Lower net pressure reverse osmosis membranes and systems - cost and performance advantages and limitations. Final report

Technical Report · Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6206177

Kremen, S S; Hull, C E; Jhawar, M

Reverse osmosis systems are generally designed and utilized on the basis of reference membrane water flux and desalting performance at 400 psi net driving pressure (NDP). Membranes now being offered and tested at a preliminary commercial stage are capable of equivalent performance at 200 psi NDP. These membranes offer immediately obvious savings in energy costs for reverse osmosis desalting and water reclamation. In addition, they can make a most important contribution to reduced membrane replacement costs and improved permeate quality when operating on high salinity feeds at higher recovery levels. A number of hypothetical cases were developed and tabulated, assuming a 200 psi NDP sea water membrane was available. Substantial benefits could be expected if such a membrane could be developed and reduced to practice. Additional cost savings and performance improvements can be realized by operating the 200 psi NDP membranes at somewhat higher applied pressures which preserve or enhance NDP.

• Research Organization: Kremen (Seymour S.) and Makhan Jhawar, Coronado, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6206177
• Report Number(s): PB-83-150375
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
DESALINATION
ENERGY CONSERVATION
OSMOSIS
WATER TREATMENT
COST
MEMBRANES
PERFORMANCE
WATER RECLAMATION
DEMINERALIZATION
DIFFUSION
SEPARATION PROCESSES
320303* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Equipment & Processes