Industrial osmosis to buy

Industrial Osmosis

From the content of this interesting article you will learn:

1. What industrial osmosis is for

2. Completion and features of the system

3. Advantages and disadvantages of the reverse osmosis method

4. Conclusions and recommendations

1. Why industrial osmosis is needed

In industrial production, there are special regulations for water. It is used for the needs of employees, in the process of manufacturing products, washing filtration elements, for technical needs. Therefore, the presence of any impurities in it is unacceptable. As is known, any source of water is initially subject to contamination. This can be mechanical elements, organic matter, bacteria, chemical elements, nitrates. Before using water, it is absolutely necessary to get rid of them. Otherwise, it will affect the manufactured products and the work of the enterprise as a whole. Impurities have an unpleasant property to disable equipment, through various deposits, corrosion. Therefore, industrial water treatment is of great importance for each production.

Industrial water treatment systems should be universal and do not require a large amount of resources for operation. Reverse osmosis technology has such characteristics. Industrial osmosis is an effective way to purify most contaminants. Due to its versatility, it can be installed in various production facilities. Such flexible installations allow you to purify water from impurities up to 99%.

Reverse osmosis technology is also called the membrane method. All this is because the main element of purification is a membrane. This is a filter, on the surface of which there are many small cells. They are able to trap even the smallest elements, passing only water molecules. Initially, this method was used for desalination. But modern installations allow it to be used almost everywhere. The principle of filtration of reverse osmosis installations will be clear to everyone. The flow of water, under pressure, passes through a membrane filter and is divided into several streams. The first, which is the concentrate, in which a greater number of impurities is sent to the drain. The second, the permeate, remains in the second part of the tank and passes on.

Reverse osmosis helps solve problems such as:

• Soften water. All salt elements are removed, including hardness salts. Hard water can damage equipment by contaminating pipes with deposits.
• Heavy metal impurities are removed. In the case of saturation of water with lead or other heavy elements, not only the equipment suffers, but also the human body, if the water is intended for employees.
• Water filtration from impurities. Removes such substances as manganese, iron and others. Their presence in the water causes corrosion and fistulas.
• Disinfection. Purification from harmful bacteria and viruses that can leave deposits in the process of life activity.
• Degassing. Cleansing of excess gases. Excess gas often remains in the water, which significantly reduces the organoleptic properties. The most striking example is hydrogen sulfide. Its presence in the water worsens its odor.
  It fights with alkaline elements.
• Water pretreatment. Often at enterprises, a water treatment system is already installed, but over time it loses its relevance. Therefore, it is modernized.
• Wastewater treatment. When using reagents, a large number of impurities accumulate in the wastewater, which can not be discharged into the sewer. Preliminary filtration is required.

The versatility of the method allows not only its widespread use, but also the maintenance of the desired performance. Different industries require a variety of systems that operate on the basis of reverse osmosis. They can be divided into several subtypes:

• For drinking water. In this case, the main criterion will be the purity of purification. That is, the membrane used must have small pores to detain all impurities. The purification will be practically 100%
• Removal of heavy elements. In the case of using water purification from large organic compounds, such as chlorine decomposition products, it is possible not to use thin membranes. Semi-permeable filtration elements will have a larger mesh size, but are more protected from the effects of chemicals.
• Performance. Industrial units vary in performance and cost.

Since reverse osmosis is popular in all areas of production, very often structurally consist of modules. Such a design is convenient when completing the system under its own characteristics. Each enterprise tries to reduce the cost of operating the system and purchase cheaper water treatment units. Reverse osmosis technology is the golden mean. It does not consume a large amount of resources and maximizes the purification of water from all contaminants. In addition, the device is automated, which allows you to remotely control all the purification processes and not disassemble the system to wash the filters. It can be upgraded with devices that detect malfunctions. In this case, a signal will be triggered about system failures. Reverse osmosis can independently, without the use of additional means, qualitatively purify water. But for a longer and more effective operation, it needs pre-treatment to remove large elements of contamination.

