Performance of reverse osmosis membrane with large feed pressure fluctuations from a wave-driven desalination system

Wave-driven desalination systems are proposed water treatment systems that involve reverse osmosis of seawater powered directly by wave motion. Such a configuration would result in drastic feed pressure fluctuations. For a technology conventionally operated with a constant feed condition, the effect...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Desalination 2022-04, Vol.527, p.115546, Article 115546
Main Authors: Sitterley, Kurban A., Cath, Tani J., Jenne, Dale S., Yu, Yi-Hsiang, Cath, Tzahi Y.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Desalination
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Hydrokinetic energy
Reverse osmosis
Sustainability
TIDAL AND WAVE POWER
Wave energy
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Summary:Wave-driven desalination systems are proposed water treatment systems that involve reverse osmosis of seawater powered directly by wave motion. Such a configuration would result in drastic feed pressure fluctuations. For a technology conventionally operated with a constant feed condition, the effect of these variable pressures on membrane integrity and performance is unknown. Experiments were conducted with spiral wound membranes coupled to a system capable of producing feed pressure fluctuations of more than 400 psi. Feed composition included 5, 20, and 35 g/L NaCl, and a synthetic seawater at normal and 1.5× concentration. The variable feed conditions included sine-like pressure waves swings of 200–500 and 500–900 psi with frequencies of 1.25, 7.5, and 12 waves/min, and a model-generated random waveform. Between each wave experiment we performed membrane integrity tests at 650 psi and 25 g/L NaCl feed, which showed a 7.4% drop in the membrane's water permeability coefficient, an 18.4% flux decline, and more than 99% salt rejection over 1770 h of cumulative experimental time. Analysis of permeate samples showed high salt rejection. In general, variable feed pressure had no significant deleterious effect on membrane integrity or performance. [Display omitted] •Impact of large feed pressure variations on membrane integrity was investigated.•Permeability showed no substantial decline over 1800 h of dynamic feed pressure.•Permeate water quality did not deviate from expectations under dynamic operation.
ISSN:0011-9164
1873-4464
DOI:10.1016/j.desal.2022.115546