In service, water flows from the feed to the concentrate end of the element, passing through the feed spacer. A portion of the feed flow passes through the membrane surface to the permeate side. This permeate flows through the permeate collector tube. Collected permeate flows through the central tube, and possibly through the permeate tubes of connected elements, to exit the permeate connection of the pressure tube. If the hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide gases are not removed from the product, the odor and taste of the finished water will be undesirable to the customers.
Corrosion inhibitor is added to the product water for corrosion control.
Currently we are using a zinc ortho-phosphate product. Chlorine is added to the product water to protect against micro-organisms that may be present in the water.