2. System configuration and features

Given the large number of different models, the appearance and completion of the system can be different. The standard installation is a framework for modernization. Before starting work, it is necessary to rid the liquid from large debris. To do this, a mechanical filter is installed. It can be disk, mesh or any other. Its function is to eliminate particularly large elements, debris. These can be pebbles, silt or clay particles. Getting mechanical substances into the membrane is undesirable, as it can damage it and significantly reduce its service life. The system consists of several parts:

• Pumps. To maintain high performance requires the installation of special equipment, high-pressure pumps, for optimal performance of the equipment.
• Fine filter. A filter element that has many conical pores on its surface. Necessary to eliminate small impurities after the mechanical filter.
• Inhibitor dispenser. Used to eliminate particulate matter.
• Hydrogen sensor. The device shows the acid-alkaline balance. Its increase negatively affects the cleaning properties of the membrane and harms the system.
• Membranes. The main cleaning element. It has a porous surface and eliminates all remaining impurities.
  Tank for purified water.

Reverse osmosis equipment is necessarily supplemented with control units to automate the system. Blocks with sensors allow you to control the volume of purified water, pressure, concentration of impurities, the volume of water discharged into the drain. Reverse osmosis plants are complex equipment, so the automation of the system allows you to simplify the work and adjust the control of the stages of purification, without involving specialists. As it is used, the membranes become clogged with impurities and are unable to effectively purify water. In this case, a sensor is activated and the system starts flushing. The filter is rinsed with a reverse flow of water. This flushes out all impurities from the pores and cleans the filter element. The duration of the action depends on the filter load and system settings. The frequency of filter flushing depends on the initial water characteristics and the concentration of impurities. As well as performance conditions. If the membrane reaches the end of its useful life, it must be replaced. Industrial membranes are designed for approximately several years of operation.

This technology is convenient and flexible for the removal of impurities. If desired, the system can be modernized by adding additional elements. In addition, when selecting a system it is worth remembering its purpose. Drinking water requires the installation of all elements of the system. Whereas for wastewater treatment, a minimal set is suitable.

For different purposes, there are installations that differ in characteristics. The difference lies in their design, which affects the performance of the system. Three categories can be distinguished:

• Low performance. The cleaning rate does not exceed 5 m3 / h. These are the simplest systems and the most inexpensive of all categories. The membranes are installed in a single location. If two or more filter elements are used, they are placed horizontally. If a single filter is used, the arrangement will be vertical.
• Medium Capacity. The design data is modified for faster filtration. The membranes are installed in several compartments of the housings. Such an installation is used in desalination.
• High capacity. The most complex system. The essence is in additional purification of the concentrate. For this purpose, more membrane filters are installed. In this way it is possible to increase the permeate up to 75%. Increasing the number of membranes allows you to withstand the maximum load and purify from more contaminants.

The variety of installations helps to choose the right option for a particular production. And the possibility of modernization only extends the efficiency of the system.

Fig. 2 Standard equipment of Wagner reverse osmosis system

3. Advantages and disadvantages of reverse osmosis method

The use of reverse osmosis technology, a popular and widely used technology. But like any water treatment, it has its pros and cons.

Advantages:

• Versatility. Allows for the purification of any water. Can be used in industries with different spheres of activity.
• Complete removal of impurities. No additional actions are required for purification. No reagents are used, water does not need to be heated to increase the rate of purification.
• Purification from salts and inorganic compounds. Possibility of water desalination. Sea water has in its composition more than 35 mg/l of various salt compounds. Reverse osmosis system allows to eliminate them and purify water up to 99%.
• Improvement of organoleptic properties of water.
• High percentage of purification, which allows you to get potable water.
  Reasonable cost of installation.
• When purification by reverse osmosis, the temperature of water does not change.
• The possibility to choose different variants of the equipment device. And, consequently, different productivity. From 10 to 50,000 liters per hour.

But, in addition to the advantages, there are disadvantages:

• Mandatory preparation of the water flow and removal of the main dirt. For this purpose, mechanical filters are installed, capable of trapping particles of silt, dirt and other elements that can harm the system. Coarse filters can be of any type and manufacturer.
• Uneven flow distribution, a large volume of water drains into the disposal. Only about a quarter of the water from the total volume goes to the consumer. The bulk of it drains into the drain.
• High energy consumption.
• Suitable for purification of cold and warm water. It is undesirable to purify hot water.
• Cleaning the filter with reagents. This use of chemicals is not always justified given the possibility of purification of drinking water. It is not always possible to identify how many elements remained on the surface of the filter and their subsequent impact.
• Can not eliminate volatile chlorine compounds. It is necessary to install additional components: sorption filters or ozonization system.

