REVERSE

OSMOSIS
What is RO
Reverse Osmosis is the passage of a
liquid to a dilute solution from a more
concentrated solution across an ideal
semipermeable membrane that
allows passage of the solvent (water)
but not dissolved solids under some
external force.
Osmotic Pressure
The pressure required to restrict the
flow of solvent from a dilute solution
to more concentrated solution
through a semi permeable
membrane.
Why RO over or
with ion
exchange?
A Comparison…
Design Steps
a. Osmotic Pressure Calculation
b. Water flow Calculation
c. Salt passage
d. Vessel Design
Osmotic Pressure Calculation

 Posm = 1.19 (T + 237)*(mi)

 Temperature T = 24C
 Sum of molal concentrations of
components = mi = 1.7
 Posm = 630 psi
 Suggested applied pressure = 650 psi
Water flow Calculations
 Qw = (Papp – Posm)*Kw*S/d
 Papp = 650 psi
 Posm = 630 psi
 Qw = 1000 gpm
 A = Kw*S/d
 Kw = Permeability Coefficient for water for a
particular membrane.(0.272cm3.kg/s for CA
membrane)
 S= Membrane surface area
 D = Thickness of membrane
 A = Qw/(Papp - Posm)
bcz A = Kw*S/d
A = 192.53cm4.kg/s
S/d = 6417.67 in
membrane area (sq.in) thickness inches
0 0
641.767 0.1
1283.534 0.2
1925.301 0.3
2567.068 0.4
3208.835 0.5
3850.602 0.6
4492.369 0.7
5134.136 0.8
5775.903 0.9
6417.67 1
7059.437 1.1
 Result (keeping L/D=3)
 Dia of membrane = 22.8” (1.9ft)
 Length = 71.65”(5.97ft)
L/D = 3.14
Volume of vessel = 2(volume contained
in membrane)
Dia of the vessel = 51”(4.2ft)
Length = 71.65”(5.97ft)
Seam to seam length = 4/3(5.97)
= 7.8ft
Salt passage
 Qs = (Cm -Cp)*Ks*S/d
 Qs = salt passage through membrane
 Cm = 800ppm
 Cp = zero (ideally)
 Ks = 0.00018cm3.kg/s
 S/d = 6417.67in (calculated previously)
 Qs = 924.6 in3 /s = 240 gpm
Total flow = 1240gpm
 Vessel Design
 Ts = tc +PD/(2S-1.2P)
 Tc = Corrosion allowance
  = weld efficiency
 For Fibre reinforced plastic
 Because no need of welding efficiency and corrosion
allowance
 Ts = PD/(2S-1.2P)
 Ts = wall thickness
 P = design pressure = 650 psi
 D = dia of the vessel = 4.2 ft
 S = tensile strength = 80,000 psi
Ts = 5.2mm
Specification sheet
 Vessel material = Fibre reinforced plastic
 Length = 7.8ft
 Diameter = 2ft
 Wall thickness= 5.2mm
 Membrane material = Cellulose Acetate
 Designed water flow = 1000gpm
 Length = 6ft app
 Diameter = 2ft
 Pore density > 105 pores/cm2
 Pore size > 8micron
 Reference : WALAS, S. Chemical Process
Equipment - Selection and Design
Factors affecting RO
 Applied pressure
 Temperature
 Salt water concentration
 Fe particles
 Turbidity
RO Process Sequences

 Permeate Rejection Case

 Concentrate Rejection Case
How RO can be
made more energy
efficient and
combined with WTP
Problems with RO
 Fouling
 Scaling
 High maintenance cost
 Fe particles
 Excessive pressure
 Concentration polarization
Advantages
 Energy saving
 Efficiency
 No toxic chemicals used
 Easy Operation
 Higher safety
 Low operating cost
 No harmful leakages
Thank YOU