RO Desalination
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
RO Desalination is a reverse osmosis desalination membrane process that has been commercially used since the early 1970s. Because no heating or phase changes are needed, energy requirements are low in comparison to other processes of desalination.
The typical RO System consists of the following components:
- Pre-treatment
- High-Pressure Pump
- Membrane Assembly
- Post-treatment
Pre-treatment is important because of the need to maintain clean membrane surfaces. As such, solids within the water must be removed and the water treated to prevent salt precipitation and bacterial growth from occurring on the membranes.
The pump supplies the pressure needed to push water through the membrane, even as the membrane rejects the passage of salt through it. Typical pressures for brackish water range from 225 to 375 PSI. In the case of seawater, they range from 800 to 1,180 PSI.
The Membrane Assembly consists of a pressure vessel with a membrane that allows feedwater to be pressed against it. The membrane must be strong enough to withstand whatever pressure is applied against it. RO membranes are made in a vairety of configurations, with the two most common configurations being spiral-wound and hollow-fiber.
Post-treatment consists of stabilizing the water and preparing for distribution.
Links and References
- International Desalination Association (http://www.idadesal.org/)
