Device and method for testing reverse osmosis membranes
AssigneeKing Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
InventorFAIZUR RAHMAN
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Abstract
The device for testing reverse osmosis membranes provides for the quick and efficient testing of the transport properties of reverse osmosis membranes at a fixed pressure over a fixed period of time. The device includes a first chamber adapted for receiving a volume of de-ionized water and a second chamber adapted for receiving a volume of brine. In use, a reverse osmosis membrane to be tested is clamped between the first and second chambers and a pressurized inert gas, such as gaseous nitrogen, is injected into the second chamber at known pressure to initiate reverse osmosis transport. The transport is carried out at the known pressure for a fixed period of time, after which the concentration of brine volume of water in the first chamber is measured.
Claims9
A device for testing reverse osmosis membranes, comprising:
- a first housing defining a first chamber, the first housing having at least one wall defining a first reservoir adapted for receiving a volume of de-ionized water, the first housing having an open proximal end;
- a second housing defining a second chamber, the second housing having at least one wall defining a second reservoir adapted for receiving a volume of brine, the second housing having an open proximal end;
- a first flange extending around the open proximal end of the first housing;
- a second flange extending around the open proximal end of the first housing, the first and second flanges being adapted for clamping a flat reverse osmosis membrane therebetween so that the membrane is disposed between the first and second chambers;
- a first water inlet and a first water outlet in fluid communication with the first chamber, the inlet and the outlet each having a valve to selectively admit and selectively withdraw de-ionized water to and from the chamber;
- a first brine inlet and a first brine outlet in fluid communication with the second chamber, the inlet and the outlet each having a valve to selectively admit and selectively withdraw brine to and from the chamber;
- and
- a gas inlet port in fluid communication with the second chamber, the gas inlet port being adapted for injecting an inert gas under pressure into the second chamber to drive reverse osmosis through the flat membrane being tested.
A method for testing reverse osmosis membranes, comprising the steps of:
- partially filling a first chamber with a known volume of de-ionized water;
- partially filling a second chamber with a known volume of brine of known concentration;
- clamping a flat reverse osmosis membrane to be tested between the first and second chambers so that an open end of the first chamber is positioned against a first surface of the reverse osmosis membrane and an open end of the second chamber is positioned against an opposed second surface of the reverse osmosis membrane;
- injecting a pressurized inert gas at a known pressure into the second chamber to initiate a reverse osmosis transfer through the reverse osmosis membrane;
- measuring the concentration of brine in the first chamber at a measured period of time after initiation of reverse osmosis to determine salt rejection by the membrane;
- and
- measuring the volume of pure water in the first chamber at a measured period of time after initiation of reverse osmosis to determine flow rate through the reverse osmosis membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.