Reverse Osmosis Equipment: The Core Technology of Modern Water Treatment

Reverse Osmosis Equipment: The Core Technology of Modern Water Treatment

Reverse osmosis (RO) equipment is a water treatment device that utilizes semi-permeable membranes to efficiently separate water molecules from impurities under pressure. This technology applies pressure exceeding the solution's osmotic pressure, forcing water molecules to pass through the RO membrane in reverse while retaining dissolved salts, heavy metals, organic compounds, bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants. This process yields highly purified water.

Reverse osmosis technology operates on the principle of “reversing natural osmosis.” In natural osmosis, water molecules diffuse from a low-concentration solution to a high-concentration solution. Reverse osmosis, however, applies an external pressure exceeding osmotic pressure (typically 1.0-10 MPa) to force water molecules to flow in the opposite direction. Water molecules then pass through the RO membrane from the high-concentration solution to the low-concentration side, achieving separation of water from impurities. The pore size of RO membranes is only 0.0001 micrometers (1 nanometer), equivalent to 1/60,000 the size of E. coli and 1/3,000 the size of viruses. This ultra-fine pore structure effectively intercepts over 99% of dissolved salts, 99.9% of bacteria and viruses, and even minute contaminants like pyrogens. High-quality reverse osmosis membranes achieve a desalination rate of 98%-99.7%, reducing the conductivity of the produced water to below 10μS/cm.

A complete reverse osmosis system typically comprises five core components:

1. Pre-treatment System

* Sand Filter: Removes suspended solids, silt, and other large particulate matter

* Activated Carbon Filter: Adsorbs residual chlorine, organic compounds, and odors

* Fine Filter (Security Filter): Utilizes a 5μm cartridge to further trap minute particles

* Water Softener (Optional): Reduces water hardness through ion exchange resin

2. Reverse Osmosis Main System

High-pressure pump: Provides operating pressure (10-15 kg) required for RO membranes

RO membrane assembly: Core component separating feedwater into purified water and concentrate

Pressure vessel and support frame: Secures membrane elements and ensures uniform water distribution

3. Post-Treatment System

Sterilization Unit: UV or ozone disinfection eliminates secondary contamination risks

4. Control System

PLC Programmable Logic Controller

Automatic monitoring of parameters including pressure, flow rate, and conductivity

Fault Alarm and Automatic Protection Functions

1. High Purification Efficiency

Reverse osmosis systems remove over 99% of dissolved salts, heavy metals (e.g., lead, arsenic), bacteria, viruses, pesticide residues, and other contaminants. The treated water approaches pure water standards, making it safe for direct consumption without chemical additives.

2. Energy Efficiency and Environmental Protection

Compared to traditional ion exchange methods, reverse osmosis eliminates chemical regeneration, reducing chemical consumption and waste liquid treatment issues. New energy-saving membrane elements lower seawater desalination energy consumption to 2.5-4 kWh/m³, significantly below the 10-15 kWh/m³ of traditional distillation methods.

3. Simple Operation and Automation

The equipment features an intelligent control system that automatically performs flushing, cleaning, and other operations, ensuring easy maintenance. High automation enables continuous operation with minimal manual intervention.

4. Compact Design & Versatility

The equipment occupies a small footprint and handles diverse water qualities (e.g., high TDS water, brackish water), making it suitable for residential, medical, industrial, and other applications. Modular design allows production capacity to scale from 1 m³/h to 50 m³/h by adding membrane elements.

5. Stable and Reliable Water Quality

Effectively mitigates fluctuations in treated water quality caused by variations in raw water quality, promoting stable production water quality. This positively impacts the consistency of desalinated water product quality.

Reverse osmosis equipment, renowned for its high efficiency, energy savings, and environmental friendliness, is widely adopted across multiple sectors:

1. Drinking Water & Civil Applications

Household/Commercial Drinking Water: Removes residual chlorine, heavy metals, scale, and bacteria from tap water

Marine/Military: Seawater desalination for crew drinking water

Laboratories: Supplies ultrapure water for physical/chemical analysis and microbiological testing

2. Industrial Applications

Electronics Industry: Ultra-pure water for semiconductor manufacturing, cleaning water for integrated circuits, formulation water

Pharmaceutical Industry: Process water, formulation water, water for injection, sterile water preparation

Food & Beverage: Formulation water, production water, washing water

Power Industry: Boiler feedwater, cooling water

1. Selection Criteria

Water Demand: Select equipment models based on hourly, average, and peak water consumption rates

Raw Water Quality: Factors like hardness, salinity, particulates, organics, and microorganisms influence equipment selection and design

Required Product Water Quality: Different applications demand varying levels of purity—e.g., electronics require ultra-high standards

Application Context: Residential, industrial, and desalination settings each necessitate distinct equipment performance and configurations

2. Technical Parameter Considerations

Desalination rate: High-quality reverse osmosis membranes require ≥95% desalination rate; imported membranes can achieve over 99%.

Membrane lifespan: Premium membranes last 2-3 years; inferior membranes may clog within six months.

Wastewater ratio: Select models with a 1:1 wastewater ratio to prevent water resource waste.

3. Functional Adaptability

Dual-output design: Pure water (direct drinking, cooking) + filtered water (washing vegetables, fruits) reduces RO membrane usage frequency

As a core technology in modern water treatment, reverse osmosis systems have become an essential solution for addressing water scarcity and ensuring water safety due to their high purification efficiency, energy-saving and eco-friendly characteristics, and broad applicability. Whether for household drinking water purification, industrial pure water production, seawater desalination, or wastewater reuse, reverse osmosis technology plays an irreplaceable role. With continuous technological advancements and expanding application fields, reverse osmosis equipment will assume an increasingly critical role in sustainable water resource utilization and environmental protection.