manual and automatic modes, with materials
commonly being FRP/carbon steel or stainless steel.
 4. Precision filter, which often refers to precision filters using different-sized 5-
micron/1-micron PP cotton filter cores, mainly intercepting tiny suspended
particles. Materials are often UPVC/SS or FRP.

5. Chemical dosing system, consists mainly of dosing pumps and dosing tanks.
Depending on the raw water quality and the produced water requirements,
dosing systems such as scale inhibitors/reducing agents/coagulants/pH
regulators are used to meet water production requirements.

6. High-pressure pump, is used to elevate pressure to meet the pressure

requirements of the reverse osmosis membrane, pressurizing the raw water
before entering the reverse osmosis membrane for osmotic separation.
Depending on the different qualities of the raw water, high-pressure pumps often
use materials such as SS304/SS316/SS2507.

7. Reverse osmosis membrane, is the core component of the reverse osmosis

system. The selection of membrane quantity and arrangement is based on the
desired final water production to meet the production requirements.

8. Membrane vessel, is the container for the reverse osmosis membrane. It can be
categorized based on pressure capacity, such as 300psi/800psi/1000psi, with
materials commonly being FRP or SS.

9. Electric control cabinet, is the PLC central control cabinet of the reverse osmosis
equipment. It controls the start, stop, and other operations of reverse osmosis
through a program set after input. It consists of relays, switches, variable
frequency drives, transformers, buttons, and other components.

10. Other instruments and gauges, such as pressure gauges, high/low-pressure

switches, flow meters, conductivity meters, and electric control valves, are also
part of the system

At the same time, depending on your different water needs, you can use a combination
of softener / UV sterilization or ultrafiltration processes to achieve the final water quality
requirements.

What‘s the Process of Reverse Osmosis System?

When designing or selecting reverse osmosis systems, it is essential to have a basic
understanding of the reverse osmosis process. Based on this foundational knowledge,
adjustments can be made according to the quality of the raw water and the desired
water production requirements. The specific process is outlined in the diagram below.
What’s the Difference Between Passes and Stages in a Reverse
Osmosis(RO) System?
When you see reverse osmosis equipment, you will notice a large number of membrane
components arranged in sequence. This leads to the design of stages and passes, which
can often be confusing. So, what are the specific differences between them?

The stages primarily include 1st-stage reverse osmosis and 2nd-stage reverse osmosis.
This means that the raw water, after passing through the 1st-stage reverse osmosis, with
all of its produced water, collectively enters the 2nd-stage reverse osmosis for further
treatment.

Taking seawater (TDS < 35,000 ppm) as an example, the 1st-stage reverse osmosis
produces water with a TDS of less than 600 ppm, and the 2nd-stage reverse osmosis
produces water with a TDS of less than 60 ppm

A pass refers to the arrangement of 1 pass/2 passes, or multiple passes, in the 1st-stage
reverse osmosis. This means that the raw water first passes through one stage of reverse
osmosis membrane in the 1st-stage reverse osmosis. The concentrate from this 1st pass
then continues into the 2nd pass of the reverse osmosis system. This process continues
consecutively, with the concentrate from the last pass being the final concentrated
water. The permeate from each pass is independently discharged and mixed.

Therefore, a stage includes passes, such as a 1-stage 1-pass system, a 1-stage multi-
pass system, or a 2-stage 1-pass system, and so on
The Energy Consumption of Reverse Osmosis
The energy consumption of reverse osmosis primarily includes the energy consumption
of pumps and the operational energy consumption of the equipment.

The energy consumption of pumps is determined based on the motor’s kilowatt rating,
which is in turn influenced by factors such as pump flow rate and head.

The operational energy consumption of the equipment includes the energy consumed
by various auxiliary components such as controllers and electric motors. This needs to
be calculated based on the equipment’s rated power and operational hours.

