Reverse Osmosis is a process that involves putting raw water through a system that filters out contaminants. Benefits of Reverse Osmosis in Industrial Processes in the process, the water is forced through a collection of membranes by a high-pressure pump. Impurities like salts or particulates are removed as water flows through it. This procedure lowers the total dissolved solids in the incoming water supply, enhancing its quality and purity.
Over the past 50 years, reverse osmosis technology has seen a significant boost in efficiency. This is due to creative design, sophisticated membrane components, more effective pumps, enhanced pretreatment techniques, and antiscalant chemicals.
Let’s look at some of the benefits of reverse osmosis in industrial processes.
Benefits of Reverse Osmosis in Industrial Processes
Understanding advantages of reverse osmosis for industrial processes, and why it’s one of the best water filtering systems is crucial. Here are a few industrial processes where reverse osmosis (RO) systems have been used.
1: INDUSTRIAL BENEFITS
- Desalination of Seawater
Oceans and seas with salt concentrations of up to 35,000 mg/l are the only sources of water, for many populated places. High-salt water usage over an extended period of time can damage marine equipment’s, and make it unfit for human consumption.
Therefore, the marine industries use high pressure reverse osmosis systems with specialized membranes, to remove the salt content from saltwater. Benefits of Reverse Osmosis in Industrial Processes along with lowering bacterial and chemical contamination, it aids in desalination.
- Boiler Feed Water
Use of hard water at high temperatures can cause industrial boilers to malfunction, leading to issues including scaling, poor thermal transfer, longer cleaning downtime, and shorter boiler vessel life cycles.
As a result, the boiler system should only receive and feed softened water. Therefore, Industrial RO Plants are used in the mechanical, chemical, pharmaceutical, and timber and pulp industries, to treat and condition water prior to pre-boiling.
- Desalination of Brackish Water
Brackish water is a mixture of fresh and salt water that contains between 1,000 and 15,000 mg/L, of dissolved salts. However, the WHO recommends using water with a salinity of less than 500 mg/L, for industrial and potable water applications.
2: ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
- Less hazardous water is one of the key environmental advantages of employing a reverse osmosis system. This is because, the production of the permeate doesn’t require any dangerous chemicals. It is considered to be one of the greenest methods used for industrial wastewater. Therefore, Industrial RO Plants are used in the mechanical, chemical, pharmaceutical, and timber and pulp industries, to treat and condition water prior to pre-boiling.
- The capture and proper disposal of pollutants inside the mains water source, is another environmental benefit of Industrial RO. Without using chemicals, resins, or ion exchange beds, the membrane design filters out pollutants from the water feed.
- The discharge procedure is made simple by the correct and simple disposal of contaminants, without the use of any chemicals. In general, chemical-based systems have a significant negative influence on the environment, if they are disposed of carelessly. But RO technology makes this process simpler!
3: COST BENEFITS
- The cost for acid and caustic solutions is increasing while, those of Reverse osmosis and membrane element are decreasing.
- Electricity is the main expense for reverse osmosis systems. However, modern RO water filtration systems uses less energy, which results in reduced operational costs.
- It is possible to integrate a RO system into the process and feed the water either directly into the production line, or to a holding tank for storage before use thereby minimizing operational cost.
- Wastewater streams can pass through an Industrial RO system, which helps to lower disposal costs by reusing the water again in the process.
4: HEALTH AND SAFETY BENEFITS
- The fact that no dangerous chemicals are used in a reverse osmosis systems, to create high-quality water is one of the key advantages for health and safety.
- Acids and alkalis that are extremely toxic are used in traditional resin-based ion exchange systems. However, Reverse osmosis uses more compact and effective machinery to replace traditional procedures, like chemical treatment.
- This creates a safer working environment for the staff, by removing the competing dangers of manual handling, and having dangerous chemicals on site.
5: MAINTENANCE BENEFITS
- As it is a self-contained device, the Industrial RO system is very low maintenance.
- It is self-cleaning and operator involvement is low. As a result, instead of being actively maintained, it just needs daily supervision from the staff which are already there.
- With little downtime required, productivity is maintained.
- Pre-filter replacement is quick and easy, and it is sound as well.
- Depending on a number of variables, including the type and quantity of feed water, the membranes can last two to three years.
With these advantages and benefits, reverse osmosis utilization is expected to rise across all industrial sectors. It provides fewer risks to employees, is more effective, economical, environmentally benign, and needs little up-keep. In general, chemical-based systems have a significant negative influence on the environment, if they are disposed of carelessly. But RO technology makes this process simpler!
Get best manufacturers for your Industrial RO plants!
The leading manufacturer of water and wastewater plants and equipment’s in India is Netsol Water Solutions. Depending on a number of variables, including the type and quantity of feed water, the membranes can last two to three years. We concentrate on both the reverse osmosis process, and the equipment manufactured by the manufacturing unit. For any other support, inquiries, or product purchases, call on +91-9650608473 or email at enquiry@netsolwater.com