EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF OPERATING PARAMETERS EFFECTS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF REVERSE OSMOSIS WITH THIN FILM COMPOSITE (TFC) MEMBRANE

The present work aims to explore the impact of different operating parameters on the performance of a reverse osmosis desalination unit having a thin film composite membrane type. Three parameters are studied: the feed stream flow rate (1-2.75 L/min), salt concentration of the feed stream [3250-4250 parts per million (ppm)], and feed temperature (29-35 degrees C). For all of the feed stream salt concentrations, the results revealed that as the feed flow rate increased the membrane feed pressure and recovery ratio (RR) decreased. Also, as the feed flow rate increased up to 1.75 L/min the permeate salinity decreased and the salt rejection ratio (SRR) and permeate flow rate increased. Furthermore, for feed stream flow rates above 1.75 L/min the permeate salinity increased while the SRR and permeate flow rate decreased. The results depict that an increase in feedwater salinity causes a reduction in the permeate flow rate and RR and an increase in the permeate salinity. Additionally, the increase in feed salinity from 3250 to 3750 ppm resulted in the SRR decreasing from 88% to 86%. Also, an increase in the feed temperature led to a noticeable increase in the permeate salinity, a slight increase in the permeate flow rate, a gradual decrease in the SRR, and an insignificant increase in the RR.