Simultaneously, in designing the reverse osmosis system’s recovery rate, energy

recovery devices can be employed to enhance energy efficiency and reduce overall
energy consumption. Although energy recovery devices may increase the equipment’s
energy consumption, they contribute to the recovery and reuse of system energy,
thereby improving overall efficiency
Advantages and Disadvantages of Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis is widely used in various fields, with its main advantages and
disadvantages being:

Advantages:

1. Removal of Impurities: It can effectively remove impurities, colloids, bacteria, etc.,

from water, meeting diverse water requirements.
2. Efficient TDS Removal: Efficiently removes Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), making it
suitable for desalination purposes in areas with limited freshwater resources.
3. Diverse Designs: Offers diverse designs such as skid-mounted, containerized,
mobile reverse osmosis, etc., with compact structures to meet water needs in
different geographical spaces.
4. Energy Efficiency: Demonstrates higher energy efficiency compared to other
water treatment methods.
5. Ease of Installation, Operation, and Maintenance: Installation, operation, and
maintenance are straightforward, making it user-friendly.

Disadvantages:

1. Product Water Wastewater: Reverse osmosis involves separating water, resulting

in concentrated brine wastewater, the disposal of which depends on the system
design—either for potential recovery or direct discharge.
2. Membrane Scaling Issues: The reverse osmosis membrane, being a critical
component, may experience reduced efficiency due to the accumulation of
particles and impurities on its surface. Regular chemical cleaning is required to
prevent membrane scaling.
3. Selective Pollutant Removal: Reverse osmosis selectively removes pollutants and
is not capable of removing all types of contaminants.
4. High Energy Consumption for Large-Scale Systems: Large-scale reverse osmosis
systems, such as those used in desalination plants, may have relatively high
energy consumption, leading to increased operational costs.

Reverse Osmosis Performance & Design Calculations

When you need to design the treatment of raw water, you need to consider the
following factors when choosing a series of accessories such as the number of
membrane pump models:

 Produce Water Capacity

The water production capacity, also known as the permeate flow rate, of a reverse
osmosis system is typically expressed in units such as tons per hour (tph) or tons per day
(tpd).

 Raw Water TDS

The TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) level in the raw water determines the choice of
membrane, such as seawater desalination membranes or brackish water desalination
membranes. Additionally, the TDS level in the raw water also influences the design and
selection of the reverse osmosis process

 Product Water TDS

The product water conductivity refers to the salinity of the produced water. Depending
on the conductivity of the product water, the selection of the membrane component
arrangement is necessary. This may include choosing between a single-stage multi-pass
system or a two-stage single-pass reverse osmosis system, among other options

 RO System Recovery

The recovery rate refers to the percentage of feedwater in a membrane system that is
converted into product water or permeate. It is typically determined based on the
quality of the raw water and the requirements for the produced water. Therefore, the
recovery rate of a reverse osmosis system is established during the design phase.

The calculation formula for the recovery rate is as follows

Recovery Rate=（Product Water Capacity/Inlet Water Capacity）*100%

 Salt Rejection

The desalination rate of membrane elements is determined by the membrane

manufacturer during the membrane manufacturing process. The desalination rate is
influenced by the density of the ultra-thin desalination layer on the surface of the
membrane element, with higher desalination rates leading to lower water production.
Currently, the desalination rate of reverse osmosis membranes on the market is mostly
around 97% to 99.7%.

The calculation formula for the desalination rate is as follows:

Salt Rejection=（1-Salinity of produced water/Inlet water salinity）*100%

Pre-treatment Methods Before Reverse Osmosis System
Due to the susceptibility of reverse osmosis membranes to fouling and scaling and the
high requirements for feedwater quality, direct application of the raw water solution to
the reverse osmosis system is not permissible. Therefore, a pretreatment system is
required for primary processing. So, what components does the pretreatment system
include?

