On the standardization of performance data for reverse osmosis desalination plants

✍ Scribed by B.A.Q DarwisH; M. Abdel-Jawad; G.S. Aly

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1989
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 569 KB
• Volume: 74
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0011-9164
• DOI: 10.1016/0011-9164(89)85046-5

✦ Synopsis

Comprehensive operating data, generated over a period of more than 3 years by Doha Reverse Osmosis Plant (DROP) in Kuwait, has been used to compare the accuracy of two different methods for standardizing RO performance data. The ASTM method, applied for both spiral wound and hollow fibre membrane systems, and the UOP method, applied to spiral wound membrane systems, were used in this study.

The UOP method resulted in better standardization of both permeate flowrate and salt rejection for both stages of the spiral wound membrane system configuration.

For a plant operation time of 36 months, the average difference between both methods was 1.2% and 5.8% for the salt rejection of first and second stage respectively and 8.0% and 4.6% for the permeate flowrate of first and second stage respectively.

The UOP method does need, however, more detailed input data compared to the ASTM method.

An attempt was made to modify the UOP method for application with the hollow fibre membrane system configuration. A smaller difference range for salt rejection was obtained, ranging between 0.8% for the first stage and 2.0% for the second stage. On the other hand, the average difference between the two methods was 15.3% and 9.4% for the permeate flowrate leaving the first and second stage respectively. The standardized performance data using the UOP method were closer to the plant design data.