GB2447639A - First stage flux control in the purification of water by reverse osmosis - Google Patents
First stage flux control in the purification of water by reverse osmosis Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2447639A GB2447639A GB0703948A GB0703948A GB2447639A GB 2447639 A GB2447639 A GB 2447639A GB 0703948 A GB0703948 A GB 0703948A GB 0703948 A GB0703948 A GB 0703948A GB 2447639 A GB2447639 A GB 2447639A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- reverse osmosis
- permeate
- water
- series
- elements
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000001223 reverse osmosis Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 28
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims abstract description 18
- 230000004907 flux Effects 0.000 title description 9
- 238000000746 purification Methods 0.000 title description 3
- 239000012466 permeate Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 35
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 239000012528 membrane Substances 0.000 claims description 23
- 206010012289 Dementia Diseases 0.000 claims 1
- 239000012267 brine Substances 0.000 description 5
- HPALAKNZSZLMCH-UHFFFAOYSA-M sodium;chloride;hydrate Chemical compound O.[Na+].[Cl-] HPALAKNZSZLMCH-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 4
- 230000001276 controlling effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000013535 sea water Substances 0.000 description 3
- 235000012206 bottled water Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000010612 desalination reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003651 drinking water Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009285 membrane fouling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000008213 purified water Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
- C02F1/44—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis
- C02F1/441—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis by reverse osmosis
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D61/00—Processes of separation using semi-permeable membranes, e.g. dialysis, osmosis or ultrafiltration; Apparatus, accessories or auxiliary operations specially adapted therefor
- B01D61/02—Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration ; Nanofiltration
- B01D61/025—Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration
- B01D61/026—Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration comprising multiple reverse osmosis steps
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D61/00—Processes of separation using semi-permeable membranes, e.g. dialysis, osmosis or ultrafiltration; Apparatus, accessories or auxiliary operations specially adapted therefor
- B01D61/02—Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration ; Nanofiltration
- B01D61/12—Controlling or regulating
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F2209/00—Controlling or monitoring parameters in water treatment
- C02F2209/40—Liquid flow rate
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
- Nanotechnology (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Separation Using Semi-Permeable Membranes (AREA)
Abstract
A method of independently controlling the production rate of a first stage of a series of reverse osmosis stages 1 used for the removal of dissolved solids from water. A permeate 10 from the first stage of the series of reverse osmosis stages 1 is removed from the system separately from the permeate 9 from the stages downstream of the first stage. The flow rate of the first permeate 10 is continuously monitored by a flow meter 5, and controlled by a valve 6 to maintain a required flow value.
Description
I
LEAD ELEMENT FLUX CONTROL IN THE PURIFICATION OF WATER BY REVERSE OSMOSIS
Background of the Invention
Technical Fii The invention concerns a method of independently controlling the production rate of the lead element of a series of reverse osmosis elements used for the removal of dissolved solids from water. As a consequence of this independent control of lead element flux, it is possible to increase the overall production efficiency of a reverse osmosis system.
Description of Related Mt
Reverse osmosis is an established process for removing dissolved solids from water, and is the subject of a number of existing patents, including: * US 3,608,730 Blaha, Desalination apparatus, 1971 * US 3,637,081 Bradley Liquid treatment system, 1972 * (IS 4,169,789 Lerat, Process and apparatus fbr purifying sea water by reverse osmosis, 1979 A number of established vendors, including Dow FilmTcc, Rydranautics, Koch and Toray supply reverse osmosis membranes commercially for the purposes of producing potable water from seawater. All of these vendors provide proprietary software to predict the performance of a membrane system design for a given set of seawater and operating conditions. This software is used to check that all of the membranes meet with design guidelines, which are intended to ensure reliable and efficient operation of the system.
One of the critical design guidelines is the lead element flux.
Object of the invention The object of the invention isto control the flux rate of the lead element of a series of reverse osmosis membranes independentiy from the remaining membrane elements in series. As a direct result of this, a number of advantages are realised including: I. Lead element flux can be removed as the dictating design constraint for a reverse osmosis system for water purification.