 Quartz Sand Filter: Primarily removes large molecular suspended particles,

organic colloids, etc., thereby reducing turbidity.
 Activated Carbon Filter: Relies on the adsorption capability of activated carbon to
eliminate odors, colloids, and some bacteria.
 Manganese Sand Filter: Used when the raw water has a high iron ion content, it
can remove iron ions. Similar to the quartz sand filter, it also reduces turbidity
and removes suspended particles.
 Ultrafiltration System: Generally placed after the filters, it more effectively
removes residual suspended particles, colloids, microorganisms, and other
pollutants, better meeting the requirements for reverse osmosis feedwater.
 Precision Filter: Typically employs PP cotton filter cores or bag filters with
filtration precision of less than 5 microns and 1 micron, targeting small particles,
colloids, and suspended substances.
 Dosing System: Depending on the raw water quality, consideration is given to
adding chemicals such as PAC (Polyaluminum Chloride), PAM (Polyacrylamide),
coagulants, scale inhibitors, etc., to prevent filter clogging or subsequent
membrane scaling

Water Quality Improvement Combined with Reverse Osmosis

When you have higher requirements for the treated water, only the use of reverse
osmosis can not meet the requirements, in this case, to consider the combination of
other water treatment methods for raw water treatment, the specific ways are as follows:

 Alkaline Water and PH Adjustment

Pre-treatment and reverse osmosis systems do not adjust the pH value of the raw water.
To achieve the desired pH level, a pH adjustment device is necessary, commonly using
methods such as sodium hydroxide or ammonia for adjustment. These devices are
typically placed downstream of the reverse osmosis system. It’s important to note that
the produced water should not be consumed directly
  Mineralization and Remineralization

When there is a requirement for specific minerals in the produced water, mineralization
agents are used to optimize the presence of essential minerals. This is commonly
applied in fields such as agriculture, mineral water production, beverages, etc., to
promote plant growth, enhance taste, or increase nutritional value, among various
purposes

 UV Sterilization and Chlorine Dioxide Generator

Disinfection is primarily employed to eliminate or reduce the number of harmful

microorganisms on surfaces, in water, or in the air, ensuring a level of public health and
safety. Common methods include the use of ultraviolet (UV) sterilization or chlorine
dioxide generators.

UV sterilization typically utilizes germicidal lamps to disinfect, commonly positioned on

the permeate side of the reverse osmosis system. This method eliminates all
microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores, ensuring a high level of
microbial control. It is often applied for the disinfection of drinking water.

Chlorine dioxide generators, through processes such as ion exchange and

electrochemical reactions, convert chlorine and oxygen into chlorine dioxide gas. This
gas is then dissolved in water to achieve the disinfection goal. Chlorine dioxide
generators are typically placed downstream of the reverse osmosis system.

What Kind of Chemicals Need to Use for Reverse Osmosis

System?
Your choice of reverse osmosis dosing system depends mainly on the quality of raw
water and water production requirements, the following list of common reverse osmosis
dosing chemicals

 Non-oxidizing biocides

Mainly kills bacteria and other microorganisms in water to prevent growth/propagation

in water, etc.

 Scale inhibitor
Scale inhibitors can disperse inorganic salts that are difficult to dissolve in water,
preventing scaling on the membrane surface and improving water production and water
quality.

 Flocculants

Aggregate suspended matter in water into larger particles to facilitate sedimentation

and filtration.

 PH Adjustment

Adding sodium hydroxide to adjust the pH of the produced water to meet the
requirements of the produced water.

 CIP Chemical Cleaning Device

Chemical cleaning is mainly for reverse osmosis membranes, which can effectively
prevent membrane contamination and improve water quality stability and yield.

What are the Types of Reverse Osmosis Membranes?

There is a wide range of reverse osmosis membranes available in the market, and
understanding their classification can better assist you in choosing a rational and
effective membrane.

 They can be categorized into three types based on their applications:

1. High-Pressure Seawater Reverse Osmosis Membranes:

Primarily used in seawater desalination processes, with a TDS (Total Dissolved Solids)
range typically between 35,000 and 45,000.

