| In a power plant, industrial Reverse Osmosis | | | | of an industrial Reverse Osmosis equipment system: |
| equipment (RO) is used almost exclusively in the | | | | Element, Array (Train), Stage, and Pass. |
| boiler water pre-treatment area. Since most power | | | | The industrial Reverse Osmosis Element is the building |
| boilers tend to operate at elevated pressure | | | | block of any RO equipment system. It is the individual |
| (>700 psig [4.8 MPa]), boiler feed water quality is | | | | component, where the RO process occurs. |
| very stringent. As a result, industrial Reverse Osmosis | | | | There are four main designs for the elements: |
| Equipment in this application is invariably followed by | | | | - Spiral Wound - Most common design for water |
| some type of demineralization (demin) polishing | | | | purification |
| equipment, designed to reduce feed water dissolved | | | | - Hollow Fiber - Very large membrane surface areas |
| solids, especially silica, to very low levels. Industrial | | | | are possible in this design. Used in seawater |
| Reverse Osmosis equipment, by itself, is incapable of | | | | desalination |
| providing the boiler feed water quality demanded by | | | | - Large Tube - Similar to a shell-and tube heat |
| higher pressure power boilers. | | | | exchange in appearance and design. Used in special |
| Because the polishing demineralization equipment in a | | | | wastewater treatment and food processing |
| power generation facility will be sized upon the | | | | applications |
| expected industrial Reverse Osmosis equipment | | | | - Flat Plate - Similar to a plate-and frame heat |
| performance (permeate water quality and quantity), | | | | exchanger. Used in food processing applications |
| any problems with the Reverse Osmosis equipment | | | | Regardless of the element design, high pressure and |
| operation can have drastic effects on the demin | | | | flow is needed to force pure water through the RO |
| performance. Poor demin performance can cause | | | | membrane to become permeate. Because of the high |
| costs to increase sharply, through increased | | | | pressures needed, each element must be designed |
| regenerations and acid/caustic usage. | | | | so that the internal structures can withstand a |
| Further downstream, the impact of poor industrial | | | | feedwater pressure of several hundred psig. |
| Reverse Osmosis equipment performance on the | | | | The number of elements needed will be determined |
| power generation boilers can be severe, ultimately | | | | by the amount of the final product needed daily. |
| leading to plant de-rating, and even boiler and turbine | | | | The industrial RO equipment Array is simply the way |
| damage. | | | | in which the elements are grouped together, in series |
| Understanding Reverse Osmosis Design for a Power | | | | or parallel. |
| Generation Facility There are four main components | | | | |