The present work introduces experimental investigations of a real reverse osmosis (RO) plant. Flowrate and pressure measurements have been performed. The pump pressure fluctuations at different flowrates and the permeate pressure of RO membrane at different seawater salinities have been measured experimentally. The results of the present experimental measurements and some of the previously published experimental results of RO membrane have been compared with the corresponding theoretical results of the plant theoretical model in order to validate the simulation program (presented in part 1 of this paper). In the present work the validated simulation model has been used to carry out prediction study to investigate the dynamic characteristics of the plant axial piston pump and the RO membrane performance under normal and abnormal operating conditions. The RO plant simulation model has been used to present a proposed operational chart for the investigated desalination plant in case of working under different feed water salinity and temperature.
The present work presents a theoretical modeling of a real reverse osmosis (RO) plant from the hydrodynamic point of view. Mathematical models for all elements of the plant have been developed including; booster pump; hydraulic filters; axial piston pump (high pressure pump); RO membranes; hydraulic accumulator; reject header, and throttling valve. These models have been simulated using SIMULINK 4 in MATLAB 6.1 environment. The pressure fluctuations of the axial piston pump have been determined theoretically with and without using hydraulic accumulator in the plant system at different flowrates and at different seawater salinities. Theoretical investigations have been performed to predict the dynamic characteristics of the plant axial piston pump and the RO membrane performance under normal and abnormal operating conditions. Experimental investigations have been introduced in part 2 of this paper to verify the theoretical model. The verified simulation model has been used to present a proposed operational chart for the investigated desalination plant in case of working under different seawater salinities and at different temperatures.
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