2. Low-Pressure Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis Membranes:

Commonly applied in the desalination of brackish water with a TDS below 10,000. Apart
from desalination processes for brackish water, these membranes are also used for
producing high-purity water for the electronics and pharmaceutical industries, as well as
treating wastewater in food processing and beverage production.

3. Ultra Low-Pressure Reverse Osmosis Membrane

Ultra-low pressure reverse osmosis membranes, also known as nanofiltration
membranes, are capable of retaining nanoscale (0.001 micron) substances. Their
operating range is between ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis, and their ability to retain
dissolved salts ranges from 20% to 98%.

 The membranes can be divided into 3 categories based on the material they are
made of:

1. Cellulose Acetate Membrane

Cellulose Acetate (CA) is a membrane material adapted for reverse osmosis made from
cellulose and acetic anhydride by acetylation reaction. The membrane produced has
high water permeability, fabric hairline scaling, and contamination

2. Aromatic Polyamide Membrane

Aromatic polyamide membrane is currently the most widely used membrane in the
reverse osmosis process, It is characterized by good water permeability and, high
desalination rate, can be used in a wide range of PH values of 3-11, but is more sensitive
to chlorine

3. Composite Membrane

Composite membrane is a new type of reverse osmosis membrane, the ultra-thin skin
layer by different methods loaded on the microporous support body known as the
membrane, and respectively, the ultra-thin desalination layer and the porous support
layer optimization, known as the third generation of the membrane of the composite
membrane

Reverse Osmosis Membrane Chemical Cleaning

Chemical cleaning of reverse osmosis membrane is mainly divided into acid washing
and alkaline washing

First alkaline washing, then acid washing. Alkaline washing needs to use 0.1%
concentration of sodium hydroxide solution (to the cleaning tank to add 50g NaOH
solid or 170g 30% concentration of NaOH saturated solution) stirred evenly. Alkaline
wash needs to cycle twice, alkaline wash to complete the subsequent reverse osmosis
system rinse to neutral, the water produced by the equipment will wash the tank full of
the shutdown, acid wash. Acid washing requires a 1% concentration of the citric acid
solution (to the cleaning tank to add 500g citric acid solids) mixed evenly, acid washing
cycle can.

It should be noted that some reverse osmosis systems are set up online cleaning
function, and some need to remove the membrane element for offline cleaning, steps as
above.

Install and Maintain Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment System

When you are installing or maintaining a reverse osmosis system, you may find it
troublesome, so it is essential to understand the installation and commissioning of
reverse osmosis, let’s look at what are the specific methods.

Installation

At present, the majority of reverse osmosis systems are mostly skid-mounted. As a

result, the internal pipes and wires of the system are already connected, and upon
receiving the equipment, only the main power supply needs to be connected, along with
the inlet and outlet ports and the fittings between skids.

1. Check various components, such as whether the filters/media and membranes

are installed in their respective housing canisters.

2. Inlet and Outlet Ports:

Connect the raw water inlet at the pre-designated flange location, using pipes to link
the raw water tank to the raw water pump.

The outlet includes the concentrated water discharge outlet and the reverse osmosis
pure water production outlet, which are connected to the waste discharge port and the
product water tank, respectively.

3. Pre-treatment and RO Main Unit:

Connect the outlet of the pre-treatment to the inlet of the RO main unit to ensure the
continuity of water flow.

4. Connect the main power supply of the equipment to the local power source, and
wire each pump according to the schematic diagram to the terminals of the
reverse osmosis control cabinet.
Once all pipes and power sources are connected, proceed with debugging and trial
operation according to the specific instructions provided.

Maintenance

The maintenance of reverse osmosis primarily involves the replacement of filters/media,

reverse osmosis membranes and periodic backwashing.

1. Filters

Replace the filters when the pressure on the top pressure gauge of the precision filter
increases by 0.05 MPa or every 15 to 30 days of equipment operation. The replacement
frequency should also be adjusted based on the raw water quality.