2. A system can be operated with fill knowledge and control over the lead element of a series of reverse osmosis membranes, thereby reducing the risk of membrane fouling.
3. The overall number of membranes required to purify a given quantity of water containing dissolved solids can be reduced, thereby reducing the overall capital cost of the system.
These advantages and other objects of the invention are achieved by the method for controlling lead element flux in a series of reverse osmosis membranes as described below. This invention is further described and characterised by the enclosed patent claims.
Essential features The invention concerns a method of independently controlling the production rate of the lead element of a series of reverse osmosis elements used for the removal of dissolved solids from water. Water containing dissolved solids is purified by a number of reverse osmosis membranes arranged in series The first membrane in the series of elements purifies a proportion of the feed water by producing a permeate stream containing a reduced concentration of dissolved solids, and a brine stream containing a more concentrated solution of dissolved solids. This brine stream is then passed directly onto the second membrane element in the series, where a farther proportion of purified permeate is removed, and a reduced quantity of further concentrated brine is passed onto the third element.
All of the membrane elements in series are housed within a common pressure vessel.
It is essential that the permeate from the lead element in the series be hydraulically isolated from the permeate of the remaining elements in the series.
It is essential that the flowrate of permeate from the first element be monitored independently from the permeate of the remaining elements in the series.
It is essential that the flowrate of permeate from the first element be controlled independently from the permeate of the remaining elements in the series.
Important but non essential features Preferably the pressure vessels containing the reverse osmosis membrane elements will contain between four and eight spirally wound reverse osmosis membrane elements.
Preferably there will be a large number of pressure vessels acting in parallel to provide the required production of purified water.
Preferably, a manijbld system will collect the permeate from all of the lead elements in each pressure vessel of a group of pressure vessels Preferably, the inanifolded lead element permeate flowrate will be continuously monitored by an in line flowmeter, used to automaticaJly regulate that flowrate of water by use of an in line control valve.
Detailed Description
The invention will be further described with reference to the drawings. The items on the drawings have all been labelled with numbers. These numbers are used in the detailed description. The key to these items is as fellows Item I -Reverse osmosis membrane elements Item 2 -Blanked off permeate connector Item 3 -Standard, flow through permeate connector Item 4 -Pressure Vessel Item 5 -Flow measurement Item 6 -Flow control device Item 7 -Peedwater inlet item 8 -Brine outlet Item 9 -End element permeate outlet Item 10 -Lead element permeate outlet Item 11 -Controlled lead element permeate Figure 1 -Reverse osmosis elements employing, lead element flux control A schematic representation of a single pressure vessel containing a number of reverse osmosis membranes in series, employing lead element flux control is provided in figure 1.
A number of reverse osmosis membranes (1) are housed in series in a pressure vessel (4). Feedwater is introduced into the pressure vessel at the inlet (7) and flows down the feed side of the first reverse osmosis membrane element.
A small proportion of the feedwater passes through the reverse osmosis membrane to form the first, or lead, element permeate. The permeate from the first element collects in the central, permeate tube of the first element, which is hydraulically isolated from the permeate of all of the other reverse osmosis membrane elements by a blanked off permeate connector (2). The permeate collected from the first element flows out of the lead element permeate ontlet (10), from where its flowrate is measured (5) and regulated by a flow control device (6) to provide the controlled lead element permeate (II).
The remaining portion of feedwater which does not penneate through the first reverse osmosis membrane forms the first element reject water, which is fed to the feed side of the second reverse osmosis membrane element. A proportion of the second element feedwater permeates through the second element, into the second element permeate lube, and the remaining reject water makes the feed to the third element. This process continues until the final element, from where the reject water leaves the pressure vessel through the brine outlet (8). The permeate water from the second element is hydraulically connected to the permeate from all of the elements in the pressure vessel except for the lead element by standard, flow through permeate connectors (3). This combined permeate water flows out of the pressure vessel through the end element permeate outlet (9).
Claims (3)
- Claims: 1. Method fbr controlling the production rate of the leaddement of a series of reverse osmosis elements used fbr the removal of dissolved solids from water independently of the elements downstream of the lead element.
