Is it suitable to use a Pressure Tube in Commercial RO plants?

Most reverse osmosis membranes are intended to perform with water pressures of 60 PSI or greater, and they are tested to have a steady rejection rate of at least 97.5 percent. If the water pressure feeding RO system is decreased, the system will generate less water of inferior quality. Furthermore, once the water temperature falls below 77 °F, output is diminished.

Private well systems often feature pressurized storage tanks and pump systems with on/off pressure settings of 20/40 psi or 30/50 psi. In such circumstances, an electric pressure boosting pump must be installed to provide proper rejection of particular health-related substances in the feedwater, such as nitrate or arsenic, as required by the CPCB or municipal legislation.

Why is the flow of RO Water so low?

Slow water flow rates might be caused by low pressure within the RO tank. Without any water in the tank, reverse osmosis tanks should have a pressure of 7 to 8 psi. To check your pressure, locate the valve, which is usually covered by a blue plastic cap on the tank's side at the bottom. After you've removed all of the water from the tank, use a pressure gauge to check the tank's pressure.If the pressure is too low, use a pump to add air until it reaches 7-8 psi. Only add a tiny amount of air at a time, since too much pressure might cause the air bladder to burst.

What are Pressure Tubes?

Pressure tubes are membrane piping’s that are utilized in industrial and commercial water treatment applications. The FRP pipe system is commonly utilized in oil and gas collection systems, as well as in water treatment facilities, as a corrosion-resistant alternative to metallic piping.

Advantages of Pressure Tubes in RO Systems

The following are some of the benefits of utilizing FRP to manufacture pressure tubes:

-   Pressure tolerance without structural deterioration;

-   Corrosion resistance built in;

-   Extreme mechanical strength;

-   Excellent abrasion resistance;

-   Long-term performance;

-   Heat insulation and low weight;

-   Waterproof and adaptable;

-   Low-cost.

Increasing Pressure using an Electric Booster Pump in RO Plants

Even if the reverse osmosis membrane pressure rating is fulfilled by the water supply, adding an electric booster pump enhances the RO production rate, increases the pressure tank storage volume, rejects more pollutants, and increases faucet flow rate. Residential RO systems use diaphragm booster pumps to raise the supply pressure to 75-100 PSI.

Follow these instructions to install the pump directly in the RO feed pipe

1: A sediment filter should always be used to protect the pump from big particulates in the water. Install the pump between the sediment filter and the carbon filter if the design allows, since carbon filters before the pump may become too restrictive of the water flow and starve the pump.

2: Pumps must be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Pump mounting configurations such as vertical with head down may promote air-locking, resulting in pressure loss.

3: Place the high-pressure valve (tank switch) as near to the tank as feasible to minimize pump cycling caused by the pressure decrease in the tubing when the drinking water faucet is opened.

4: An arrow represents the flow of water via the pump. Make certain that the tubing is properly inserted.

5: If the boosted pressure is too high (usually greater than 100 PSI), the RO fittings and housings may leak. The pump head has a top adjustment screw that may be used to reduce the pressure.

Conclusion

Pressure is applied to the concentrated solution side of the membrane in reverse osmosis to drive the water molecules across the membrane to the fresh waterside.

The membranes used in reverse osmosis systems have a strong polymer barrier layer through which separation occurs. Because reverse osmosis does not occur naturally, it must be created by applying pressure to high solids water in order to force it through the membrane, with pressures ranging from 8 to 14 bar for fresh and brackish water, and 40 to 70 bar for seawater, which has a natural osmotic pressure of around 24 bar (350 psi) that must be overcome.

Netsol Water specializes in physical, chemical, and biological wastewater treatment as well as water treatment solutions. Contact us to discuss your needs in greater depth; our team of specialists would be pleased to help tailor a solution to your specific demands including Commercial and Industrial RO Plants.