2. Filter Media:

Regular backwashing of pre-treatment filter media is necessary to prevent clogging and

maintain effective filtration.

3. Reverse Osmosis Membranes:

Periodic chemical cleaning is required to protect the reverse osmosis membranes.

Additionally, the membranes should be replaced based on changes in raw water quality
and water production volume. Generally, the lifespan of reverse osmosis membranes is
1-3 years.

4. Shutdown Protection for Reverse Osmosis:

When the reverse osmosis membrane unit needs to be shut down, appropriate
shutdown protection measures should be taken. If the unit is capable of running, it
should be operated for 30 to 60 minutes daily. In case of a long-term shutdown or
shutdown exceeding 48 hours without operating conditions, the reverse osmosis
membranes should be removed and soaked in a 1% concentration solution of sodium
bisulfite. The soaking solution should be replaced every 10 days at higher temperatures
or extended to 20 days at lower temperatures. During soaking, care should be taken to
avoid freezing the reverse osmosis membranes at excessively low temperatures.

Troubleshooting

Reverse osmosis in the operation of the process more or less will produce water to
reduce or produce water quality is not stable and other factors, so you can according to
the following table for a troubleshooting
 Fault Type Troubleshooting

1. When there is no water in the 1) There is no water in the original tank.

raw water tank, the raw water low-
level indicator lights up and the
equipment stops.

2. When the raw water pressure is
lower than 0.1MPa, the raw water
low-pressure indicator light will be
on, and the equipment will stop.
1) There is no water in the raw water tank;2) there is air in the raw water
pump and the pump is idling, resulting in low pressure to the unit;3) The
filter is not in operation;4) The precision filter element has air or is
clogged, empty the air or replace the filter element;5) The water inlet
solenoid valve is not open, repair or replace the water inlet solenoid
valve.

3. After the high-pressure pump 1) Serious contamination and clogging of RO membrane

(before the RO membrane)
pressure higher than 1.5MPa when
the overpressure indicator light,
equipment shutdown

4. Raw water pump, high-pressure 1) Check pump status, troubleshoot, and reset by pressing the thermal
pump thermal relay failure fault relay reset button.
indicator light, RO plant shutdown

4 Factors Influence the Price of Reverse Osmosis

When choosing a reverse osmosis plant, different configurations are the main factors
that affect the price. So when you are buying a reverse osmosis plant, the following
factors will affect its price variation:

1. Raw Water Quality

Raw water quality is good or bad to determine the reverse osmosis process / material
selection of the entire system design, so the raw water quality is good, the reverse
osmosis system will be a simple treatment process, and the price will be cheaper, and
vice versa, the price will be more expensive

2. Produce Water Quality

Produced water quality requirements also determine the use of what kind of reverse
osmosis process, such as single-stage reverse osmosis or two-stage reverse osmosis,
and the need to add other devices, so the use of produced water will also affect the
price of reverse osmosis

3. Produce Water Capacity

The size of the water capacity determines the flow rate, size, and number of
pumps/tanks/membranes and other components, so the higher the water yield, the
higher the price of reverse osmosis in the case of the same raw water quality and water
production requirements

4. Components Brand and Material

Raw water quality determines the use of what material pumps, such as stainless steel
304/316 or 2205, etc., and also determines the use of brackish water membrane or
seawater membrane, different materials will have a high impact on the price!

In addition, the brand of each accessory will also have a great impact on the price

Things to Consider When Buying a Reverse Osmosis System

When you buy reverse osmosis equipment, you need to comprehensively consider the
following 7 factors before choosing the right reverse osmosis system

1. Raw Water Quality

The quality of raw water determines whether a reverse osmosis system can be used or
whether other water treatment methods need to be added.

2. Produced Water Requirements

The water quality requirements also determine whether to use reverse osmosis other
treatment methods or a combination of reverse osmosis modes.

3. Daily Water Production

Determine the amount of water you need to produce per day according to your water
needs before determining the number of components and flow rate of reverse osmosis.