Another point, the lack of mineralization, as well as the taste of water. On the one hand is a disadvantage, on the other hand a positive quality. The fact that reverse osmosis systems remove all impurities, making the water distilled. In some areas of industrial production, such as heat and power, such water is needed. So that it does not contain any elements. In general terms, water should contain a certain amount of minerals. It is they that give the water a pleasant taste. If we talk about drinking water for employees of enterprises, then the use of empty water does not really affect the body, unless you drink 3 liters a day. And that, to get some problems will require giving up a lot of products that also saturate with micronutrients. So, for the moment, getting distilled water is both an advantage and a disadvantage. But no one can say an unequivocal opinion, supported by facts and studies. If the question of the presence of a certain concentration of mineral is especially relevant, I add a mineralizer to the finish purification. The device fills the liquid with a certain amount of substances. But, as a rule, in industrial production, a reverse osmosis unit is sufficient. Comparing the method with other technologies, reverse osmosis wins significantly. First of all because of its purification ability. That is, the uniqueness of the membrane filter. The membrane, being the main purifying part of the system, collects all impurities except water molecules. However, it is very sensitive. Its work is affected by the presence of mechanical elements that are harmful. And it does not tolerate chemical substances. They also negatively affect the filter. In this case, it is better to wash with reagents. The membrane has some protection from chemical influences, but over time it thins. The smaller the pores of the membrane, the more delicate it is and requires special care. Installing only membrane filters, even if there are a dozen of them, is unacceptable. Always the water must undergo primary treatment. This will increase the service life of the element and it will not undergo deformation, continuing to qualitatively purify water.

4. Conclusions and recommendations

Reverse osmosis stations are relevant and versatile equipment in the water treatment process. The uniqueness and flexibility of the system, its multi-stage, allows water purification for a wide variety of enterprises. The system is relatively unpretentious. Depends on its capacity. Installations with a lower rate of purification, require less resource consumption. But on a production scale, sufficiently powerful devices are used, which can withstand the load. The flexibility of the system is manifested in one more factor: the possibility of integrating it into an existing water treatment plant. In this case, reverse osmosis does not enter into confrontation, but optimizes the load and efficiency of water treatment. Such a fact is another advantage and convenience for installation in any production.

The systems have enough advantages, despite the presence of disadvantages. Therefore, their application in industry is quite justified and reasonable. Each reverse osmosis system has its own requirements and capabilities. The standard configuration has the following characteristics:

• Installation capacity up to 50000 l/h.
• Membrane filter operation period from 3 to 5 years. Depends on the composition of the purified water, the quality of the element and correct application.
• Constant working cycle of filtration is not less than 1 hour. The time for washing is different. Depends on the filling of the filter, cleaning agents used, accumulation of deposits.
• Complete cleaning of impurities.

Maintenance of the system is a prerequisite for continuous operation. Flushing is carried out approximately once every 3 months. The filtration element should be replaced once every 3-5 years. If the membrane is not properly maintained, the level of concentrate drained from the water increases. Consequently, the performance decreases with high resource consumption.

For long-lasting operation of the main element of filtration-membrane, it is necessary to properly follow the service instructions. First of all, protect it from mechanical and chemical substances. It is possible to modernize the unit with new filters to avoid overloading the membrane. Today on the market there are a large number of installations that apply reverse osmosis technology. They differ both in performance and appearance, the quality of the material used and the manufacturer. It is better to choose a system based on the initial data of the water flow. Take into account the average performance indicators. And the cost of service. In addition, the resource costs should be calculated. It is recommended to entrust this work to specialists. Qualified people will study the provided data of the existing system and initial water data. And will select equipment based on the technical characteristics and performance of the system. As a rule, large organizations provide a full range of services at once. From water intake for analysis to installation of equipment. They perform start-up and adjustment work. This option is the most optimal when installing industrial reverse osmosis systems.