Analysis of common failures of reverse osmosis system

The failure of reverse osmosis device can generally be analyzed from three aspects:

1. System design

2. Installation and commissioning

3. Operation and maintenance

    

1. System design

 1) Raw water quality: Get water analysis report and special ions concentration, such as iron, manganese, and silicon

 2) Water temperature: Design calculation based on actual operating water temperature

 3) Recovery rate: Determine the best recovery rate according to the arrangement of membrane elements to prevent the water flux of individual membrane elements exceeding the standard

 4) Operation period: At least simulate 3 years of operating time to ensure the reliability of the high-pressure pump

If ignore above points will cause serious failures and negative effects:

1. With the extension of the operating life of reverse osmosis system and the change of water temperature, the product water capacity still can not meet design value even the high pressure pump reaches full load

2. With the extension of the operating life of reverse osmosis system, require higher feed water pressure to keep a stable product water capacity

3. The reverse osmosis recovery rate exceeds the normal value, and the pollution speed is accelerated

    

2. Installation and commissioning

   1) Security filter: Strictly grasp the tightness of the installation of the security filter element

   2) Instruments and meters: The flow probe should be maintained at 1.5 meters in entrance and 1 meter in exit, and equipped with saddle probe base

   3) Flushing the pipeline system: Install the filter element of the security filter when flushing the system pipeline, to prevent large particles from depositing on the reverse osmosis device and related pipelines

   4) Membrane installation: Use medical glycerin when installing membrane elements, and try to avoid using lubricating substances such as detergent

   5) Dosing of scale inhibitors: During the initial commissioning, the normal dosing of scale inhibitors and other agents should be ensured to prevent the membrane elements from fouling and scaling after prolonged commissioning

If ignore above points will cause serious failures and negative effects:

1. Severe mechanical fouling, especially the membrane elements are easily scratched by sharp impurities

2.  The reading of the flow meter is unstable and cannot play a monitoring role

3. O-rings and salt water seals are worn out, resulting in the deterioration of the water quality and the high recovery rate

    

Operation and maintenance

1. Instruments and meters: Regular calibration of flow meters and cleaning of probes

2. Pressure gauge: Regular calibration of pressure gauge

3. Pressure vessel: Correct removal and installation of the end plate of the pressure vessel

4. Concentrated water thrust ring: The correct placement of the concentrated water thrust ring

5. Upper limit of operating data: Determine the upper limit of operating parameters such as the pressure difference between sections, and deal with it in time when the upper limit is reached

6. Manual cleaning: For serious mechanical fouling shall prevent flushing with a strong water jet.

   If ignore above points will cause serious failures and negative effects:

1. The pressure vessel thrust ring overlaps or partially overlaps with the concentrated water outlet, resulting in high recovery rate operation

2. The mixed use of new and old membrane elements or different types of membrane elements aggravates the rate of pollution

3. The flowmeter display is too large or too small, which affects the adjustment of the system recovery rate

4. The excessive pressure difference causes the membrane element to be mechanically fractured, resulting in irrecoverable loss

5. Inaccurate operating pressure can easily cause the system to be in an overloaded operation state and speed up pollution.

    

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