4. Water Pressure

Reverse osmosis water needs a certain pressure, when the raw water can not meet the
water pressure, consider using a booster pump to pressurize the water.

At the same time, the reverse osmosis water does not have too much pressure, if you
need to supply the water to other places, according to the need to increase the water
supply pump to meet the pressure requirements
 5. Wastewater Volume

The amount of wastewater depends on the quality of the raw water and the set recovery
rate, if the raw water is too bad and thus the wastewater generated is too high, taking
into account the use of inefficient cases, you need to consider the need to use reverse
osmosis equipment.

6. Floor Space and Operating Space

According to different water production reverse osmosis footprint is different, in the

purchase of reverse osmosis equipment consider whether the use of space is sufficient,
if not enough, you need to provide specific size requirements to ensure that the reverse
osmosis can be met

7. Operating Costs

The energy consumption of the reverse osmosis system mainly consists of electricity and
accessories, if the local voltage is insufficient or the cost of electricity is expensive, you
can consider the use of solar power or diesel power generation, the initial cost may be
high, but the later operating costs will be reduced.

Regulatory and Safety Standards of Reverse Osmosis System

 WHO, Water quality TDS standards are typically below 1000 mg/l
 NSF/ANSI 58: Covers the requirements for RO systems, including material safety,
structural integrity, and performance.
 NSF/ANSI 61: Addresses the health effects of drinking water system components,
including those used in RO systems.
 Water Quality Association (WQA) Standards, The WQA is a trade association that
provides certification for water treatment products. The Gold Seal certification
from WQA indicates compliance with industry standards for performance and
contaminant reduction.
 European Standards (CE Marking)
 International Standards Organization (ISO)

The Reverse Osmosis Environmental and Sustainability

Considerations
The current implementation of reverse osmosis (RO) as an effective water treatment
technology also requires environmental and sustainability considerations. The following
are some of the key environmental and sustainability considerations associated with
reverse osmosis:

 Energy Consumption

Reverse osmosis systems require energy to pressurize the water to meet demand. High
energy consumption can have an impact on the environment, especially if the energy
source is non-renewable, so choosing energy-efficient components and considering
alternative sources of energy can help mitigate this problem, such as solar power.

 Water Waste

Reverse osmosis systems typically produce a certain amount of wastewater (effluent) as

a by-product, and the ratio of treated water to effluent varies from system to system.
Minimizing water waste is therefore very important for sustainable development and
can be reduced by considering methods such as system energy recovery.

 Membrane Life and Replacement Frequency

Reverse osmosis membranes have a limited lifespan and need to be replaced

periodically.

Consideration should be given to the environmental impact of membrane

manufacturing, transportation, and disposal, and research into membrane recycling and
reuse can help to achieve sustainable development.

 Chemical Use

The use of chemicals in reverse osmosis systems, such as antiscalants and cleaning
agents, should be carefully managed.

Proper handling, storage, and disposal of chemicals is essential to prevent

environmental contamination, and environmentally friendly chemicals or alternative
cleaning methods may be considered.

The Future Trends of Reverse Osmosis

Due to the scarcity of water resources in the world leading to water stress, a reverse
osmosis system can be a good way to utilize and treat different water sources to meet
the water demand, especially a desalination system can be a better solution to solve the
drought/drinking problems in water-scarce areas. In addition, some future trends of
reverse osmosis technology are provided for your reference.

1. Membrane Improvement Technology

Considering the limited service life of the current membrane, more advanced membrane
materials with better performance, higher efficiency, and longer service life may be
developed in the future.

2. Energy Efficiency

Future reverse osmosis systems may focus on further reducing energy consumption,
which may involve the integration of energy recovery devices and more energy-efficient
pumps for alternative energy sources (e.g., solar, etc.) to power the reverse osmosis
system.

3. Smart and IoT Integration

Smart technologies allow for better-centralized management of the RO system,

facilitating operations, reducing labor costs, etc.

