Product Application

During the operation of a membrane separation system, organic materials, as well as suspended solids in the incoming water, can accumulate on the membrane surface. The presence of organic materials also provides an environment conducive to microbiological activity, which can result in microbiological fouling. Fouling from these species impedes the flow of water through the membrane. This can result in unacceptably low production, high operating pressure, or an excessive pressure drop in the system, which may lead to irreversible membrane damage. Additionally, accumulation of these foulants on the membrane surface can increase the amount of dissolved material passing through the membrane, resulting in product water of unacceptable quality. Before these foulants can accumulate to a level where product water declines or membrane damage can occur, they should be removed by a clean-in-place (CIP) off-line cleaning. Indications of the need for cleaning include a significant decrease in normalized permeate flow, a significant increase in pressure drop across the system (or individual stage), or an increase in the normalized salt passage, such that product quality is unacceptable.