Installing the best industrial reverse osmosis (RO) system in your company is one thing and getting the best out of it is another! Here is more information to help you maximise efficiency.

An industrial reverse osmosis system is a substantial investment in any company. It is therefore very important to ensure it is properly installed. Businesses should equally ensure that the system is properly maintained so that they can enjoy the maximum benefits of having the RO system without incurring so many unnecessary costs in downtime, repairs etc.

There are several ways of making sure that you get the most out of your industrial reverse osmosis system. Let us have a look at some of those steps below.

1. Pre-Filtering The Water

This is probably the first and most important step in ensuring that the RO system runs effectively and that its membranes are protected. Filtering the water first before feeding it in the RO system ensures that the water is free of dissoluble sediments that may clog the membranes. The pre-filters should be regularly replaced because they too can get clogged.

2. Pre-Soften The Water

Before feeding water into the reverse osmosis system, it is prudent to soften incoming water to remove hardness salts such as calcium and magnesium, which, if not exchanged in the softening process, will be deposited on the membrane surfaces as scale causing the membrane to block and lose efficiency over time.

3. Install Carbon Filers

These filters are critical because they ensure that the feed water is free of chlorine. Chlorine can damage the RO membranes, compromise the water quality and thereby increase maintenance costs.

4. Monitoring The ORP Level

ORP stands for oxidation-reduction potential. It is very important to regularly check the ORP level in the RO system. This helps ensure that all chlorine and other oxidising elements are removed. We advise that you install an ORP meter in the RO system, complete with an alarm that will notify you when oxidising elements are detected.

5. Maintain The Correct pH

It is very important to ensure correct pH levels in your feed water. The perfect pH level is usually between six and seven. Such acidic levels inhibits the formation of calcium carbonate particles that if deposited on the surface of the RO membranes may damage them, resulting in lower quality water.

PH transmitter units determine the temperature and the pH of the water that is fed in the system; and there are other apps available that control the levels to ensure that they remain in their correct range.

6. Install A CIP In The RO System

The RO membranes are subject to a constant build-up of water contaminants, making regular cleaning of the membranes a necessity. Clean-In-Place (CIP) membrane cleaning systems are designed to allow the the membranes to be cleaned periodically as required without removing the membranes from the RO system. This significantly cuts down on plant downtime. Alternatively, disinfection rigs can be provided on-site to allow for periodic disinfection to take place.

7. Replacing RO System Membranes

With well selected pre-treatment and a thorough maintenance regime, RO membranes will produce high quality water for many years. Eventually though, they will need to be replaced - indicated by either a fall in water quality, water yield or flow - if the quality of the water is to be maintained.

8. Correct Pipework

Ensure that the pipework, both supply and ring-main, is of the correct size and material, to cope with velocity and flowrate requirements. The wrong size of piping may be restrictive and lead to problems starving the system of water upstream or contributing to a higher risk of bacteria build-up downstream due to a lack of velocity.

Professional RO Maintenance From Wychwood Water

At Wychwood Water we offer a range of maintenance and repair services to help keep your plant operating at peak efficiency throughout its life-cycle. Find out more, please get in touch by phone on 01993 892211, or send an email to sales@wychwood-water.com.