DEVICE FOR MEASURING PERMEATE FLOW AND PERMEATE CONDUCTIVITY OF INDIVIDUAL REVERSE OSMOSIS MEMBRANE ELEMENTS
The present disclosure relates to a system comprising integrated sensors ( 169, 170 ) for measurement of permeate flow and permeate conductivity of individual membrane elements ( 163 ) while they are in operation in an RO unit. The flow and conductivity measuring integrated sensors ( 169, 170 ) are of a small size that enables them to be inserted into the permeate tube ( 172 ) of connected membrane elements ( 163 ) during RO unit operation. Measured flow and conductivity information is transferred to the recording device ( 174 ) through electric wires or through wireless transmission.
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; 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 . The system of claim 1 , 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 REID tag and an RFID tag mounted on said element.
11 . A method of assessing performance of reverse osmosis membrane elements, said method comprising:
a) providing a system in accordance with claim 1 in a pressure vessel containing at least one said element;
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.
12 . A method of assessing performance of reverse osmosis membrane elements in accordance with claim 11 , wherein said at least one value comprises data relating to permeate flow.
13 . A method of assessing performance of reverse osmosis membrane elements in accordance with claim 12 , wherein said at least one value additionally comprises data relating to permeate conductivity.
14 . A method of assessing performance of reverse osmosis membrane elements in accordance with claim 11 , 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.
15 . A method of assessing performance of reverse osmosis membrane elements in accordance with claim 11 , additionally comprising:
e) replacing said element if said assessment indicates replacement is required to improve system performance.