Method of monitoring membrane separation processes
AssigneeNalco Company
InventorsE. H. Kelle Zeiher, Bosco P. Ho, John E. Hoots
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems for monitoring and/or controlling membrane separation systems or processes are provided. The present invention utilizes measurable amounts of inert fluorescent tracers and tagged fluorescent agents added to a feed stream to evaluate and/or control one or more parameters specific to membrane separation such that performance thereof can be optimized. The methods and systems of the present invention can be utilized in a variety of different industrial applications including raw water processing and waste water processing.
Claims29
A method for monitoring a reverse osmosis membrane separation process including a reverse osmosis membrane capable of separating a feed stream into a first stream and a second stream to remove solutes from the feed stream comprising the steps of:
- providing an inert fluorescent tracer and a tagged fluorescent agent;
- introducing the inert fluorescent tracer and tagged fluorescent agent into the feed stream;
- providing a fluorometer to detect the fluorescent signal of the inert fluorescent tracer and the tagged fluorescent agent in at least one of the feed stream, the first stream and the second stream;
- and
- using the fluorometer to determine an amount of the inert fluorescent tracer and the tagged fluorescent agent in at least one of the feed stream, the first stream and the second stream.
A method for monitoring a reverse osmosis membrane separation system of a water purification process comprising the steps of
- a) providing a reverse osmosis membrane capable of removing solutes from a feed stream suitable for use in an industrial process comprising the steps of:
- b) adding an inert fluorescent tracer and a tagged fluorescent agent to the feed stream
- c) contacting the reverse osmosis membrane with the feed stream;
- d) separating the feed stream into a permeate stream and a concentrate stream to remove solutes from the feed stream
- e) providing a fluorometer to detect the fluorescent signal of the inert fluorescent tracer and the tagged fluorescent agent in at least one of the feed stream, the permeate stream and the concentrate stream;
- f) using the fluorometer to measure an amount of the inert fluorescent tracer and the tagged fluorescent agent in at least one of the feed stream, the permeate stream and the concentrate stream;
- an
- g) determining a ratio of the inert fluorescent tracer to the tagged fluorescent agent based on the measurable amounts of the inert fluorescent tracer and the tagged fluorescent agent.
A reverse osmosis membrane separation system capable of purifying a feed stream suitable for use in an industrial process comprising:
- a reverse osmosis membrane capable of separating the feed stream containing an inert fluorescent tracer and a tagged fluorescent agent into a permeate stream and a concentrate stream to remove one or more solutes from the feed stream;
- a detection device capable of fluorometrically measuring an amount of the inert fluorescent tracer and the tagged fluorescent agent each ranging from about 5 ppt to about 1000 ppm in at least one of the feed stream, the permeate stream and the concentrate stream wherein the detection device is capable of producing a signal indicative of the amount of inert fluorescent tracer and tagged fluorescent agent that is measured;
- and
- a controller capable of processing the signal to monitor and/or control the purification of the feed stream.
A method for monitoring and controlling a reverse osmosis membrane separation process including a reverse osmosis membrane capable of removing solutes from a feed stream for use in an industrial process comprising the steps of:
- adding an inert fluorescent tracer and a tagged fluorescent agent to the feed stream;
- contacting the reverse osmosis membrane with the feed stream;
- separating the feed stream into a first effluent stream and a second effluent stream to remove solutes from the feed stream;
- providing a fluorometer to detect the fluorescent signal of the inert fluorescent tracer and the tagged fluorescent agent in at least one of the feed stream, the first effluent stream and the second effluent stream;
- using the fluorometer to measure the inert fluorescent tracer and the tagged fluorescent agent in an amount ranging from about 5 ppt to about 1000 ppm in at least one of the feed stream, the first effluent stream and the second effluent stream;
- and
- evaluating at least one process parameter specific to reverse osmosis membrane separation based on the measurable amounts of the inert fluorescent tracer and the tagged fluorescent agent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.