Reverse Osmosis Equipment Overview

Reverse osmosis (RO) equipment is a water treatment system that utilizes the selective permeability of semi-permeable membranes and pressure differentials to separate, purify, and concentrate solutions. Below is a detailed introduction:

1. Working Principle

The core principle of reverse osmosis is that the semi-permeable membrane allows only water molecules to pass through while blocking dissolved solids (such as salts) and other impurities. When pressure applied to the saline water side exceeds the osmotic pressure, water molecules move in the reverse direction of natural osmosis, turning high-salinity water into low-salinity water, thereby achieving desalination and purification.

2. Key Components

• RO Membrane
  The core component of the system, commonly made from aromatic polyamide composite materials. Its performance determines the quality of the produced water and overall system efficiency. It effectively removes inorganic salts, heavy metal ions, organic substances, bacteria, viruses, and nearly all impurities in the water.

• High-Pressure Pump
  Provides the necessary pressure for raw water to overcome osmotic pressure and pass through the RO membrane. It is the driving force of the reverse osmosis process.

• Pressure Vessel
  Houses the RO membrane elements in a sealed, pressure-resistant environment, protecting the membrane from damage.

• Control System
  Includes various sensors (e.g., pressure, flow, conductivity) and controllers to monitor operating parameters in real time. The system automatically adjusts operating conditions to ensure stable and efficient performance.

3. Process Flow

• Pre-treatment
  Raw water first passes through multimedia filters, activated carbon filters, and softeners to remove suspended solids, colloids, organic matter, residual chlorine, and hardness. This step reduces turbidity and fouling potential, protecting the RO membrane.

• Reverse Osmosis Treatment
  Pre-treated water is pressurized by the high-pressure pump and enters the RO membrane modules. Under pressure, most of the water passes through the membrane to become permeate (fresh water), while the high-concentration brine is discharged as waste.

• Post-treatment
  Depending on specific water use requirements, permeate may undergo further treatment through ultraviolet sterilizers, fine filters, etc., to remove any remaining microorganisms and fine particles, ensuring water quality meets usage standards.

4. Main Functions

• Salt Removal
  The primary function of RO equipment, effectively reducing the salt content in water. It is suitable for seawater desalination and brackish water treatment.

• Water Purification
  Removes almost all impurities from water, including organic matter, bacteria, viruses, and heavy metals, producing high-purity water. It is widely used in electronics, pharmaceuticals, and food & beverage industries.

• Concentration and Separation
  In some industrial processes, RO can be used to concentrate solutions and separate solutes from solvents, enabling resource recovery and reuse.