Reverse osmosis membranes play an important part in producing treated water, which meets the end-use customer needs for potable, purified water and industrial applications. This technology is combined with other unit operations to meet demanding water quality requirements that cannot be achieved using only membranes. The selection of products for brackish water applications is dependent on several variables that the OEM or end-use customer may influence. In addition, the intended use for the product water and characteristics of the feedwater source influence selection. Some sources, such as tertiary effluent can have high levels of bacteria and biological activity in addition to colloidal and suspended foulants.
Energy costs many locations have a high cost for power usage.
The choice of element will also influence capital costs in the area of high-pressure pumps and motors. The high degree of automation enables FilmTec to produce an element with 400 square feet of active membrane area. Dimensionally, all 8 inch diameter element are very similar. Higher volume efficiency is achieved through very accurate material cutting, leaf spacing, and glue line placement. Higher leaf efficiency is due to shorter leafs which allows the permeate to flow to the product water tube with less flow resistance.