Device for measuring permeate flow and permeate conductivity of individual reverse osmosis membrane elements

• US 7,584,061 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2007
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hydranautics (Nitto Denko Corporation), Nitto Denko Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hydranautics (Nitto Denko Corporation), Nitto Denko Corporation
• Inventors: Ikeyama, Norio, Franks, Rich, Bartels, Craig, Wilf, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Rogers; David A.
• Application Number:
  US11/716,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20070209977A1
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 73 40- 498, 738/658, 738/665, 73/38, 702/33, 702/34, 702/35, 702/36, 702/45, 702/50, 702/51
• US Class Current: 702/35
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2311/06 Specific process operations in the permeate stream
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2311/16 Flow or flux control
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2311/243 Electrical conductivity control
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/40 Automatic control of cleaning processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/025 Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/12 Controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/12 comprising multiple spiral-wound assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/02 Membrane cleaning or sterilisation ; Membrane regeneration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/104 Detection of leaks in membrane apparatus or modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/131 Reverse-osmosis

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a system comprising an integrated sensor for measurement of permeate flow and permeate conductivity of individual membrane elements while they are in operation in an RO unit. The flow and conductivity measuring integrated sensor is of a small size that enables it to be inserted into the permeate tube of connected membrane elements during RO unit operation. Measured flow and conductivity information is transferred to the recording device through electric wires or through wireless transmission.

Claims

1. A system that permits assessment of performance of a reverse osmosis membrane element, comprising:

said reverse osmosis membrane element;

a permeate tube within said reverse osmosis membrane element;

an elongated probing tube within the permeate tube of said reverse osmosis membrane element;

at least one sensor configured to measure a value used to assess said performance and disposed at an inlet side of said probing tube wherein said sensor is additionally provided with an RFID tag, and said value is linked to a reverse osmosis membrane element via communication between said RFID tag and an RFID tag mounted on said element; and

a recording device in electronic communication with said sensor so as to record results of said measurement.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor configured to measure a value used to assess said performance comprises a sensor for measuring permeate flow.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said sensor for measuring permeate flow comprises a thermal anemometer sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor for measuring permeate conductivity.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said sensor for measuring permeate conductivity comprises a conductivity cell with an integrally mounted thermocouple.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a power source powers said sensor.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said power source comprises at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said electronic communication is conducted via wiring connecting said recording device and said sensor.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said electronic communication is conducted via a wireless connection connecting said recording device and said sensor.

10. A method of assessing performance of reverse osmosis membrane elements, said method comprising:

a) providing a system that permits assessment of performance of a reverse osmosis membrane element in a pressure vessel containing at least one said element, said system comprising;

said reverse osmosis membrane element;

a permeate tube within said reverse osmosis membrane element;

an elongated probing tube within the permeate tube of said reverse osmosis membrane element;

at least one sensor configured to measure a value used to assess said performance and disposed at an inlet side of said probing tube, wherein said sensor is additionally provided with an RFID tag, and said value is linked to a reverse osmosis membrane element via communication between said RFID tag and an RFID tag mounted on said element; and

a recording device in electronic communication with said sensor so as to record results of said measurement;

b) measuring at least one said value;

c) transmitting results of said measurement to said recording device; and

d) assessing said performance based on said results.

11. A method of assessing performance of reverse osmosis membrane elements in accordance with claim 10, wherein said at least one value comprises data relating to permeate flow.

12. A method of assessing performance of reverse osmosis membrane elements in accordance with claim 11, wherein said at least one value additionally comprises data relating to permeate conductivity.

13. A method of assessing performance of reverse osmosis membrane elements in accordance with claim 10, additionally comprising:

e) replacing said element if said assessment indicates replacement is required to improve system performance.