4. Breakthroughs in Desalination Technology

Better fulfillment of various needs, such as drinking/irrigation, etc.

5. Focus on Sustainability

Sustainability considerations are expected to play an increasingly important role in the

future of reverse osmosis technology, including the development of more
environmentally friendly chemicals, sustainable manufacturing practices, and a focus on
minimizing the overall environmental impact of reverse osmosis systems.

FAQ
What Is Reverse Osmosis Water?

Reverse osmosis water refers to the raw water through the reverse osmosis system after
treatment of the produced water, the quality of the produced water depends on the
quality of the raw water and reverse osmosis process selection, and can be used for
drinking or to meet other industrial requirements

How is Reverse Osmosis Different from Filtration?

Filtration is the process of removing impurities from water by retaining them in a porous
layer of granular media, mainly removing suspended solids/organic matter/bacteria/iron
ions, etc., which is the pretreatment part of the reverse osmosis system.

Reverse osmosis removes deep-seated metal ions, minerals, and salts to achieve the
final water production requirements

Is Reverse Osmosis Water Good(or Bad) for Us?

The water produced by reverse osmosis can be applied to different fields, purely in
terms of drinking water, after sterilization and mineral treatment, it is good for us.

For industrial water, reverse osmosis product water can meet different water standards
to meet the subsequent demand for water, naturally, it is good for our life/production

What is the Lifespan of a Reverse Osmosis System?

Generally speaking, the service life of the entire reverse osmosis machine can be up to
10 to 20 years or so, but the accessories, such as filter cartridges / reverse osmosis
membranes/filters and pumps have a life expectancy of the wearing parts, at the same
time, reverse osmosis of the raw water quality and operation will also affect the service
life

How Often Does the Reverse Osmosis Membrane Need to be Replaced?

The service life of reverse osmosis is 1-3 years, generally determined by the quality of
raw water and chemical cleaning frequency replacement frequency

How Much Space Do We Need for a Reverse Osmosis System?

The footprint of a reverse osmosis plant depends on the water production capacity, the
larger the water production capacity, the larger the footprint.

At the same time, when there is a space requirement, we can provide specific
dimensions for individual design

Is RO Water “Pure” Water?

Reverse osmosis is a highly efficient water purification process that removes a wide
range of contaminants, including dissolved salts, minerals, bacteria, viruses, and other
impurities. As a result, reverse osmosis water is typically very pure compared to feed
water
However, whether or not reverse osmosis water is considered “pure” depends on the
circumstances and the specific definition of purity

Is RO Water the Same as Distilled Water?

Reverse osmosis (RO) water and distilled water are both purified water, but they are
produced through different processes

Can You Change the PH of RO Water?

Yes, you can adjust the PH of the reverse osmosis water.

You just need to add a PH adjustment device, mostly using sodium hydroxide dosing
treatment to meet the final PH requirement

Can You Use RO on All Water?

Reverse osmosis systems can be used for some raw water, but for wastewater treatment,
reverse osmosis can be used as an integral part of the back-end treatment to improve
the quality of the produced water or to meet recycling standards.

Do Reverse Osmosis Systems Waste Water?

The amount of wastewater from reverse osmosis depends on the quality of the raw
water and is calculated by the designed recovery rate.

For example, a desalination plant with a water production of 10 TPD (TDS< 35000 ppm)
has a recovery rate of 25-30%.

Wastewater volume: 23-30T per day

Through the above detailed introduction to the reverse osmosis system, I believe you
have a comprehensive understanding of reverse osmosis, if there are other issues that
you do not know, please feel free to consult

More Sources

Brackish Water — Source: Rowatertreatment

Reverse Osmosis — Source: Wikipedia

Alice Chi
Hi, I’m Alice from Green Water, I’ve been working on this company in China that
makes reverse osmosis plant for 8 years now, and the purpose of this article is to
share with you the knowledge related to water treatment plants from a Chinese
supplier’s perspective.