- 2. A method as claimed in claim I where the permeate flow from the lead element ofa series of reverse osmosis membranes is segregated from the remaining elements by a blanked off penneate collector; its flowrate monitored by an on-line flowmeter, and the output from that flowmeter used to control the position of an automatic control valve positioned in the lead element permeate line.
- 3. A method substantially as herein descnl,ed above and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0703948A GB2447639B (en) | 2007-03-01 | 2007-03-01 | Lead element flux control in the purification of water by reverse osmosis |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0703948A GB2447639B (en) | 2007-03-01 | 2007-03-01 | Lead element flux control in the purification of water by reverse osmosis |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0703948D0 GB0703948D0 (en) | 2007-04-11 |
| GB2447639A true GB2447639A (en) | 2008-09-24 |
| GB2447639B GB2447639B (en) | 2011-07-20 |
Family
ID=37965718
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0703948A Expired - Fee Related GB2447639B (en) | 2007-03-01 | 2007-03-01 | Lead element flux control in the purification of water by reverse osmosis |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2447639B (en) |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2003092870A1 (en) * | 2002-05-02 | 2003-11-13 | City Of Long Beach | Two stage nanofiltration seawater desalination system |
| WO2005082497A1 (en) * | 2004-02-25 | 2005-09-09 | Dow Global Technologies, Inc. | Apparatus for treating solutions of high osmotic strength |
-
2007
- 2007-03-01 GB GB0703948A patent/GB2447639B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2003092870A1 (en) * | 2002-05-02 | 2003-11-13 | City Of Long Beach | Two stage nanofiltration seawater desalination system |
| WO2005082497A1 (en) * | 2004-02-25 | 2005-09-09 | Dow Global Technologies, Inc. | Apparatus for treating solutions of high osmotic strength |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2447639B (en) | 2011-07-20 |
| GB0703948D0 (en) | 2007-04-11 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US20030150807A1 (en) | Methods for improving filtration performance of hollow fiber membranes | |
| WO2014045804A1 (en) | Water purification device and method for manufacturing purified water | |
| KR20150114507A (en) | Osmotic separation systems and methods | |
| US20120067808A1 (en) | Filtration apparatus and process with reduced flux imbalance | |
| PT1161981E (en) | Method for multistage reverse osmosis separation | |
| CN102942265A (en) | Whole-membrane-process water treatment integration device | |
| US20130118978A1 (en) | Combined microfiltration or ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis processes | |
| CN103443031A (en) | Seawater desalination system and seawater desalination method | |
| IL224782A (en) | Water treatment method | |
| WO2016066382A1 (en) | A water purifier and a process of cleaning the membrane | |
| JP2009285522A (en) | Reverse osmosis membrane device | |
| DK2368624T3 (en) | Plant and method of treatment of a liquid by means of reverse osmosis. | |
| CN111530293B (en) | Continuous flow-through membrane filtration device and method | |
| Nordin et al. | Case study of an ultrafiltration plant treating bleach plant effluent from a pulp and paper mill | |
| GB2447639A (en) | First stage flux control in the purification of water by reverse osmosis | |
| CN211445331U (en) | Bipolar reverse osmosis treatment system | |
| CN203269626U (en) | Membrane treatment device for industrial wastewater treatment | |
| US20140144840A1 (en) | Sequencing batch type or batch type water-filtering apparatus and method of operating the same | |
| US12097467B2 (en) | Systems and techniques for cleaning pressure membrane systems using a water-in-air cleaning stream | |
| CN213699482U (en) | Water treatment membrane performance testing device | |
| AU2008200413A1 (en) | Water treatment process | |
| CN210656542U (en) | Pure water preparation device | |
| CA2848975A1 (en) | Systems and methods for concentrating sugar content of liquids | |
| CN208302544U (en) | A kind of plural parallel stage formula diaphragm evaluation pond and detection system | |
| US9707517B2 (en) | Electrodialysis method and apparatus for passivating scaling species |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20111020 |